CELEBRITY CLOSETS

J.Anthony Brown

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet J. Anthony Fashion Focus Biography

y the time J. Anthony Brown was a senior in high school, he was so gifted at knock-offs, he could make anything he saw in stores. He was one of the best dressed in his class. Brown could go to any store in the mall, see what was in, go purchase fabric and recreate all the latest fashions. He developed a pretty good hustle because of this talent. He made satin jackets, vests and dashikis and sold them for a profit to classmates and neighborhood friends. J. Anthony is still stunned that he did not win "Best Dressed" of his senior, class. He muses, that "til this day, I still dress better than the guy who won!".

What has been your biggest fashion faux-pas?

I BOUGHT SOME PINSTRIPE FABRIC TO MAKE A SUIT THAT I DESIGNED. I HAD THE IDEA TO HAVE THE PINSTRIPES GO IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE END PRODUCT WAS NOT AS GOOD AS THE DESIGN I HAD IN MIND.

Survival of the fittest: What is one item in your closet that you will never get rid of?

THE ONE ITEM I WILL NEVER GET RID OF IS ONE OF THE FIRST SHIRTS I MADE ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO. ANOTHER ITEM IS MY FIRST SEWING PROJECT, WHICH WAS A SEWING APRON THAT I MISPLACED.

If you had to describe your personal style in one word, what would it be?

BOLD! BECAUSE I WILL WEAR STUFF THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON'T.

If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be?

THE 30'S GANGSTER STYLE WHEN EVERYBODY, MEN AND WOMEN, WORE SUITS AND HATS.