“I’m a red carpet boy,” says celebrity stylist Jason Bolden. “That’s my heart and my soul.”
It’s certainly his best-known medium, dressing Yara Shahidi, Janet Mock, Taraji P. Henson, and many, many more for the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, and plenty of other red carpet events. Soon, though, you’ll soon know him as Jason Bolden: Netflix star.
On August 30, the streaming service premieres Styling Hollywood, which takes you behind the scenes at JSN Studio, the celebrity styling and interior design firm he runs with husband Adair Curtis, and at some pretty stress-inducing moments—like how Henson didn’t have a gown for the 2018 Emmys until a few hours before her red carpet call time.
Taraji P. Henson wearing Giambattista Valli at the 2018 Emmys.
Neilson Barnard“Obviously, I don’t come from the world of reality or docu-series—I’m just a full-blown creative. In the moment, I remember thinking, ‘Why is this happening, and why is there a camera here?,’” Bolden says. “I keep everything so hidden because it’s not something your client needs to know. It’s not their concern. You’re the magician.”
Now, he can laugh about the incident. (Oh, and don’t worry—Henson knows the backstory, too.) “I’ve proven myself [with my clients], in the trust of it all,” Bolden says. “We have this magical relationship where no one has these diva meltdowns. It’s just like, ‘Okay, cool, let’s figure it out.’ Everyone only sees the beautiful photo, when that celebrity gets out of the car and does that pose. It’s such a quick moment when you’re there, so you push through it. And they’re so used to it. I’m still a little freaked out, but it’s fine.”
Yara Shahidi wearing Prabal Gurung at the 2019 BET Awards.
Aaron J. Thornton