Homewood, Ala. native Jordan Jemison just might be the most stylish man on campus! His passion for fashion is certainly notable, especially once you see his amazing sketches! We got Jordan to give us the inside scoop on everything from designers, to upcoming trends, to styles he loves, and even to styles he hates!
HC Auburn: Where are you from?
Jordan: I’m originally from Homewood, which is a suburb of Birmingham, AL.
HC Auburn: What is your major and minor
Jordan: I’m an Apparel Design major with a minor in Italian and working on a minor in International Studies.
HC Auburn: What groups/organizations are you involved with both on and off campus?
Jordan: I’m a member of the Auburn Italian Club, the Auburn Modeling Board, and the Apparel Merchandising and Design Association. I also work at the most incredible store on earth U&I Boutique.
HC Auburn: Tell us about your recent trip you took to Los Angeles with local boutique, “U&I.”
Jordan: It was actually a buying trip that I went on for the store. We ventured through the LA garment district and did some on-the-spot buying from the vendors. It was so great to really get a first hand perspective on buying for retail clothing stores. Also the trip was insightful because it highlighted the vast amount of opportunities in fashion that LA offers.
HC Auburn: What do you foresee being the hottest trend for Spring 2013?
Jordan: Neutrals and the mixing of animal prints! It was so in last season to see color blocking done so well, but this year I see a much more moderate and neutral color palate taking shape. And I LOVE it! I’m not a huge fan of color but I do still want to see the occasional color pop of an electric hue. And as far as pattern mixing goes that has been in for a minute. But what I foresee is the mixing of prints! Like snake skins, zebra, leopard and other animal inspired prints. Cheetah print is making a subtle return too.
HC Auburn: Were there any fashion trends from 2012 that you could not stand?
Jordan: PAJAMA SUITS!!! Rihanna was known for the Stella McCartney bomb she wore last year! I hated that trend and it was everywhere. Also I noticed that hemlines dropped a bit. There was a more conservative approach to the hem length of skirts and dresses. I’m a man who loves Versace and like them I say keep em’ short and sweet! I’m not a fan of matronly hemlines. A woman can still be classy with a skirt that isn’t past her knees I promise.
HC Auburn: In three words, how would you describe your style?
Jordan: I would describe my style as Madonna on some days and Kanye West on others. Either way it’s a far cry from the fashion of Auburn University. I can be so inconsistent with my style too! I can feel very GQ and like the classic man some days and other days I just want to throw on a leather kilt, combat boots, and a sweatshirt and parade around like Marc Jacobs. I couldn’t narrow my style down to one thing if I tried.
HC Auburn: Who is/are your favorite designer(s)?
Jordan: Givenchy is my spirit animal! I love the French and Givenchy is why! Riccardo Tisci is the creative director for them and I almost obsess over his design eye. Especially when it comes to the menswear! He is also good friends with Kanye and I love my Kanye soooooo… it’s kind of a given that I love them. I love Versace too. I’m always a fan of overt sexiness and embracing a woman’s figure. Versace does that perfectly. And I will say that one of my guilty pleasures lately has been Chanel. I’m not one for the ultra feminine style but something tells me I could design for them one day and make them diabolical, in a sexy way of course.
HC Auburn: Who is your celebrity style icon?
Jordan: Rihanna! I love her for what she refuses to do. And that’s give a damn. She wears what she wants how she wants and that’s how I live day to day! Fashion is a form of self-expression, not other people’s, and she gets that. She expresses herself for herself and I love that! Also Daniel Craig is another for me! I love him in his perfectly tailored Tom Ford suits.
HC Auburn: What would you say is your dream job?
Jordan: Owning my own fashion house and watching it become a global juggernaut! I would love to model my design system after that of Marc Jacobs or Giorgio Armani. I don’t aim to just design, I aim to conquer the world and all while dressed in fine leather and Givenchy sneakers. When I was in LA standing on Rodeo drive looking directly at Chanel and Prada. I just imagined my store nestled right in between. That’s what I’m working towards. I’m gonna get there too. One of the things that I know is going to get me to the success I dream about are my design ideas. I have a sketchbook that I think is the key to my future. My designs are all original creations and they come from everything. My inspiration can be broad or specific. It can stem from a time in my life that I hated or one that I loved. My designs definitely showcase my appreciation for the woman’s body. I may be gay but I definitely appreciate a woman’s body and my dresses highlight that especially.