The sartorially luxurious producer -- whose wardrobe includes everything from zany patterned bomber jackets to $300,000 diamond watches -- is constantly stepping out in fresh ensembles. For this week's Stylist Spotlight, Billboard caught up with Terrell Jones, the creative mind and primary designer behind Khaled's style success, for a glimpse into what it's like to dress one of the biggest names in the industry.
After breaking onto the scene as an assistant to celeb stylist Michelle Lisath, Jones worked his way up, proving himself to be the go-to stylist for celebs like Diddy, Fat Joe, Tracee Ellis Ross and eventually DJ Khaled. The 38-year-old Harlem native has been with Khaled since the beginning of his career, 14 years to be exact, and together they have reached great sartorial heights. "The best part about working with Khaled is he isn't afraid to step out of the box," the stylist told Billboard. "He loves colors and prints, unlike most men."
Not only is Jones Khaled's stylist, but he's also his custom designer, crafting silk jumpsuits and co-ords that help to match the rapper-producer's "bold, confident and versatile" style. "Every man should have a custom suit in their closet, one that's specifically tailored for you," said Jones, who has outfitted Khaled with dozens of custom suits in a myriad of colors and styles. And one trend he thinks it's time to leave behind? "Motorcycle jackets. I think the trend is so overdone at this point...we should let that go and then bring them back in a few years."
While it's obvious loyalty is key to the artists' almost two-decade-long relationship, the infectious optimism that DJ Khaled is known for definitely has something to do with it, and that gratitude seems to have rubbed off on Jones as well. "My favorite Khaled styling moment was actually doing the cover shoot for Grateful," Jones said. "Taking what I created for Khaled and downsizing it for his son Asahd -- not everyone is blessed with that opportunity."
