Evan Ross, B.A.’92

Always in Fashion

By Lauren Servideo

Tucked away in the NoLita district of Manhattan, vintage clothing store FROCK is nothing short of an otherworldly sartorial anthology, and Evan Ross is the magician behind it.

Ross’ flair for fashion was evident even at UAlbany, where he was a standout in the sweatpants-clad student body. A pair of ultra-short denim cut-off jeans – worn in rain, sun and snow – was a staple of his early-’90s club kid-influenced wardrobe. Today, his resumé boasts styling high-profile celebrities like Tina Fey and Cyndi Lauper and coordinating editorial attire for Elle, GQ, Rolling Stone and numerous other publications.

Six months prior to graduation, the Bronxville, N.Y., native had secured a job at San Francisco’s Haines Gallery. While serving as gallery administrator and organizing all exhibitions allowed him to utilize his communication major and fine arts minor, it didn’t fulfill his ultimate goal: to explore his own creativity and build upon his own experiences related to the world of fashion and his love of vintage clothing.

Back in New York, Ross established a career as a freelance wardrobe stylist. When his career aspirations changed, a friend suggested he open a store selling the collection of vintage clothing he had amassed over the years, but Ross wasn’t sure he was “ready to give it a shot.” In 2003, however, FROCK was born, originally as a showroom. At his clients’ urging, FROCK became a retail location in 2004, leading to the magnificent store of historical clothing Ross has now. He keeps a keen eye out for vintage pieces to be used in movies, magazines, and at design houses, where inspiration is gleaned from the clothing.

Life experience has convinced Ross “the most successful people take a hobby and turn it into a job. If you do something you enjoy doing, the money and success will follow, and life doesn’t feel like so much work.”