Stylist Realizes Dreams on West Coast
Image provided by L. Jones.
She went from ‘Look for me on the Awards’ to ‘Catch me at Fashion Week’ to ‘I’m on set for 15 hours today.’
It took some time and some forcing herself into spaces where she wasn’t necessarily invited for wardrobe stylist LaQueita Antionette Jones or “Let LA Style You” to establish herself in the ever-so-tough Los Angeles fashion world. Worlds away from home in Dallas, Jones is the first to admit that the journey has not been easy.
“I’ve spent four years in Los Angeles trying to make a name for myself in a place full of strangers,” laughs Jones.
While time as moved as only time does, Jones reflects on lots of free gigs, lots of interning, Fashion Week styling freebies and even some bartering – all in the name of getting L.A. to embrace LA.
She has styled clients during Los Angeles Fashion Week, working side by side with influencers. Her expertise has afforded her opportunities to style Ruff Ryderz CEO Waah Dean, comedian Pierre Edwards, artist Dez Cleo and of course her good friend and fellow Texas to Los Angeles transplant – recording artist Jurni Rayne.
At one point a gentlemen named Luckie, who happens to be the creative director for celebrated recording artist Jhene Aiko was working on artist development for his new clients and introduced Jones to artist Chris Bones. She would go on to style the artist for both his seasonal photo shoots and a music video. That opportunity also linked Jones with Qveen Herby, formerly of the group Karmin. Jones has since styled Qveen Herby for the American Music Awards and for various photo shoots.
Now 32 years old, Jones is the Brand Manager for Irregular Exposure, a women’s ready to wear luxury brand in the heart of Los Angeles. While her new position has made her an excited student of the fashion industry, how Jones acquired the position is even more stirring.
Jessica Williams is the CEO and founder of Irregular Exposure. Jones followed her Instagram page The FashionPreneur Academy some time ago. The academy teaches women how to quit their jobs and work for themselves. Williams was offering a retreat one weekend and Jones was definitely interested, however, it just wasn’t in her budget. Instead of brushing off the opportunity, she emailed the event coordinator and asked if she could intern.
She received a yes. She met Williams. They took pictures together.
“After watching her, I was so inspired that I DM’d her and said I wanted to work with her in any fashion capacity,” says Jones.
Williams sent a generic response, thanking her for her interest. About one month later, Williams commented on one of Jones’ Instagram pictures: Check your DM. She had reviewed Jones’ resumes and told her ‘I need a brand manager.’
“She told me that I appeared to understand analytics and brands, all of the things she needed,” explains Jones. “We talked over the phone for an hour and a half, which turned out to be a phone interview. Before we were done, she called me into her office and told me to quit my job.”
Jones began her new position in early May this year, one day after her 32nd birthday. Williams and Irregular Exposure took her out of the corporate world and into fashion full time. Jones had been working in finance for Wells Fargo by day and dedicating her evenings and weekends to fashion.
Now she doesn’t have to juggle – she’s fully immersed in her passion. Even greater is the fact that her boss understands that “Let LA Style You” is still a priority for Jones and supports her.
“She doesn’t dim my creative light,” says Jones of Williams. “She even uses my hashtag #LetLAStyleYou and allows me to still work with my clients.”
Irregular Exposure is exactly what Jones never knew she always wanted. She was looking for anything based in fashion, but never thought she’d be a brand manager. Now her eyes are open to so many different dynamics of fashion beyond just pulling clothes. She’s behind the scenes, creating samples, watching the production manager source fabric. Jones is making sure the brand is working on sketches and seasonal collections. Her boss does everything in house, so she’s able to see both the development and the birth of great fashion. The office even has a new showroom and she’s able to style clients there.
Jones has to be a student of the market now and she welcomes that challenge. Days are longer (sometimes in excess of 15 hours), but so much more fulfilling.
Moving to Los Angeles was not easy. Jones admits that she didn’t have it all planned, but she just knew that she wanted to live on the west coast.
“I’ve grown so much as a wardrobe stylist,” she says. “I was too comfortable in Texas. In L.A. I really had to grind. I had to go out, meet people and network. This state is heavily saturated with people who want to do what you want to do and you’re forced to stand out.”
She doesn’t brag about what she’s accomplished, but Jones is very proud of herself for sticking it out in Los Angeles. While many people back home in Texas think she is living ‘the life’ – she’s quick to share about her many sleepless nights and admits to wondering if she made a mistake in leaving home.
“It has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” reminds Jones. “I still have bills that I hate and I know that I need to continue to work hard.”
She remembers crying to her mother a few months after moving to Los Angeles. She was alone. She didn’t know anyone. The bubbly stylist moved to Los Angeles with a plan, but that plan failed.
“I was supposed to have a job and then they had a hiring freeze,” she recalls. “I had to think quick. While looking for work, all of my funds were quickly depleting. My car was repossessed and it took help from home to get it back within 30 days.”
Her entrepreneurial spirit and her strong sense of responsibility got Jones a job back then - not in her desired field, but a job nonetheless. She got her car back and immediately repaid her mom for the help. The situation humbled her, but she’s ever so grateful that she could call home for help.
When moving west, she first found herself in Burbank, California. Then Jones briefly lived in Santa Clarita. Today she lives in North Hollywood and loves it. The area is rich with creatives - dancers, actors, models and such.
As for the future, Jones would love to have a home back in Texas one day. The bicoastal lifestyle would suit her soul just fine.
“I’m going to go wherever God tells me to go,” says Jones. “If they need me in LA - I’m in LA. If they need me in New York - I’m in New York. If they need me in another country – that’s where I’m going.”
