Lacey Jones

Classification: Senior

Major: Studio Art

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Lacey Jones views fashion as more than just the clothes one wears on their back, but as an expression of the stories, quirks, and individuality that makes people who they truly are. Whether it’s through photography, art, or fashion, Lacey’s creativity catches the eyes of many. Her free spirit is contagious and she sees fashion as an avenue to share her beliefs and passions with others. Get ready, because she is this week’s So Hot Right Now!

How would you describe your style in three words? Vintage, artsy, funky

Where are some of your favorite places to shop? Free People is always my go-to for clothes because I know I’ll love almost everything they sell, but I also get a lot of my clothes from thrift stores! I love supporting local businesses and buying from second-hand sellers because re-used clothes have more character and spunk. I like when things have a story behind them. I wear the same white tank top with a huge coffee stain on it at least once a week because it reminds me of the time a friend spilled coffee on me at a party. 

What role does fashion play in your life? Being a creative person, fashion has always been a way for me to experiment with colors, textures, prints and styles, but over the last year or so it has also become a unique way to stir conversation & share my faith . I’m a photographer and in that world I get to meet a lot of diverse people from different backgrounds, a lot of whom don’t have a faith or even know what that means (check out John 3:16, if you’re curious). Through fashion, photography, art, whatever it may be, I get to start conversations and then further point it back to The Greatest Creator. Attributing all of my success to something greater than myself seems to be a foreign concept to a lot of people I meet. I always enjoy getting to talk about clothes and cameras and all the artsy things, but I enjoy talking about Jesus significantly more! 

What trends are you currently into? I’m really into funky shoes right now. I recently bought a pair of all-white cowboy boots and have tried to wear them as much as I can because I like to get a lot of use out of my statement pieces. I also have some black + brown zebra platform boots that I LOVE and wear them to a lot of my photoshoots because they always stir conversation! Also really loving the trucker hat trend.

Who is your style inspiration? Does the Free People catalog count? Haha, I don’t really follow a lot of stylists and don’t get on social media much nowadays, but Emma Watson has been a huge influence on me over the last few years when it comes to fashion. Her quote “my idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder” has stuck with me over the years as fashion has become more and more about how your body looks rather than a unique form of self-expression. I’m never one to judge others because I always want my butt to look good in a pair of jeans, but at the end of the day I personally would rather my fashion choices be a reflection of my creativity + character than my figure. 

What is one piece of clothing that you couldn’t live without? Definitely my reebok vintage club c’s. I wear them every single day and they go with everything I own. Next to this… probably my XXL grey Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt that I basically live in and bought from this cool vintage booth at a farmers market in California. 

What is a closet staple that you think everyone should own? Graphic tees, a great pair of Levi’s, and some white sneakers. That’s more than one item but you can 100% get by with wearing that every day and nobody will ask questions. Also it’s comfy and you still look cute. 

What are your plans for the upcoming year? I’m a senior in college so right now I’m just soaking up life as it is! I’m learning a lot about what it looks like to live in the present and be grateful for where God has me right now. I’m a pretty free spirit so this is quite the contrast from my never-ending desire to be doing something or going somewhere! I’m excited for post-grad though, right now I plan on pursuing photography full-time with my freelance work (self plug @laceyjonesmedia) and can’t wait to see where that takes me. If I had it my way, I would be on a plane to Africa right after graduation, but I also know that life can change in an instant so I’m keeping my options open.

What fashion advice would you like to leave with our readers? Don’t be afraid to try something new! I think there is so much beauty in wearing something because you like it. So many people nowadays find their identity in the two extremes: self-obsessing and self-loathing. We are all uniquely beautiful and fashion is a great way to find a middle-ground towards self-expression and timeless, classy elegance. Not to be cliché, but I think the most important thing is just to be confident in who you are and who the Lord created you to be … for me, fashion is just a means of expressing that!

Written by: Megan Hale

Edited by: Greta Gessert

Photos by: Bailey West