Kasey M. Jones grew up on good fashion. “My grandmother and Aunt Erinestine hate to shop, but they can find anything and put it together and accessorize it with the best jewelry and look amazing,” she says. “Then my Uncle William and my grandfather are the best dressed men in my entire family: they have suits, shoes, shirts, hats and pants in every color one can imagine. Then they accessorize with the fancy print ties and cuff links; they will put any one to shame for not looking as good as they do. But,” she continues, “I have to give it to my Aunt Erine; I’m always raiding her huge closet—you can find everything in there…So there really is no need for me to go shopping at ALL.”
After years of absorbing the incredible style of her loved ones, following fashion bloggers and reposting fabulous looks on Tumblr, Jones (a.k.a. Raquel Mac) launched her own blog, Maven of Fashion©. From “Look for Less” features to trend reports to contests, Jones runs content that’s both informative and inspiring. “We are constantly adding more, like a Men’s Corner,” she adds. “I cannot forget about the men.”
The English major is always thinking about her readers; her dedication to writing is something she cites as a major reason she enrolled at Chatham. “I chose Chatham for their strong English department and for the small classes that would give a better atmosphere for learning,” she says. Even with her passion for the pen, Jones isn’t stopping with English; she’s already minoring in African American Studies. “After having Dr. Wardi as a teacher, she blessed me with the knowledge to learn more about my culture,” she says. Jones is also considering a second major or minor in Business—a logical next move for a sophomore taking her new venture so seriously: “I hope to grow it into a brand.”
Chatham is a great place for Jones to grow her audience. “As a Chatham woman I have access to so many opportunities and resources that allow me to share my talents with everyone,” she says. Jones’ fashion sense is one gift that hasn’t gone unnoticed on campus: from the awesome outfits she puts together for class to the stellar color-blocked frock she wore to Spring Formal, Jones is always ready to try something new and stunning. Her advice to HC Chatham readers? “Just be you and try something new; always add something to your closet, no matter the price, as long as it fits your body type. For the summer it’s all about turning heads and stepping outside the box with bright colors and fun times. The price does not matter!” Jones is a master at shopping on a college budget. What is Jones’ best stress reliever? “Going through racks and racks of clothes at the local Goodwill, Avalon, even Consignment shops and Ebay,” she says. “I love these stores more than ever and very rarely do I buy clothes offline, but if I have to I will go to Forever21 or Riverlink.com.”
She’s certainly looking forward to stocking up on some new looks just in time for beautifully warm weather. “This summer I want to try it all: army fatigue pants, big purses, clutches, sloppy buns, long bone straight hair, bright colors, long skirts and mini skirts and lots and lots of jewelry! I love gold jewelry and bright colors and large purses! So this summer I want to be able to say, ‘been there done that, what is next?’”
While what’s next for Jones on the fashion front remains to be seen, the aspiring Speaker of the House is definitely focused on her future. When it comes to her current project, Jones says, “This is just the beginning.” With so much drive, energy and ambition, it’s safe to say that she’s definitely right.