Fashion First: Daniel Jones Style Curator
Daniel Jones, the style curator, hailing from the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, is renowned for his distinctive vision in the realms of music and sports. Before establishing DRJSPOKESTYLE LLC, Daniel honed his skills alongside globally recognized artists like Jason Rembert, Groovy Lew, and Kesha Mcleod, all while completing his law degree.
Daniel’s philosophy revolves around viewing clients as more than mere canvases; they are brands seeking creativity, confidence, professionalism, and a personal touch. Embracing the role of a CULTURE CONNECTOR, he cultivates an environment for them to flourish, one look at a time.
At The Garnette Report, we had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Daniel Jones to learn about what this style maven is all about.
Zoey: So initially, you wanted to be a lawyer. What inspired you to become a stylist?
Daniel: As a New Yorker, you are surrounded by all these cool things happening in life. I went to Rutgers for intellectual property law, but even while there, I had this Dave Chappelle moment— it was too much, It wasn’t not fun. I was also part-time working at a law firm in Midtown, while my classes were in New Jersey, and I was living in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It was all taking a toll, and I thought there’s got to be a way out of this. I always wanted to be in fashion, but I didn’t know how to get into the space. There was no information on Google; no info on how to get paid or how to get a client. You just gotta figure it out as you go. Shout out to my frat brother, Kevin Macintosh, because without him, a lot of this wouldn’t have occurred. He DM’d me during the early days of Instagram, asking what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to be a stylist, and he connected me with Jason Rembert. I met him three days after I emailed him, and we sat down, chopping it up for like 3 or 4 hours. I thought, “I’m going to work with this man soon.” I didn’t hear from him for three months, and then he hit me saying he needed me to send my ID and passport info and meet him at JFK, and from there, my life completely changed. I was on the road for a month straight, learning the ins and outs of this industry. I also met my now-best friend, Daniel Lee, during my first time in LA.
Zoey: What was one of your most memorable experiences or projects thus far?
Daniel: There have been so many amazing memories, but when people come to my Instagram page, the first thing that sticks out is my work with Nipsey Hussle. It was a journey within itself, being there with everything up until his passing. I shot the “Higher” video with John Legend and DJ Khaled, and I flew back to NYC literally that day, catching a red eye. That journey alone was amazing, Grammy weekend, and the Roc Nation brunch.
Zoey: Yeah, that’s right. You were behind the famous photo from The Grammy weekend Roc Nation brunch and his iconic look for “Higher,” that jacket. I mean, that photo was everywhere.
Daniel: Yeah, it was so crazy. That jacket came out of nowhere, and Nyeisha Rose helped me find it. Another moment was getting my first athlete client, which was a significant goal for me. People think getting athlete clients is easy, but it’s not the case.
Zoey: Really? I thought you would want to be more in the music and entertainment world.
Daniel: We’ll see. I come from an athletic background. I played basketball in high school and college and played soccer a bit. I watch basketball non-stop, yet my first client plays football. I legit went to my first NFL game about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and now I’m engulfed in the world of football. Life takes you everywhere.
Zoey: There’s been a lot of conversation about what it’s like to be black and be a fashion stylist, especially since Law Roach has brought the conversation to light about issues and politics. It’s just clothes. Can you share your insights on the challenges and opportunities unique to individuals of color in the fashion and entertainment world?
Daniel: It’s crazy. I mean, there are a lot of non-people of color who help us pull clothes, but overall, as a collective, more people are saying no than saying yes. I send all these emails, and even if my client regularly buys from a designer, they might respond with, “That’s not the person of interest we have for our trajectory this year.” Those comments are bothersome because our clients will likely end up wearing it somewhere, and the brand handler will be like, “Yeah, that’s dope.” I’m like, please give me that same respect and energy when I email you. I understand there’s secrecy in this space, but open your eyes and understand that we are the culture. There’s a lot that doesn’t move unless black culture gives it a go. We are the culture in fashion, music, and the entertainment industry.
I’ve rolled up to showrooms to personally speak to someone and try to understand why we’re having these issues, letting them know that we can do the work, if not ten times better. We come into these rooms with all this weight behind us, prepared to do the work.
Zoey: How is being a black celebrity stylist and hearing that other black celebrities prefer to work with white stylists instead of black ones?
Daniel: It’s just crazy to me because artists like Kodak Black and Method Man have white stylists. No shade, but how does a stylist who didn’t grow up in the culture understand the work from Wu-Tang or correlate with who Method Man is? Things like this happen because some PR person will put their friend on. I understand that, but at the same time, there are black friends I would never hire because they can’t do the work. For example, I was offered a job; actually, one of my white female friends hit me up with a list of at least 60 brands and asked if I had store managers or connections from this list. I said let’s hop on a call, and she told me she had never done this before; she’s more on the TV and film side. I suggested that I should take that job instead and she could be my assistant, and she told me no. The next day she asked if I still had time to do the job, and I told her no because I no longer had the time. But how did she get hired for that job in the first place?
Zoey: What is your approach to finding celebrities’ personal style?
Daniel: My approach is my energy. I’m so chilled about life. I understand that this pays and helps me get into doors, but I also know the value of life. It’s just clothing we’re talking about; it changes the world for somebody, but there’s other real stuff happening in the world. If you’re mad at me for a delay in a shirt coming or accessories for the red carpet, there’s so much deeper and bigger stuff happening. That’s why I stay so even-keeled and so chilled.
Zoey: So, who are some of the people in the fashion styling sector that you look up to?
Daniel: Groovy Lou that’s my OG, Jason Rembert, Law Roach, the Boldens, Daniel Lee. And to shout out someone in the PR space, Sandra Charles. She runs two showrooms, one in NYC and one in LA. She’s a monster; she really helps people get in the door.
Zoey: Is there any wisdom you’d like to share with people trying to break into this industry?
Daniel: Stay genuine, and honest, and this is a truthful in the industry, and understand that this doesn’t happen overnight, bro. You can have one good client, maintain a great relationship with that client, and still wonder where the next client is going to come from. So, stay true to the game. There are going to be ups and downs in this industry; use the down moments to prepare for when the consistency comes.
Daniel leaves an indelible mark, showcasing that true passion transcends boundaries. His story is one of determination, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. The future holds boundless possibilities for Daniel Jones, the visionary shaping the intersection of style, music, and sports.