With one hand tucked into the pocket of his pressed slacks and two fingers in the air hailing a cab, SF State marketing major Bryce Jones’ sense of style is as sharp the San Francisco skyline. His leather Oxfords have made their way from downtown Fresno to styling clients in the heart of the city.
“Growing up, I didn’t feel like I was the coolest kid, but I could always do what I wanted to do in terms of outfits,” Jones, said.
Jones said he likes to maintain a modern and mature aesthetic and makes sure that everything he wears is fashion forward. He shops at Banana Republic and H&M; but also likes to collect a few designer pieces. His favorite designers are Tom Ford, Paul Smith and Givenchy – designers who have that crisp and modern aesthetic to their clothing.
Jones has been working for Johnston and Murphy, an American shoe store, for a year now and also models for H.L. James, a brand for men’s luxury bags. He said he wants to pursue a long-term career with H.L. James, which he hopes will earn him a full-time job either modeling or styling.
“In my opinion, I think that men’s fashion is better than women’s fashion,” said Jones. “A lot of my clients tell me that they wish they made men’s clothes in women’s sizes.”
Jones said that he doesn’t follow trends and instead creates his own looks as the seasons change. He said his favorite seasons are winter and fall because he likes to layer. In spring and summer he factors in bursts of color to give his outfits a little flare.
SF State communications major Erika Campos, 21, is also from Fresno and said she always notices Jones’ fashion.
“I think he has super good taste in men’s fashion,” she said. “I like that he steps out of the box and is original when it comes to putting his outfits together. If I was a guy, I would want to dress like him.”
Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, A$AP Rocky and Jones’ sister are just a few of his style inspirations, Jones said. He said he enjoys their neutral color aesthetic.
“In terms of inspiration, my sister played a huge role in inspiring me to use muted colors, and at the same time (inspired me) to use fashion as my own look,” Jones said.
Jones’ sister, Arielle Jones, 23, was awarded best new face for San Francisco Fashion Week last year and graduated from SF State in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing.
“I think part of my inspiration to Bryce was aesthetics,” Arielle Jones said. “I think what I’ve seen him carry with him is that no one can wear you like you. Comfort in yourself makes what you put on your body secondary.”
Bryce Jones, a marketing student at SF State and fashion connoisseur, poses in front of Johnston & Murphy, a quality men’s and women’s shoe and clothing store after work in Union Square Friday, Sept. 18. (Alex Kofman / Xpress)
According to Arielle Jones, her brother has demonstrated that it’s all right to invest in things that make people more comfortable being themselves. Clothes don’t just have to be a means of covering one’s body, she said.
Putting on the right outfit can inspire people, according to Jones.
“First impression is based off of appearance,” Jones said. “And putting on the right outfit makes you feel a certain type of way throughout the day.”
