Whether she's standing up to longtime pal Whitney Port's unworthy suitors or colorfully describing an outfit as "Ballerina, gone punk rock, gone a little hooker, but in a good way," she's never without a comeback. And when I caught up with The City star this week, she had plenty to say about dating in New York, her affinity for red lipstick and why "haters can be motivators."
How has your style evolved since moving from LA to New York?
It's still evolving! I've always owned a lot of black, and I've always felt that I was pretty stylish, but then coming here I was so overwhelmed because everybody is so on and looks amazing all of the time. You see these crazy outfits, just walking up Broadway. In LA everyone wore kind of the same thing and you're in your car so you don't see people out as much. I definitely feel like I've been challenged here. Everything's a little more cutthroat, but I think my style has become more defined.
How is dating in New York different from dating in LA?
In New York there's more casual dating, maybe because there are more date-night spots here. I never really knew girls who would go on more than, like, one date a week with different guys. But here it doesn't have to mean that that's your boyfriend if you go on a date—there's a lot more trial and error here. It's just kind of a different vibe.
How are the boys different?
I haven't run into many surfer dudes at all, and in LA you find a lot of that. Here, there are more of those Wall Street types, and in LA they're either agents or surfers. In LA a male model is not normally someone who I'd be dating, and here male models are, like, every other guy. And they're shorter in LA.
Your parents [actors Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig] are TV veterans. Did they give you pointers on the industry?
My parents wouldn't let me act till I was 18; my mom refused to take me to auditions. She didn't want to be a stage mom, but once I turned 18 and that was still what I wanted to do they encouraged it. They thought I needed to find it on my own and when I decided to do reality they were a little skeptical. But then once they saw what I was doing, it really excited them because it's something they've never done before. It's a different type of world.
Do you watch a lot of reality TV?
Yes, I have to admit I have some serious guilty pleasures—I watch all the Housewives. I can't get enough; I'm awkwardly obsessed. I also really love So You Think You Can Dance.
What's the best advice Kelly Cutrone has given you?
That there are freaks and there are followers. And if you're a freak, which she thinks that I am, you really have to go with that and make sure that you've defined your freak. If you stand out from the crowd, you have to stay strong. There are going to be people who come up against you, and sometimes your haters are your motivators and they have to just push you forward. I kind of had a hard time for a while in LA feeling like an outcast. Instead of owning it, I tried to follow the group. And Kelly can be really hard on me, trying to put me in my place—but she definitely has tried to bring out my inner freak and let me own it.
In last week's episode, Kelly told Whitney that sitting behind the third row at fashion shows makes you look like a loser and Whit disagreed. What's your take?
I think that if you have a love for fashion and this is what you want to do, if you get into a fashion show you should sit anywhere. You want to be sitting in the front row eventually. If your goal is to work in fashion then your goal is to get a row closer each time, and that means you're working hard. But I think her point was more that if you're working with people like Olivia, you don't want to be sitting behind them.
People's Revolution reps a lot of great designers. Which ones are your favorites?
I love Ksubi, Agent Provocateur, and Felder & Felder—I just fell in love with their line recently.
What's your favorite recent trend?
I love shorts. I also love spikes on everything. I don't know if it's thanks to Rihanna, but I love leather and spikes and I've seen them on a lot of jackets and sandals.
And least favorite trend?
Maybe it's because of being self-conscious, but my least favorite area on my body is my stomach, so I hate the crop top. I can't do it. Maybe it's because I'm envious of the people who can pull that off, but I'm not a crop-top wearer.
You've had a recurring role on Brothers & Sisters. Do you have a dream acting project?
I would love to do an independent movie. And I think eventually down the road somewhere, I want to get behind the camera. My dream of all dreams would be to work with Quentin Tarantino. I fell in love with True Romance when I was 13. That would be my ultimate long-term goal. Even just to meet him would be amazing.
You're always rocking bold red lips. What's your signature shade?
I love M.A.C Red, if you want that really serious red. YSL has a great red gloss that I love when I'm not doing that intense kind of thing. But when it's nighttime—or even daytime—I can't help it, I put on the M.A.C Red.
For more on Roxy's style, watch her new "Closet Confessions" video for Bluefly.
—ERIN CLEMENTS
Photo: Getty Images
