I met Miss J’Lea on my first day working for American Eagle Outfitters. I admit I can’t remember exactly what outfit she was wearing that particular day, but what I do remember is HOW she wore it. It was an off-the-wall mix of new and old, bright and subdued colors, and sheer lightweight fabrics with some chunk knits thrown in. She had colorful tights on and she was wearing a hat. I know it sounds like a lot but she pulled it together in a way that only seasoned outfit coordinators can do. It made sense. She looked like no one else but herself (a sigh and a hallelujah).
Her outfit was telling a very clear story to me. This is only my interpretation, but notice how much information I got out of one outfit. First of all, the hat. Most ‘hat pe ople’ that I know share similar characteristics. They are self-aware, independent and a little to a lot eccentric. It takes guts to wear hats and not everyone can pull it off. Secondly, the different fabrics, textures and colors that were brought together. I interpreted this as her being someone who is very observant and likes a lot of different things, so much so that she couldn’t pare her outfit down to just a few items. She was probably a collector of objects and anything that is visually stimulating. Everything she owned most likely had a story, place, or memory attached to it. Her bright tights told me she didn’t take herself too seriously and the intellect that went into the outfit-making process demonstrated a good amount of life lived in her mere 24 years of existence. With all of this subliminal data collected, it was evident to me that she knew a lot of different things and had a lot to say. My kind of person. We are friends 
J’Lea Gibson, 24
Product Stylist / American Eagle
BT: What inspires your personal style?
JG: Mostly film, especially the movie The Warriors (Walter Hill, 1979), and menswear.
BT: What is your thought process when getting dressed?
JG: Most of my outfits revolve around shoes. I would say I have a consistent theme of mixing the feminine with the masculine and hard textures and silhouettes with the soft. I like to contrast prints and colors: basically bringing opposites together in my own way. The majority of my closet is vintage and second hand clothing and I throw those together with some trend pieces.
BT: What’s in your iPod?
JG: Florence and the Machine, Miike Snow, La Roux, Junior Boys and Lady Gaga.
BT: Favorite book?
JG: The Hotel New Hampshire, by John Irving
BT: What is your dream job?
JG: Costume Designer or Style Advisor
Never leave home with-out a story to tell. Fashion is FUN & this chicka knows how to work it ! Never be scared of fashion, remember the dayz of playing dress-up ….well what makes it different now~ well other than most of us actually know what were doing when we put it all togeather =] my shout out to you both ! CHEERS TO DAT !
Comment by Pam — October 29, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
This is my kind of lady! A fellow shoewhore! love it!
Comment by Nicolle — October 29, 2009 @ 1:39 pm