Carlton Jones: Stylist Turned Designer

Dynamic American designer Carlton Jones has been working in fashion for a while as a stylist to Lenny Kravitz, Michelle Obama, Halle Berry and Aretha Franklin, to mention just a few well known public figures. And Carlton was the first stylist to put Queen Latifah in a dress.

It was clear to Jones that receiving a degree in Business Management would be a great asset accompanying his love of fashion. A native of Wilmington, North Carolina; Carlton relocated to New York in 1990 to find where his love would lead. Landing at Barney’s New York, where he first encountered wardrobe stylists; his calling was realized. Carlton Jones’s first big break came styling Queen Latifah for her Black Reign album promotions. Softening the rap image of the beloved songstress was a move that caught many an industry eye. Combining the buzz with the newfound representation of Zoli Management, doors began opening in every direction.

Working as Fashion Editor for Noir Magazine, and Style Director for Latino targeted magazine Mia, this provided an extensive creative network proving quite valuable. Given the opportunity to produce shoots and pull admired teams together, this allowed Carlton Jones’s creative expressions to vibrate loudly; reaching not only industry professionals, but readers and other demographics. Here is where Carlton Jones developed an eye of bringing runway couture to a wearable street sensibility.

This sensibility proved quite valuable, as Jones began to appear on countless daytime television shows, providing commentary, makeovers and style tips. Gaining notoriety as an eloquent Fashion Correspondent and style innovator, with this on-air exposure, Carlton Jones soon became quite sought after by such industry giants as Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Tyra Banks, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Aretha Franklin. Over the years this clientele has expanded to include other notables such as Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Jay-Z, Halle Berry, Lenny Kravitz, Nicki Minaj and even our First Lady Michelle Obama.

Along the way, he managed to find time to design clothes too.  A self-described “veteran stylist, nascent designer, cappeirsta, Capricorn, and citizen of the world,” Jones utilizes his experience with such iconic personalities and body types, and incorporates his fondness of relaxed fluidity, sensual fabrics, colors and prints with a seasoned ability to forgive and accentuate. His first showing at New York Fashion week for Spring/Summer 2019 is resort inspired. Describing his designs as “poolside red carpet” fashion, Carlton creates ready-to-wear night and day designs for men and women. He uses eclectic prints and a rayon fabric that looks and feels remarkably like silk, in a color palette that ranges from sandy neutrals to brights. This fall capsule of a resort-inspired collection furthers Jones’ aesthetic that “resort isn’t a destination, it’s a Feeling.”

We’ve got a feeling there are only good things to come from Carlton Jones.

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Photo Credit: Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.com