Tastemaker: Rachel Roth
On artful living, growing softer, and dancing until closing time
Welcome to the first edition of Tastemakers, our ongoing interview series spotlighting people with great taste—how they live, create, and notice what others miss.
Meet Rachel Roth, an independent art director, designer, and creative consultant living in Brooklyn, and one of my (Lexi’s) oldest friends, with whom I’ve had the absolute joy of reconnecting with in the last six months.
In my eyes, Rachel has always been the cool girl. From her style, to her creativity, to her energy—she’s the kind of person who makes you feel more like yourself just by being around her.
Our conversation left us grounded, lit up, and re-centered in all the right ways. We hope it lands that way for you, too.
👀 S.C.O.U.T—Rachel’s Take
Seeing | Clubbing in NY—the most divine way to experience the energy and diversity of this city. Now that summer is here, grab your friends and visit Mister Sunday, an outdoor party at Nowadays every Sunday from 3pm-9pm. Or go to Gabriela on Thursdays for DJ Eli Escobar. Find wherever the dance floor calls. Stay until closing and hug a stranger on the way out.
Consuming | Cozy Royale—the locale-comfort and bar-style menu of Bernie’s, minus the crayons and the two+ hour wait (usually). Get the deluxe martini, the burger, the hippie salad and the rigatoni alla vodka.
On The Way Out | Non-Natural Products—in true earthling fashion, I’m weeding out non-natural products. It’s been a journey to find a natural deodorant I like but after discovering Franlui, my hard work has finally paid off. I bought half their line from Yu’gupa in Mazunte.
Unearthing | Gentleness—it doesn’t come all that naturally to me, but I’m trying to be softer to myself the way I am to others and to this Earth. It is much more joyous, and frankly, true, to be gentle.
Trying | Homemade Snacks—living alone sometimes means eating (see: cooking) like a subway rat, especially when you’re addicted to sugar. Lately, I’ve been making my own granola and olive oil cakes to make snack time special. I’m inspired by/grateful for friends who like to cook and have their own full kitchens at home, like Emma and Sophie and Evan (& others!).
❤️🔥 In The Spotlight with Rachel Roth
Tell us a little about yourself.
Human, artist, friend. I’m sure I could say a lot here, but in short: someone who believes she’s here to be a translator of the beauty around her.
How do you describe your taste in three words?
Intuitive—I’m slightly less interested in trends or what someone else feels, and far more interested in the sensation I have when I experience something that aligns with my taste. I have always been in touch with this part of myself, even when there’s a gap between my creations and my taste.
Natural—I’m a triple earth sign, which I think explains why I’m drawn to natural elements, textures, and colors. I style myself in mostly neutrals, I’m inspired to first pick up earth-toned paints, and I can’t help but draw flowers, even when I intend to create something else.
Ever-evolving—I’ve watched my taste evolve across design, art, fashion, prose, etc. over and over again. It’s an active practice to allow yourself (and your taste) to change.
What is your favorite object in your home?
As someone who is fairly unattached to belongings, I have a lot of objects I’m deeply connected to. Right now the answer is probably my new Dracaena I’ve aptly named Hestia (goddess of the home).
Highly recommend sourcing your plants from Garden Apartments in East Greenpoint, and when you bring them home, add fairy gems to their soil so that you smile each time you water them.
Where do you escape to when you need a creative reset?
Somewhere I can be alone with a pen & paper. I need a reset most in the evenings, so I’ll often pack a journal and head to The Hoxton, the garden at Plus De Vin, or the Variety Coffee Roasters near me.
But when I really need a reset, I escape somewhere far and alone. I am a big fan of retreats.
If all else fails, I’ll be in the bath.
How do you find the confidence to walk an uncertain path?
It doesn’t feel like confidence at all. It instead feels like having no choice and walking forward regardless. Maybe I feel destined for uncertainty, since nothing is really certain anyways? Or, I suppose if I’m walking a familiar path, it means it’s really someone else’s.
If it looks like confidence, it’s probably the result of spending time alone, traveling solo, and finding courage to face the path knowing in due time it will face me too.
I’m not afraid of change, which probably helps. Change, more often than not, is for the better. Uncertainty can be practiced the same.
What makes great art?
Tell the truth. Tell a story. Great art helps us feel in ways we wouldn’t otherwise have access to, which is the responsibility and joy of the artist.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think my art is “great.”
But I do believe that how I spend my days is how I spend my life, and I want it to feel like art. Which is probably why I’m so connected to and messily entangled in my creative pursuits. Maybe that’s the great art after all.
What is one ritual you can’t live without?
Daily: morning pages/journaling.
Weekly: buying myself fresh flowers.
My dad walked into my apartment last week and said “you have a lot of vegetation in here” and I said “thank you.” My home is alive, as am I.
Favorite spots to travel to?
I’m endlessly inspired by nature and my travels. I feel most like myself when there is no barrier between me and the earth. Frolicking in the sand, submerged in the ocean.
The last few years have been a quest for natural waters to swim and rocks to climb: Indonesia, Costa Rica. Either somewhere tropical or Black Rock City.
And lastly, who is your favorite tastemaker?
Of the moment—Vic Montanari. Over the last few years I’ve been drawn to people who are as authentically themselves online as I assume them to be off, and she exemplifies that. I’m obsessed with her style and humor and she inspires me to dress and live more boldly.
To keep up with Rachel’s musings, subscribe to her newsletter, subject to change, and be sure to follow her on Instagram and check out her art at Rayro Studio.
If you’re interested in being featured or know a tastemaker worth spotlighting, please enlighten us here. 💌
 | A guest post by
|
I love this!! Yes to plants and quiet time. It can be so easy to get swept up in the always “on”/“busy” culture of NYC.