Jason Bolden
Jason Bolden | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 27, 1982 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, creative director, fashion stylist |
| Known for | Celebrity styling, JSN Studio |
| Notable work | Styling Hollywood (Netflix series) |
Jason Bolden (born February 27, 1982) is a prominent American entrepreneur, creative director, and fashion stylist. Together with his husband, interior designer Adair Curtis, he established JSN Studio.
Education and early career
At the age of 18, Bolden relocated from St. Louis to Chicago to pursue pre-med studies at Northwestern University, with the goal of becoming an OBGYN. He later transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago, where working at a Cynthia Rowley boutique ignited his interest in fashion. Bolden accumulated valuable experience collaborating with brands such as Nicole Miller, Louis Vuitton, Chloé, Gucci, and Oscar de la Renta, cultivating a clientele with considerable means.
Following graduation, Bolden moved to New York City and co-established The Garment Room, a vintage apparel shop located in SoHo. The store became a creative hub for designers from labels including Calvin Klein, Akris, and Ralph Lauren, who frequented it for inspiration on their collections.
Career as celebrity stylist
In 2011, Bolden’s styling career gained momentum when Gabrielle Union invited him to style her for an event at Art Basel. During the early 2010s, encouragement from his client Taraji P. Henson—who foresaw his growing prominence—bolstered his confidence to pursue styling full-time.
By 2013, Bolden partnered with Brazilian footwear brand Schutz to create a shoe collection. He joined Rihanna’s beauty and stylist agency, Fr8me, in 2015. The following year marked the launch of a sunglasses line under his JSN Studio label.
In 2021, Bolden collaborated with designer Zac Posen to conduct a virtual training initiative supported by New York Fashion Week, designed to empower young people from diverse backgrounds entering the fashion sector.
For the 95th Academy Awards held in March 2023, Bolden styled notable figures such as Michael B. Jordan, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jay Ellis for both the ceremony and subsequent after parties. His trademark approach of casual luxury was evident in all ensembles. Typically, Bolden arranges one or two fittings shortly before events and finalizes jewelry selections on the day itself.
In January 2025, Bolden expanded his influence in fashion marketing by styling Taylor Zakhar Perez for the Lacoste underwear campaign.
Political views
In 2020, Bolden publicly criticized French luxury houses Celine and Yves Saint Laurent for what he described as superficial support of the Black Lives Matter movement. This followed incidents of discrimination experienced by Bolden along with other Black stylists, celebrities, and models connected to these brands. He currently holds a position on the board of the Black Fashion and Beauty Council, an organization dedicated to advancing Black creatives within the industry.
In 2021, Booth Moore of Women's Wear Daily drew attention to the scarcity of garments by Black designers showcased at the Golden Globe Awards. In response, Bolden and fellow celebrity stylist Law Roach pointed out systemic gatekeeping that restricts Black stylists’ access to certain brands and clothing. They emphasized that the responsibility for altering these industry barriers rests with affluent white and non-Black artists and executives rather than Black stylists themselves.
Public image
In 2012, Bolden's wedding was featured as one of the earliest Black gay marriages televised on a major network during an episode of VH1's La La's Full Court Life. He also appears regularly as a judge on Netflix's Next in Fashion.
August 2019 saw the release of Netflix's Styling Hollywood, a series that explores Bolden's personal and professional partnership with his husband, interior designer Adair Curtis. This program was among the pioneering shows to center on a Black gay married couple, highlighting two accomplished Black men working in luxury fashion and interior design—industries traditionally dominated by white professionals. In 2022, Family Equality honored Bolden and Curtis with the Visibility Award at LA Impact: A Night of Heroes.
Personal life
Bolden has received unwavering support from his family regarding his sexual orientation and has been vocal in addressing misconceptions about homophobia within Black communities.
He tied the knot with interior designer Adair Curtis in 2012. Their son, Arrow Fox, was welcomed into their family in 2021.
A passionate art enthusiast, Bolden exhibited his collection at Sotheby's in 2021. His initial focus included Hermès handbags and artworks by Joan Mitchell, Keith Haring, and Picasso; however, after gaining insight into the importance of Black art through Aryn Drake-Lee, he redirected his collection exclusively toward artists of color. Presently, his holdings feature works by Kehinde Wiley and Kwame Brathwaite. Additionally, Bolden is known to be an avid sneaker collector.
Bolden serves as godfather to Zaya Wade. When she publicly embraced her transgender identity at age eight, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union-Wade consulted Bolden and Curtis for guidance on supporting their daughter.