| Rosemary Ponzo Interview |
| Written by Natalie Goldberg | |||
| Thursday, 07 July 2011 03:29 | |||
 I meet acclaimed designer of all trades; film, theater, music videos, personal shopping you name it, Rosemary Ponzo in the offices of American Movie Company on a Thursday afternoon. The first thing I notice, apart from her unbelievable, sparkling black dress, bright red lips, and, of course, pointy, swirly and effervescent black hat, is her presence. The room changes when she walks in, you're up close and personal with confidence that is rare nowadays, and, undoubtedly, one of the most unique senses of style ever seen in the world. Rosemary's self-assurance is certainly not unfounded. With directors like Sam Raimi shouting her name from the rooftops, and clients like Gwyneth Paltrow and Prince, she is one of the most relevant designers of today. Her relevance stems from her commitment to risk-taking, and encouraging others to do the same. "I love to work with people who are willing to push the envelope," she tells me, "if they are, right there, comes my creative moment." Not only is Rosemary a startlingly bold person as a designer, she is a native New Yorker, through and through. "New York is the mecca. Everyone comes to New York to shop." Staying local for school, Rosemary went to NYU Film after graduating from FIT, (where she now lectures). "I loved NYU," Rosemary says wistfully, "did love it, but ran out of money." That money wouldn't take long to land in her hands. While working on 7th Avenue, Rosemary, unhappy with the child labor occurring at her workplace, met someone who helped her career skyrocket. "They were told I'd done commercials, movies, theater-the truth was I'd never done one in my life, but I taught myself...learn by doing, and experience is really great." Credits like De La Soul's Grammy-winning music video, and personally costuming Michael Bloomberg, might give someone a big head. Well, it does. "It's not an ego," she assures me, "but you have to have a conviction of what you're doing. You have to say, 'this is the look I have created.' My ego could be out to the sky, but I'm really a nice person. I always ask if the director or whomever has an idea before I pick and choose." Rosemary definitely hasn't made any enemies, as she's given project after project and praise after praise. Her love of designing, and element of being grounded couldn't ring more true when I ask her about celebrities. After all, she's worked with several of them, that must be more thrilling than working with the average human being. "I'm just excited to be working. Whoever I'm working with, I make it fun. I make it exciting because I love what I do. People see that, and it's contagious." Rosemary seems like she could make a trip to the dentist sound like a great time. "I never decide I know everything because there's always something new to learn. Being conscious of that makes you a success." Rosemary might know everything about one thing-hats. When I ask her what makes hats important to her, she reminds me that "it tops off your outfit, makes you feel special." A hat is always an essential, except at fashion shows. Rosemary, a frequent guest in the front row, uses that as the one time to remove her hat, "so no one is blocked." On that, with her theatrical, New York appearance, I wonder what she might recommend wearing out to the theater. She goes with the classic, but timeless, as I might have thought. "Something that doesn't make a lot of noise, something very elegant and sophisticated. You want to pay homage because you're in the temple. Money is made in film, but there is nothing like the theater." She is quick to add a glitter headband and a stole to the list. "As a designer I'm always keeping my options open." Rosemary is taking singing lessons, and is just as fierce there as in her designing-"when I did 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend' I threw jewelry into the audience, and even if I was off-key, they loved it because they got something for free!" Rosemary reiterates that need to be fearless in every day fashion. "People look at what you're wearing, and they've already assessed you." Looking Rosemary up and down, the encapsulation of New York, dressed to the nines, I wonder how anyone could assess her as anything but an icon with a great headpiece. For more articles like Rosemary Ponzo Interview, please visit the NYC/The New Yorkers Section of TimesSquare.com
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