OWNER & PRESIDENT OF AROS COMMUNICATIONS
By content editorial director photographer
Amy Rosi knows how to make an entrance. Whether she’s dressed in a black form-fitting coat, with a red skirt peeking out at the bottom, black high heel ankle boots and a black fur hat, or she’s wearing her favorite vintage pieces, Amy Rosi has an innate sense of style and grace.
Like many young women, Rosi came to New York with dreams of becoming a ballet dancer and an actress. And like many women, she got sidetracked by the business of making a living. “I got a job working in public relations, and I had a talent for art, and that’s been my career path. Marketing, branding and communications.”
Since 1999, Rosi’s owned and run Aros Communications, a company that focuses on everything from business and product development to marketing, advertising, even event management. Some of Aros’s clients include Bergdorf Goodman, BMWi, Cartier, David Yurman, Daum, Escada, Hasselblad, Jane Seymour, Saks Inc. and Stephen Dweck. “I’ve never actually solicited a client,” Rosi said. “One client leads to another.”
Amy Rosi prefers the dynamics of a smaller, boutique firm. “I was at Condé Nast for years, Marketing Director for Mademoiselle. I worked for David Yurman, which we built into a very large company. Hundreds of employees. I worked for Escada, which is almost a billion dollars. As my own boss, I prefer more intimate relationships with my clients.”
Even though Rosi’s employees come to work at the office in her apartment, Rosi dresses up, every day. “My life is very day into night. I’m a more formal dresser. In a home office, a lot of people are very casual. I’m not, because I’m out, a lot. Like this morning, I had a breakfast at Plaza Athénée, and then, I’ll be out for a lunch meeting.”
Amy’s style strength comes from knowing her good points and emphasizing them with each wardrobe choice she makes. “I buy things because of my size. I don’t wear oversized clothes. I like the French idea of a little sweater or a smaller shirt.”
A tour of Rosi’s closet is a lesson in style. “I have lots of old and new pieces I add and subtract as needed. I wear a lot of vintage. A little beret, a pair of tights and some black flats, and I’m ready for the Armory Art Show.”
“I love this coat because it’s very French, very fitted, and it’s shorter than any skirt so you never get this dowdy look. I’m a very short person, so I try to lift everything up.
“My favorite pair of pants are Escada hip huggers. Very sexy pants. Instead of wearing a jacket, I’ll wear a camisole and a great fur jacket, and all of a sudden, it’s a totally different look.
“TRAVEL, WORK, LIFE… EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF VELVET JEANS. ANOTHER ESSENTIAL IS BLACK JEANS AND A BLACK CASHMERE SWEATER, AND I ALWAYS WEAR A LITTLE RED.”
“I buy buttons, and I’m always reconfiguring. Here’s some I bought at a flea market,” she says, pointing to a box of vintage buttons.
“This is my favorite thing in the world. It’s knitted rabbit fur. I wear it as a hat or sometimes around my neck, and this Yves Saint Laurent scarf… It can go casually over my coat, or can become something very elegant with a cocktail dress.
“Oh, and I can’t give up my Marc Jacobs shoes!”
Style comes from knowing your good points & emphasizing them with each wardrobe choice you make
with Amy
STYLE NOW VERSUS 20 YEARS AGO:
I tried to dress older when I was young because from a career point of view, I needed to be grown-up. I wore my hair up in a bun or a French twist. As I grew older, I let my hair down and kind of relaxed into less organized.
FLATS OR HIGH HEELS:
High heels at the office. Every day.
FAVORITE DESIGNER:
Valentino
CLASSIC OR TRENDY:
Classic
MISSING FROM YOUR CLOSET:
More Valentino. (Laughs.) No, I need some new shoes. I think it’s the accessories I always need most.
GO TO OUTFIT:
Always a dress because I don’t have to think about it. If I’m having a big meeting, I like to have one look that I’m most comfortable in, so it’s always a dress.
WORST PURCHASE:
Something I think I’m going to wear on the weekend. I’m not a good weekend dresser. I’ve never figured it out. I have the worst sportswear sense.
DEFINITION OF LUXURY:
Elegance
FAVORITE INDULGENCE:
Experience, whether it’s the theater or eating out.
DRUGSTORE OR DEPARTMENT STORE:
Beauty and healthcare products in the drugstore; perfume and lipsticks in the department store. I’m a specialty store shopper, as well as department stores, for my clothes. There’s a very dangerous store called Jeffrey. You walk in there, and literally, you will walk out with clothes. They have the best sales people in New York City.
CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT BEAUTY PRODUCT:
Maybelline eyeliner
BOTOX:
Not for me. I’ve never done it.
MOST IMPORTANT SURVIVAL SKILL:
Forgiveness for sure. Forgetting is even better.
WHAT EMPOWERS YOU:
Accomplishment
WHAT THROWS YOU OFF YOUR GAME:
Fear of not accomplishing. Fear of being inadequate.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Probably having my own business and enduring all these years.
MOTIVATION FOR STARTING YOUR BUSINESS:
Earning a living. I’ve never had anyone support me in my entire life.
WHAT’S NOT WORTH IT ANYMORE:
Getting angry. Being jealous. Negative energy.
ROLE MODELS:
My grandfather. This is his cigarette case. I just recently took it out and polished and set it out. I knew him when he was my age, and he’s my little totem of what’s the next path. He was the greatest teacher for how to live and how to be generous of spirit.
PRINT OR DIGITAL:
Print. I’m on the computer 11 hours a day, so I’m a digital person, but I buy a magazine for a different reason. I started my career in the magazine world, and I’m just in love with it.
BEST ADVICE YOU RECEIVED:
You can’t memorize knowledge. You will know it when you know it.
RECHARGING YOUR BATTERIES:
Dance. I still take a ballet class on Saturday.
1 Comment
Dear Amy,
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND HOPE ALL IS GOING WELL WITH YOU.
I HAD TRIED TO CONTACT YOU FEW TIMES TO MEET WITH US TO HAVE LUNCH W SALVINA, BUT NEVER WAS ABLE TO REACH YOU.
MISS YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE VERY RAEL KIND LADY THAT I KNOW.
FONDLY,
ELLEN