Four Inane Questions with 79Roze Dress Shop’s LaToya Rozof
Photo Courtesy of LaToya Rozof
LaToya Rozof is on a mission. Her goal? “To shatter outdated beauty standards and empower women to love their bodies,” she says. At her clothing store, 79Roze Dress Shop, she wants ladies to know she’s become a haven for fashionable and affordable clothing that celebrates all shapes. “It’s more than just clothes,” she says. “We’re promoting body positivity and self-esteem to a consumer who has been underserved by the fashion world for years.”
For Rozof, opening her dress shop was a labor of love. Well, that and she was “driven by the frustration of limited and expensive options for curvy figures,” she says. “That’s despite the average woman’s size being 12 plus.”
Armed with a B.S. in Apparel and Textile Marketing from Kansas State University, Rozof tells us she honed her skills in retail at Talbots and Halls. Now—in addition to being a wife, mom, and entrepreneur—she’s dedicated to building a brand that resonates with women everywhere. Oh, and ladies, listen up—Rozof is all about supporting her solo-preneur sistren. “I’m fostering a vibrant community of collaboration and women empowerment,” she says.
We caught up with Rozof in between fittings and stylings to bombard her with our bananas questionnaire. As expected, we left covered in more sequins than when we arrived. Bless.
Photo Courtesy of LaToya Rozof
The Pitch: Definitively, which animal print is the best animal print to wear?
LaToya Rozof: Leopard—because it’s versatile. And the right leopard print garment can be a timeless addition to any closet. You can wear this print to any occasion, whether it’s casual or even add a few sequins to it. You’ll be the talk of the event for the most elegant occasion.
A little goes a long way. Too much of the print can be a little tacky if overdone—so wear it wisely! Either way, you can’t lose when you wear animal print.
If you were to splurge on just one fashion accessory, which accessory would that be?
Ah! A sexy and comfortable pair of black heels! Since I’m juggling multiple roles on any day, I’m all about versatile fashion styles that can be worn anywhere. You can rock a pair of black heels with any outfit. You name it—to work, church, brunch, date night, girls’ night out, PTA meetings, after-5 p.m. functions.
But comfortability is the key. You need a pair that you can slip on and not worry about soaking your feet later. I splurged on a pair of designer heels that can only be worn in two-hour increments. If I could do it over, I would have prioritized the comfort aspect.
Plus, there’s also something about walking confidently into a room rockin’ heels. If you know, you know!
Hands down, what’s the best snack to snack on?
Photo Courtesy of LaToya Rozof
Anything gummy-like! If I had to choose, it would be strawberry Twizzlers or pull-and-peel cherry Twizzlers. But you have to buy them fresh and soft to enjoy the experience. Expired ones will send you to the dentist’s office.
Twizzlers are great because, one, they don’t melt and, two, if you’re trying to be healthy, they’re a fat-free treat. They’re perfect for sharing and I love the texture. If you’re really creative, you can bite off the ends and use them as a straw!
What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Fake it until you make it has to be the absolute worst advice ever. I think the idea is that you’ll eventually adapt to behaviors and overall ideals in the direction that you want to go. You can only ‘make it’ by taking time to learn, practice, and make mistakes with any particular topic or craft.
Faking it makes one come off as if they’re full of malarkey. And it’s hard to be seen as credible. As an HR professional by trade, I’ve seen so many people embarrass themselves in the workplace by faking it. It’s also harmful to your overall mental health because what happens if you never make it? Doesn’t mean that you are less of a person.
Let’s stay in our lanes and get back to being authentic and let people know that, while you don’t have the answer now, you’ll figure it out and get back to them. Easy peasy.
Bonus 5th Question: What’s your favorite designer dress of all time? And, yes, you can only pick one.
Zeina Akers is a magnificent dress designer. Her niche is creating clothes that make her clients show up as their authentic selves and not necessarily complying with fashion trends. She also uses her platform to promote and give exposure to black-owned brands that would otherwise go unknown. Her biggest gig of them all? It’s creating clothing and styling Queen Beyoncé.
