Bal Harbour

"I'm interested in men and women who are SHIFTING THE PLANET. I love, being in the space where I can be a PART OF A TRANSITION and help create a new narrative." —JASON BOLDEN making, world-shifting moment. See Serena Williams in high-octane Versace and sneakers as the co-chair of the 2019 Met Gala; Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman on the cover of Time magazine enveloped in her favorite color, canary yellow; the trademark greys that were procured for painter Amy Sherald, in the form of a fringed crop top and skirt for the unprecedented unveiling of her grisaille portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery. "It's more than a beautiful dress," says Bolden, describing his process. "It's about listening. What happens a lot is that stylists push an idea of what we want for someone, but we miss their words and feelings. Everybody wants to be heard and be seen." On any size screen, you can watch Bolden's friends and clients unfold like paper napkins in his presence and bloom when in his clothes. In one episode of Styling Hollywood, Henson paces nervously around her hotel room before a red carpet, then honies when she steps into a fantastically embroidered Giambattista Valli floral mini dress with a full train. "She loves to play with a skirt," Bolden asides to himself in an earlier episode. In another, Sabrina Carpenter's steely gaze softens to childlike wonder when he translates her request for "Girl Boss" into a sharp-shouldered Tom Ford pinstripe suit, no shirt necessary. Of course, it helps that Bolden's clients are people worth listening to. They are cultural trailblazers including groundbreaking actresses (Zazie Beets, Yara Shahidi), musicians (Alicia Keys), artists (Sherald), athletes (Williams) writers (Gorman), and directors (Janet Mock, Mindy Kaling), all of whom continue to command more seats at more tables. "I'm interested in men and women who are shifting the planet," he says of his roster. "I love being in the space where I can be a part of a transition and help create a new narrative." One he's personally pushing is "Black Girl Magic," something of a catch phrase he utters when one of his powerful clients happily shines in the spotlight, her megawattage growing with every camera lens trained on her and every Best Dressed list she tops. "Cynthia [Erivo] keeps popping up for me," Bolden says when asked for an example. He recalls the 2020 Oscars, when she was first nominated, not once, but twice for Harriet in the categories of best leading actress and best song. She dreamed of attending in Versace. Bolden clinched the deal, delivering a white ball gown finished with a swirling star-studded bodice that had the effect of a fairy godmother-crafted transformation caught in motion. Donatella Versace saw personally to a fitting. "When Cynthia saw her, she began to weep," says Bolden, "That's what keeps me here. I get to be a part of supporting someone's dream coming true." Next stop the Met Gala, for which he will be dressing 15 clients, four of whom will be attending for the first time. He's coy about who will be wearing what, but offers, "I love everything Pierpaolo is doing for Valentino, what Daniel is doing for Bottega and Laura and Fernando with Oscar de la Renta—there's something really special about that. It's an awakening of overlooked talent to have opportunity in fashion." Between fittings with Keys, Erivo and Jordan, Bolden's plate fills with putting the finishing touches on Dwyane Wade and Union's LA home, and settling into his and Curtis's own new residence, which includes a nursery for Arrow. To his surprise, Arrow is starting to gain his own flock of fans. "It's the weirdest thing." He's a master at making a star. BAL HARBOUR 75 BAL HARBOUR 75

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