Jason Bolden

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Jason Bolden (born February 27, 1982) is an American entrepreneur, creative director, and fashion stylist. Bolden is a co-founder of JSN Studio, along with his husband, interior designer, Adair Curtis.[1][2][3]

Education and early career[edit]

At age 18, Bolden moved from St. Louis to Chicago to study pre-med at Northwestern University with the goal of becoming an OBGYN. Bolden transferred to Art Institute of Chicago and got a job at a Cynthia Rowley retail store, which solidified his love of clothes. He went on to work for Nicole Miller, Louis Vuitton, Chloé, Gucci, and Oscar de la Renta, where he built his wealthy client base.[4][5][6]

After graduating, Bolden moved to New York City and co-founded vintage clothing store, The Garment Room, in SoHo. Calvin Klein, Akris and Ralph Lauren visited Bolden's store to gain inspiration for their new collections.[6][5][7]

Career as celebrity stylist[edit]

In 2011, Gabrielle Union encouraged Bolden to style her for an Art Basel event. In the early 2010s, Taraji P. Henson informed Bolden she was about to become really popular and thus, Bolden would become in demand as her stylist. This gave Bolden the confidence to launch his full time styling career.[8][9][10]

In 2013, Bolden designed a shoe collection in collaboration with Brazilian brand Schutz.[11][12]

In 2015, Bolden was hired by Rihanna's beauty and stylist agency, Fr8me.[13] In 2016, Bolden released a line of sunglasses under the JSN Studio brand name.[14][15][16]

In 2021, Bolden and designer Zac Posen headlined a virtual training program aimed at engaging and empowering diverse youth looking to enter the fashion business. The program was sponsored by New York Fashion Week.[17]

For the 95th annual Academy Awards, Bolden styled Michael B. Jordan, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jay Ellis for the official ceremony, and Jordan, Hudgens, Yara Shahidi, Dwyane Wade, Sabrina Carpenter, DeWanda Wise, and Trevor Noah for the after parties. Bolden began planning the outfits for the events in February 2023. The ceremony and parties took place on March 12, 2023. Bolden's signature of casual luxury was highlighted in all clients' outfits.[18][19]

Bolden typically does only one or two fittings with clients, within a week's time of an event. He is known for selecting jewelry for looks on the same day an event takes place.[18]

Political views[edit]

In 2020, Bolden called out French luxury brands Celine and Yves Saint Laurent for performative solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, after Bolden and other Black stylists, celebrities, and models faced discrimination from the brands.[20][21] Bolden is a board member of the Black Fashion and Beauty Council, created to support Black creatives navigating the industry.[22][23]

In 2021, Booth Moore wrote an article in Women's Wear Daily, criticizing the lack of garments showcased by Black designers at the Golden Globe Awards.[24] Bolden and celebrity stylist Law Roach responded by explaining there's gatekeeping that Black stylists have to overcome in order to have access to certain brands and garments.[25] Roach and Bolden questioned Moore’s logic of expecting Black stylists to correct industry wrongs that were purposely created to oppress Black artists and businesspeople. They stated the responsibility should be on wealthy white and non-Black artists and businesspeople to change the dynamics of the industry.[26]

Public image[edit]

In 2012, Bolden's wedding was one of the first Black gay weddings to be broadcast on network television during an episode of VH1's La La's Full Court Life.[27][28] Bolden is a reoccurring judge on Netflix's Next in Fashion.[29][30][31]

In August 2019, Netflix released Styling Hollywood,[32] a show about Bolden's relationship and business with husband and interior designer, Adair Curtis.[28][33] The show broke barriers, being one of the first television shows to highlight a Black gay married couple.[34][35][36] The series spotlighted both successful Black men in the traditionally white-dominated fields of luxury fashion and interior design.[37][38] In 2022, Bolden and Curtis were honored by Family Equality with the Visibility Award at LA Impact: A Night of Heroes.[39]

Personal life[edit]

Bolden's family has always supported his gay identity. Bolden has been outspoken about his positive experience growing up in order to challenge the stereotype of homophobia in Black families.[40][41][42]

In 2012, Bolden married interior designer, Adair Curtis.[43][44]

In 2021, their son, Arrow Fox, was born.[45][46][47]

Bolden is an art collector. In 2021, he made a video about his personal collection for Sotheby's. The collection initially included Hermès bags and art pieces by Joan Mitchell, Keith Haring, and Picasso.[48] Bolden cites internalized anti-Blackness for the initial whiteness of his collection. Aryn Drake-Lee opened Bolden up to the significance of Black art and artists, which inspired Bolden to collect only artists of color going forward. Bolden's collection now includes pieces from Kehinde Wiley and Kwame Brathwaite. Bolden is a sneakerhead.[49]

Bolden is Zaya Wade's godfather.[50] When she came out as transgender at age 8, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union-Wade called friends, Bolden and Curtis, to ask for advice on how to support their daughter.[51]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Quarles, Karen (2022-12-06). "JSN STUDIO Keeps Its Hollywood Clients Swathed in Style — at Home and on the Red Carpet". 1stDibs Introspective. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  2. ^ "JSN Studio's Adair Curtis Kicks Off Designer Series at Boundary". Architectural Digest. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  3. ^ "Between The Sheets with Adair Curtis and Jason Bolden of JSN Studio". Flaneur: Change the Sheets. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  4. ^ Nicolaou, Elena (21 January 2016). "Netflix's "Styling Hollywood" Is The New "Queer Eye," But With Celebrities". Refinery 29. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  5. ^ a b "How Jason Bolden Went from Retail Jobs to the Oscars Red Carpet". Out. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  6. ^ a b "Stylist spotlight: Jason Bolden, from pre-med to celebrity stylist". The Connector. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  7. ^ "16 Black Fashion Influencers to Follow Now - Black Influencers Instagram Style". L'Officiel USA. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  8. ^ "This New Netflix Series Shows What Really Goes Into Creating a Red-Carpet Moment". Glamour. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  9. ^ Prant, Dara (15 June 2020). "Great Outfits In Fashion History: Gabrielle Union In Vintage Lanvin At Art Basel In 2011". Fashionista.
  10. ^ Soo Hoo, Fawnia (20 February 2018). "How Jason Bolden Went From Studying Pre-med To Styling Taraji P. Henson, Yara Shahidi And Ava Duvernay". Fashionista.
  11. ^ "Jason Bolden Brings The Stars Out To Launch His First Shoe Collection With Schutz (PHOTOS)". Global Grind. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  12. ^ "Jason Bolden For Schutz Launch Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images". Getty. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  13. ^ "Rihanna Launches Her Own Style and Beauty Agency". Complex. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  14. ^ "2 Celebrity Stylist Jason Bolden Launches Sunglasses Line JSN; Taps Eniko Parrish for Campaign". Fashion Bomb Daily. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  15. ^ "Oversized And In Charge: JSN Studio Sunnies For Every Girl". HelloBeautiful. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  16. ^ Wong, Shavonne (2018-12-27). "How Nathalie Gordon Shot the JSN.Studio Sunglasses Campaign". Fstoppers. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  17. ^ Gardner, Chris (2021-03-01). "Stylist Jason Bolden, Designer Zac Posen Lined Up for NYFW:NXT Virtual Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  18. ^ a b Allaire, Christian (2023-03-14). "How Top Stylist Jason Bolden Made 8 Stars Look "Expensive" on Oscars Night". Vogue. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  19. ^ "Post Met: Let's Give Black Stylists Their Flowers". Grazia USA. 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  20. ^ Ginsberg, Merle. "Celebrity Stylist Jason Bolden Speaks Out About Racial Bias at Celine". Los Angeles Magazine.
  21. ^ "Stylist Jason Bolden Calls Out Fashion Brands Celine and Saint Laurent for Lack of Diversity". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  22. ^ "Law Roach, Lacy Redway, and Jason Rembert Launch Black Fashion and Beauty Collective". ELLE. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  23. ^ "Jason Bolden Wants The Fashion Industry to Speak Up: "If You See Something, Say Something"". ELLE. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  24. ^ Moore, Booth (2021-03-01). "Moore From L.A.: Golden Globes Fashion Review — Where Were the Black Designers?". WWD. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  25. ^ "'Styling in 2 different worlds': Black stylists open up about double standard on the red carpet". TODAY. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  26. ^ Nasinde, Shama (2021-03-02). "Jason Bolden and Law Roach Speak Out on the Lack of Black Designers at the Golden Globes". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  27. ^ "Lala Attends Same-Sex Wedding On 'Full Court Life' [VIDEO]". HelloBeautiful. 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  28. ^ a b Tangcay, Jazz (2020-06-04). "'Styling Hollywood' Couple Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis on Their Courtship and Inspiring LGBTQ Youth". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  29. ^ "'Next in Fashion' Season 2: Qaysean Williams' 'rushed' design leaves Jason Bolden disappointed". MEAWW. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  30. ^ Finkel, Lena (2023-03-02). "'Next in Fashion' Season 2: A First Look at All the Incredible Guest Judges". Femestella. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  31. ^ White, Brett (2020-01-31). "Netflix's 'Next in Fashion' Shows What Happens When a Guest Judge Revolts". Decider. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  32. ^ "Why "Styling Hollywood" Is One of the Best Celebrity-Stylist Reality Shows". The New Yorker. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  33. ^ "Exclusive: 'Styling Hollywoods Jason Bolden Breaks Down His Clients' 2019 Emmy Looks". Essence. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  34. ^ "Netflix's 'Styling Hollywood' Is Not Only Good, It's Rare". Shondaland. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  35. ^ "The Stars of "Styling Hollywood" on Love, Marriage, and Who They'd Never Work For". Logo TV. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  36. ^ "Netflix's 'Styling Hollywood' with Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis Is a New Kind of Gay Love Story". Vice. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  37. ^ "Stylist Spotlight: How Jason Bolden Continues to Push Boundaries". Vanity Fair. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  38. ^ Kaufman, David (2020-06-10). "Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, More Stars Rally Support for L.A.'s Black-Owned Businesses". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  39. ^ "Family Equality | Powerhouse Designers & Netflix Stars Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis to be Honored with the Visibility Award at Family Equality's LA Impact Gala in October". Family Equality. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  40. ^ King, C. (2019). Styling Hollywood. episode 4, Los Angeles, California; Netflix.
  41. ^ Jones, Michal 'MJ' (2015-03-07). "Complicating the Stereotype of the Homophobic and Transphobic Black Community". Everyday Feminism. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  42. ^ "How Jason Bolden Went from Retail Jobs to the Oscars Red Carpet". Out. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  43. ^ Gardner, Chris (2022-07-29). "Stylist Jason Bolden, Interior Designer Adair Curtis Have Signed With Range Media Partners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  44. ^ "MAZEL TOV! Adair Curtis & Celebrity Stylist Jason Bolden Get Married (PHOTOS)". Global Grind. 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  45. ^ "Styling Hollywood's Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis Welcome Baby Boy Arrow Fox: 'Already Obsessed'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  46. ^ "Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis on Fatherhood with Baby Arrow: 'All of Our Hopes and Dreams Manifested'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  47. ^ "Congratulations!: Celebrity Fashion Stylist, Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis Welcome A Baby Boy". BET. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  48. ^ "Inside Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis's Closet and L.A. Home - Coveteur: Inside Closets, Fashion, Beauty, Health, and Travel". Coveteur. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  49. ^ Why I Collect | Episode 3: Jason Bolden, Celebrity Stylist and Creative Director, Contemporary Art a, retrieved 2023-03-15
  50. ^ "We Have Proof Zaya Wade Is A Fashion Icon In the Making". Grazia USA. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  51. ^ "Dwyane Wade's Daughter Makes First Red Carpet Appearance as Zaya with Dad and Gabrielle Union". People. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
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