Signature Style

StyleLikeU Pre-Fashion Week Party

2012-02-10T00:56:00.000-08:00

StyleLikeU is one of the premier style blogs in existence today and I expect that this is mainly because of their unique and intimate portrayals of some of the nations most stylish citizens. They've got fans anxiously waiting for the each new style feature as each one seems to be a bit more fantastic than the last.

This past Wednesday they hosted an extremely Posh pre-fashion week party at STAY on East Houston and it would be an understatement to say that it was just "fun". It was a phenomenal success! The guests were impeccable and the DJ kept us dancing well into the morning.

Yes the night was Indeed grand! It was a photographers paradise and I had a field day in there capturing each stylish passerby in between dances with Terry. I felt rather dapper and at home in the sea of style gurus that surrounded me. I sported my new navy blue blazer (courtesy of my good friend, Kia from Pretty in Penury) along with a red button up ( probably the loudest shirt I own) and a beaded blue handmade necklace. They loved the necklace which I guess was a pretty dope alternative to the traditional bow tie.

Point for Dex! lol

Again I can't stress how much of a great time I had (which is pretty monumental because I'm hardly the party type).

Be sure to check out more of the photos at:

SirrealPhoto.tumblr.com

Written by Terry Lovette and Dex R.Jones

Photos by Dexter R. Jones

Lincoln New Century Craftsmanship Kevin Stewart

2012-02-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

Winter Heat

2012-02-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

It's the first day of February and I can remember just less than a month ago, shooting our latest feature for SirReal Style on what felt like the coldest day of winter we'd had. But maybe a month before that, I photographed a nude model on a rooftop in Brooklyn and she didn't even have goosebumps. Well guess what. It was 62 degrees out today, the sun was shining again, and I didn't even have to wear a coat.

Although the drastic fluctuations in the climate in what's supposed to be winter season do worry me, I was more than happy to show off the new colorful shirt and simple Dickies suspenders I picked up from the good will in Jersey. 'Twas a beautiful day. Winter time and the living is easy. Still can't fully get used to that idea. I'm still anxiously awaiting the summer provided everything isn't completely topsy-turvy. Hopefully it won't be an ice age.

photos by Terry Lovette

learn more about our climate change here

Trending: The Leather Boot

2012-01-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

There's absolutely nothing wrong with indulging whole heartedly into the occasional trend. Today we spotlight the beloved and oh so versatile Leather Boot.In this past year we've all seen the leather boot become the Top pick, most trendy and in demand of all the shoe styles in fashion. Be it classic distressed leather Combat or polished patent leather Doc Martin , everyone has got theirs and in a few different colors and styles. The Vintage gently worn or distressed look is the most popular amongst the vast majority of urbanites and those style gurus wishing to achieve that urban edge made popular by the starving artists and grunge population of downtown New York.

The Leather boot though mainly worn in the cold weather months of the fall and winter were seamlessly and surprisingly worked into spring and summer collections last year nation wide creating a fantastically androgynous style outbreak. Floral dresses and Leather boots,Brighter colors and lighter leathers, it was great and the androgyny lingers into the New Year. Check out these ladies in their distressed leather and oversized everything! Fur and wool coats, exaggerated scarves and leather bags.

Photos by Dexter R. Jones

SIGNATURE STYLE: PRETTY IN PENURY

2012-01-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

Kia Chenelle & Christiana Maria Greene are fancy girls with not-so-fancy pockets. They call themselves Pretty in Penury and they are the stylish yet thrifty shoppers behind everyone's new favorite style blog. Collectively, they have backgrounds in styling, modeling, and photography. But apart from all that, it's my pleasure to actually introduce them to you as friends of mine.

We got together on what felt like one of the coldest days we've had this unusually generous winter. What makes it worse is that neither of them were expecting to be shooting outside. I figured I should take the blame for that since every two minutes of shooting they reminded me just how cold it was. But being the considerate person I am, I made it snappy.

Like I said, we're friends, so the shoot was hardly business as usual. Mixed in was a lot of chilling, laughing, eating, and conversation centered around topics such as the challenges of maintaining a style blog that stands out from the rest, the difference between good will and vintage, or how great a snack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches make.

Yes, when times are hard, that's what your diet may sometimes look like. Which brings us back to the main point. Penury by definition means extreme poverty. While I can assure you that neither of these women are impoverished, none of us can afford to not be more careful with our paychecks now-a-days. But when it comes to fashion, too many of us believe that we should spare no expense to catch the eye of a new love interest or leave a good impression on a potential employer. Pretty in Penury prove that you don't have to. If you really want to be honest, the expensive name brand stuff really aren't that hot and wearing them doesn't make you stand out. Thinking outside of the box is what separates you from a stylish person and just a fashionable one.

With all that said, I think I've pretty much described to you just what makes Pretty in Penury our new Signature Style feature.

"I never feel like people should box themselves into any one concept. That goes for jobs, clothes or relationships. Just live."

See the full Signature Style feature with Pretty in Penury below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More dex r. jones

For Vintage Elegance

2012-01-18T04:41:00.000-08:00

It was Halloween when, my friend, Nneka and I got together so she could photograph me and my style for a school project she was working on entitled Vintage Elegance, but it felt like a summer day. I've never thought of myself as a stylish person but I pulled out some of my favorite pieces for my day in front of the camera. My career is spent behind the camera so I anticipated this being a bit of a challenge but everything is a breeze when you're spending quality time with friends.

Turns out I was a lot more comfortable than I thought I'd be. I should probably mention, however, that it is universal law that when you look good, you also feel good.

[Blazer: Liz Claiborne | Vest: unknown | Shirt: Arrow | Jeans: Levi]

[Hat: Converse | Glasses: unknown]

[Shoes: Bostonian Classics]

[Hat: unknown | Sunglasses: unknown | Coat: Lodenfrey | Scarf: unknown | Shirt: Blair]

Photography by Nneka Salmon

The Shoemaker

2012-01-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

The Shoemaker from Pete Stone on Vimeo.

OPEN CLOSET: KIA & CHRISTIANA

2012-01-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

Photos by Dexter R. Jones
© All Rights Reserved

KEVIN STEWART

2012-01-14T05:55:00.000-08:00

Photos by Dexter R. Jones
© All Rights Reserved

2012-01-04T04:04:00.000-08:00

Meeting Kevin Stewart

2011-12-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have a sit-down with Kevin Stewart, Co-owner and Designer for Roger Charles New York. Although I photographed some of his shirts for the DapperAfrika project, this was my first time actually meeting him. The calm vibes of coffee shops always set the tone for easy conversation. Once he ordered his cup, Kevin told me as successful as Roger Charles is, he never gets the chance to actually see people in his shirts. We laughed and I finally got to show him the unseen photos from the shoot. I shared with him some of my future plans for the SirReal brand and while he shared some of the concepts for the next line of Roger Charles wear, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture him.

Photos by Dexter R. Jones

SIGNATURE STYLE: SHANA DONIELLE

2011-12-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

I was first introduced to Shana Donielle when I snapped a photo of her on the first day of African Fashion Week NY in the summer of 2011. As to be expected there was a sea of stylish individuals present that night but Shana was one of the few to catch my eye. She was there with another notable style icon, Joshua Kissi of Street Etiquette, wearing an oversized tropical floral patterned blazer, a mint green shirt, with an orange head wrap and pearl earrings.

I soon found out that Shana, a California native, indeed had a reputation for being one of the most stylish people in the room. She also runs a very sought-after blog called kneehighsandlove that has all the fashion forwarders begging to find out where she found some of her most signature pieces. Months later when I decided to finally start building Signature Style, I figured Shana would be the perfect person to kick things off.

When I showed up at Shana's home. She had already had 5 outfits laid out ready for shooting and she asked me to pick which one I wanted to shoot first. I automatically set my sights on her rabbit fur coat she found at Unique Thrift in Brooklyn. While we were shooting we got to talking about a lot of different things: music, style, photography, neighbors, and neighborhoods. I was overall pleasantly surprised at how humble she was and we both found ourselves laughing at her "dorky" antics.

But Shana is more than just a pretty smile, winning personality, and an impeccable style that might just remind you of your granny. She's an intellectual who is wise beyond her years. So I guess you can say she has EVERYTHING going for her.

"...over the years, I have evolved. I’ve lived in 3 different states, met hundreds of different people, embarked on lots of different ventures, and all of those things some good and some bad, plays a major role in the way that I dress and act today. So when I say that I am a combined effort, everyone that has ever been in my life, made me who I am today."

See the full Signature Style feature with Shana Donielle below:

NEEKID BLK GURLS EXHIBIT OPENING @ RUSH ARTS GALLERY

2011-12-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

2011-12-27T20:02:00.001-08:00

Photos by Dexter R. Jones

OPEN CLOSET: SHANA DONIELLE

2011-12-27T20:00:00.001-08:00

2011-12-27T19:56:00.001-08:00