Wardrobe in Progress: Justin Boone

June 29, 2020 by Grailed Team

Wardrobe in Progress: Justin Boone

Words Grailed Team
Date June 29, 2020
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There’s no one clear route to discovering and establishing your personal style. ”Wardrobe in Progress” celebrates the deeply human process of finding your own perspective and evolving over time, giving the community a chance to spotlight the pieces that shaped their personal style over the years—as well as the stories behind them.

Hailing from the suburbs of Washington D.C. Justin Boone represents the modern, fashion-focused multi-hyphenate—or “Creative Entrepreneur” as he prefers to call it. Part street style photographer, part film and television stylist, part fashion designer and brand owner, Boone remains one of the busiest men in the business.

Boone’s interest in style begins with his mother, but blossomed around 2012 or 2013 as he was entering college. Striking the balance between, as he says, “trying to stand out and be an inspiration,” it took Boone a little while to find his own voice. Passing through various fashion phases since then, the larger view is that Boone’s fashion perspective shifted from focusing on individual style icons, into broader, conceptual inspirations like rugged nature of life on a ranch in Utah or the utilitarian layering of clothing on a cold New York City sidewalk. The important thing is that, looking back on his various style choices—whether that’s a love of skinny jeans or a leather-laden greaser look—”regret” isn’t a word that sits in his vocabulary. How can someone grow if they aren’t willing to experiment?

Discovering Grailed in 2015, Boone’s early shortlist favorite designers initially included J.W. Anderson, Jerry Lorenzo, Junya Watanabe and Rick Owens; it was in pursuit of Owens cult-favorite Ramones sneakers (in gray camo!) that prompted Boone’s first Grailed purchase in 2016. Using the platform as a way to both discover more pieces from his favorite designers as well as engage with like-minded fashion enthusiasts, Grailed became a way for Boone to take a, “deep dive into studying brands and design intentions.” Tapping into his creative design knowledge as well as his faith in Jesus Christ, Boone helms the brand David x Goliath. A clear fusion of retro streetwear and rugged, lived-in workwear, it’s hard not to see the aesthetic influence of Boone favorites like Anderson, Lorenzo and Watanabe.

As for how Boone sees his brand—and his personal style—evolving from here? “I never want to close my mind to the ideas around the evolution of my personal style and the direction of fashion overall,” he admits. “I look forward to building a uniform that consistently speaks to who I am as an artist and a brand owner.”

Tags: wardrobe-in-progress

"This was my first-ever designer purchase. It was the first time buying something that felt a little out of reach—or at least something that I knew I would have to work for. I will always remember the day I walked into Neiman Marcus and purchased them with my own money. I still have them, the box, the receipt and dustbags!"

"This was my first ever purchase from Grailed! As I continued to dive into fashion I became familiar with more and more brands, and Grailed gave me the opportunity to get items that were out of season and harder to come by. Footwear was always my go-to, and Rick Owens’ Ramones sneakers were that perfect staple. It was a shoe that I knew I would be able to get a lot of wear out of because of its simple yet exaggerated silhouette. Simply put, Ramones are like a pair of elevated Chuck Taylors, and I was totally here for it. To this day, Rick Owens Ramones will always be in my rotation."

"This was another shoe I acquired from Grailed that I fell in love with again because of its elevated appeal of a rather simple design. I grew up skating, so Vans were a go to. These sneakers were, ideally, just a pair of Vans—but were coming from Saint Laurent. I enjoyed the thought of taking something that was a bit grungy by definition—skate shoes in this case—and giving them an elevated face lift. I was inspired through the media and the outfits that I saw with them on and I was hooked."

"This sneaker purchase was a huge leap of faith. I was intrigued at the thought of them, and knew it would be fun to wear but I also knew that I would have to exercise an extreme amount of confidence. I love items that turn heads and spark conversation, and these were certainly that. I got these shoes in Paris at the Loewe store, and this will for sure be another shoe I will never get rid of."

"Guidi for me felt like the next best step when it came to footwear and the evolution of my style. With my adoration for a true artisanal lifestyle, and Guidi being an artisanal brand, I knew that it was time to take the next step. The PL0FZ wasn’t always my first choice, I initially was desiring a pair of front zip boots in one of their crazy colors, but once I laid my eyes on the PL0FZ I knew that had to be the one. I had never seen them, and I knew that it wouldn’t be a shoe that I would see often. I got this pair from Ssense and am excited to see how they patina over time."

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