Been a minute since we had a Confessional. We grabbed Rose off her own blog, Around The Way Girls, and brought her into our limelight for a minute. This former chemistry major tells us why she dropped out of school to pursue a career in fashion. She’s currently the Fashion Editor of Missbehave Mag and a freelance stylist and has been going with the flow her fate has taken her.

Enjoy!

Name and Age, please:
Radio Rose Garcia, 26

Marital status:
My love has got to be the SureShot ;)

Where are you originally from?
Sunset Park, BROOKLYN!

How long have you lived in New York?
Born and Raised

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Definitely has to be the days in High School when we would cut out go to hooky parties (lord those were fun) and I’d drink Zima’s thinking I was all grown up. We’d play handball and window shop through the Fulton Mall afraid that the cops would ID us because clearly we should have been in school. Oh, the thrill! Haha.

Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
I’ve worked retail for most of my adult life at several small boutiques in NY, but my last retail job was at American Apparel. I was their District Manager for the stores they had in Brooklyn for about 3 years, while doing that I freelanced as a stylist for a few publications such as Complex, Trace, LTD, Planet and Odd at Large. I also freelance designed some custom pieces for a few private events for Nine West, American Eagle Outfitters and Kiehl’s. After about 4-5 years of freelancing, I decided I wanted to settle down and try to pursue working as an editor, so I started at Mass Appeal as the Fashion Editor for their last 3 issues. Now I’m the Fashion Market Editor at Missbehave Magazine, a freelance stylist, part time DJ and Founder of AroundTheWayGirls.net.

How’d you get the name “Radio Rose”?
I wish I had a cool story, like- “I used to wear a boombox around my neck like Radio Raheem in ‘Do the Right Thing’” or “I have Love and Hate tattooed on my knuckles” (hey maybe I should do that) but the truth is, I said it out loud about 5 years ago and though, “hey that sounds about right” and just flowed with it. Although, I have been known as “Rose Gold” too, that may evolve when I undergo my first Madonna-like reinvention.

At what age did you start exploring your creative interests?
I’ve always been inspired to be creative, but was always taught that it wouldn’t be a very practical way of living. I was a Chemistry Major!! Yes, sometimes I’m a nerd but I wasn’t exactly sure if I was doing it for myself or to please my family. I think while in college my interests really broadened and I got to see that I had more options. By junior year I took all the sketch books around the house and decided it was time to just go with what I always wanted to do, so I left college with hopes of going to FIT. My mom, who I was afraid would kill me, was actually most supportive and took the time to buy me a sewing machine. I eventually started freelancing and designing for friends and artists so I thought college wasn’t necessary to actually pursue what I wanted to do. But to think I would’ve been in med school somewhere now kind of makes me laugh, I mean could you imagine me in charge of someone’s health? I would be too concerned about their wardrobe choices.

How did you begin your styling career?
It stemmed off by chance, actually. After designing for a few rappers like Guru from Gangstarr, Pharoahe Monch, Philly’s Most Wanted, and Bobby Simmons from Stetsasonic, I soon discovered I needed tons more training and was too young with no $$ management! While working in retail I always did the visual merchandising and started to ask if I could dress the mannequins. Who dresses the live mannequins?! I soon started to tell a friend to tell a friend and I talked to a few stylists I had met through my short designing stint. I started assisting a stylist Donald Lawrence, on editorials, fashion shows and commercials, he taught me so much. I also started assisting a few fashion editors like Anoma Whittaker and eventually it helped me do my own editorials and slowly get my own styling jobs.

You have styled shoots for a slew of women’s streetwear brands in NYC, how do you keep your work looking fresh while defining a look for your different clients?
To me streetstyle is just how I’ve always dressed growing up on NY. So, when I’m working on a shoot I try to think of it as a type of girl I may have grown up with. I try to think of each client as a different girl I may have known at some point in my life, and then try to think of how she would dress and express herself.

(Leah (MOB), Roxy, Rose)

Congrats on your new gig at Missbehave Mag, what’s it like working with the rest of the ladies there?
I love working at Missbehave! I feel right at home. I feel like individually we’re all different ladies with so many different interests but when you sit us down, we’re all on the same wavelength. I absolutely look up to all the ladies that I work with. We all put 100% into the mag and we have alot of fun doing it!

Got any favorite jobs you’ve styled for?
While I was assisting Donald Lawrence, I got to work on this amazing photoshoot for aRude Magazine. It was a 10-page spread with the legendary model Pat Cleveland, it was surreal. She was both elegant in her presence and photos and was willing to tell me about everything- being one of the first black models in Vogue, being Halston’s muse, Andre Leon Tally in the 70’s, Studio 54, everything! It was like I was in some sort of weird dimension where you meet someone you’ve looked up to your whole life and they turn out to be even cooler than you’d ever imagine.

(Pat Cleveland & Halston)

What do you consider your biggest career achievement so far?
My Missbehave cover for Issue #8. (The promiscuity/banana issue.) I had just started working at Mass Appeal and I did a few pages for Missbehave here and there. By chance, they wanted to do something different with the featured article/cover. I was so excited to work on it. I’ve worked on covers before for Complex mag and for Odd at Large but I feel that cover is pretty memorable for me.

You’re also a DJ, got skills?
Ha! well, that wouldn’t be up to me, but I think I’m aight! I’ve been a bedroom DJ for a bit but didn’t start playing until earlier this year, I’m just happy to play music for people. I actually met SureShot (who taught me everything I know) while he was djaying with Beverly Bond, and all I could think of was “Wow, how cool is she?” I also was impressed by all the record lugging. I’m still learning alot and I’m a stickler for learning how to do things the old school way, so even though I don’t use records to play at parties (I use Serato), I’m obsessed with making sure that I know every single aspect of how to rock a party better. I also really admire ladies with the skills like DJ Lindsey, DJ Elle, Roxy and NI** and more than anything I feel really priviledged that I can even be doing what they do.

Do your styling and DJing career ever overlap?
Absolutely! I was actually styling DJ Lindsey a few years back for special events and I’ve learned that a club and a photo set are exactly the same. You need to try to make sure your headphones look a certain way, your clothes aren’t too distracting form your other surroundings and accesories are way importante!! And you need to try to give a little eye candy. LOL! Make sure the boys like what they see and the girls want to google what you have on. Not to say you can’t rock sweatpants and work a party, I just feel like it’s important to evoke a certain presence and mood with your look.

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon?
I’m hoping to expand AroundTheWayGirls into more aspects of entertainment. I’m also starting a new online radio show called “Girlstown”, where me and other guest female DJ’s will play tunes every Saturday on Children of the Curb Radio (coming soon.) For now check out a few other shows from NYC’s most talented male and female like Roxy and Melo-X’s Booty and the Beat currently streaming on PNCradio.com. And who knows what 2009 will bring!

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
MadeMe has my favorite outerwear and tees this season, MOB has my favorite jeans and kicks (look out for the MOB dunks!) and for an overall collection Hellz Bellz takes the cake. I’m still obsessed for Jeremy Scott, I want him to make me a wedding dress- What would that look like?!? My favorite designers, hands down, are The Blonds. I want them to adopt me and adorn me in dookie chain corsets. Mixing all these together is pretty much a perfect wardrobe for me.

(Erin (MadeMe), Rose, Sarah)

Got a long term plan?
My plan is to not have a plan, how crazy does that sound! I’ve just learned every blessing I’ve had, has been by chance. I’m truly happy at everything I’m involved in so I wouldn’t want to change whatever divine course has been set out for me. I’m letting myself absorb whatever fancies me at that moment in hopes to live a fullfilled life.

Do you have much free time and what do you do when you’re not working?
I’m truly one of those people that’s never not working. Like it’s 3am on my first day off in a month and here I am making sure to hand this in instead of sleeping! LOL! But when I do peel away from everything else, I love to just cuddle in my bed with some junk and watch episodes of Spongebob back to back. Yes, I’m a dork too!

How would you describe your personal style?
Someone once said I was quirky, I totally didn’t understand that one. I think they just couldn’t pinpoint how I dressed because my mood really effects my look for the day, it’s hard for me to hide it. I don’t generally stick to trends, I just like to feel comfortable in my own skin. I tend to mix alot of things I love with classic pieces. I’m also a huge fan of all in one ensembles- jumpsuits, dresses, leotards.

Name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and your favorite dish there.
The Miso Glazed Salmon at Mooncake, The “Al Sharpton” (Chicken and Waffles) at Amy Ruth’s, the roasted duck club sandwich at Blue Ribbon.

What music have you been listening to lately?
Lately I’ve been obsessed with Baltimore House, I think I may do a roadtrip and take a trailerload of ladies with me!

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I think so. I’ved lived briefly in Mexico City and fell in love with the culture and the city but I was so homesick and seriosuly craved a slice of pizza that wasn’t the fancy “Argentinian” inspired ones. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else as a little old lady.

Tell us your favorite rolling paper or your cocktail/drink of choice.
Don’t use rolling papers but I do love some Vanilla Dutches. Jack and Ginger is my cocktail of choice

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list!
Damn just one! I’d have to go with the other half of what makes us the DreamTeam- photographer and BFF, Marley Rizzutti.

(Rose & Marley)