'Follow the Model,' Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power

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‘Follow the Model,’ Miss J’s Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power

Booking it: J. Alexander tells it like it is and the boy can talk… I know!

Dear Diary: Reading ôFollow the Modelö by my old friend, assistant stylist / sidekick, former partner in bettering the crimes of fashion is just like sitting around and talking to Alex, ummm Miss J.

Well, we’ve already gone through thisŚ he has as many names as he has fabulous steps. He is Alex to me as his real name is Alexander Jenkins but others also know him as Jay. Then there is J. Alexander from his modeling days and Miss J to those who know him from ôAmericas Next Top Model.ö The book will explain…

ôFollow the Modelö is a steady stream of consciousness. A long and winding journey that is colored with words so dense with visuals that you feel like you share each experience with himŚ short of his hilarious in-the-flesh impersonations, that is. If he weren’t on ANTM, he’d probably be on SNL.

I’ve never been very good at working with people bereft of personalityŚ life is too short to be bored to death. I prefer to surround myself with creative-minded people who are inspirational and entertaining. When I was a stylist, my posse may have had a bit too much personality, if that was ever possible.

A blast from our past. I found these photos when I was trying to dig out a photo of us together for "Follow the Model". Instead, I found these photos of Alexander Jenkins (J. Alexander), Brad Boles, Michael Stein, and myself.

I first met Alex, through Richard Nahem, back at Studio 54 on the infamous night when we both broke the heel on our Charles Jourdan pumps. Richard and Alex knew each other from working at Bergdorf Goodman in the Delman shoe department. I was still in school. Yes, we were all proudly underage at 54 and the FocusOnStyle art director, Vincent Gagliostro was my favorite dance partner!

Archive photo of J. Alexander

Later when I became a stylist, Brad Boles, the makeup artist and now cast member on ôThe Real Housewives of New York,ö and I teamed up with North Rebis on hair as a styling trio for makeup, hair and fashion. Alex was coincidentally North’s roommate so we were back in touch. When Alex wasn’t looking gorgeous about town in gowns of his own design, he was pulling photo shoot samples for me as an assistant stylist. Yes, there always was some backseat modeling tips from him on photo shoots to keep the models doing what they should be doing– think of it as the precursor to being a runway coach. During the times when Alex wasn’t around Michael Alan Stein, Phillip Bloch, Veronika Ming, and Jo-Anne McFarlane were some my stylist assistants. I told you that it was a colorful crew!

In ôFollow the Model,ö Alex shares some stories about how we met and worked together. He tells of a particularly racially disturbing incident when he was treated so offensively while returning couture samples for me at a major designer boutique. Bet that same designer would be kissing Alex’s bunions today just to have him walk into his store again!

Reading that story in his book brought to mind another rather hideous scenario.

I was pulling samples for a Vogue Mexico cover shoot and Alex accompanied me up to a very famous Italian designer’s New York atelier. As the shoot was early the next morning, we didn’t want to chance to messenger the gowns to the studio so we took them along with us. Looking rather chic, Alex and I decided to walk down Madison Avenue to window shop before we grabbed a cab back home.

Archive photo of J. Alexander

Suddenly, almost every shopkeeper along that stretch of Madison Avenue was my new best friend. I can’t remember any other time before or since where people would come out of their stores to say hello, ask if we’d like some champagne, or if we would like to put our bags down.

Then I realized what it was.

Here I was walking down Madison Avenue with a 6’4ö black man carrying two packed, full-length garments bags with Ĺthat’ designers name imprinted across them. Honey, we both looked rather chic, but those shop girls probably thought they hooked Mrs. Gotrocks and her best boy. A really sad commentary where a few patronizing actions speak so loudly. Alex may always remember retuning those clothes, but I remember picking them up.

ĹFollow the Model,’ Miss J’s Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power

In ôFollow the Modelö Alex shares his insights on how you need to do what you need to do to be the best you can. Circumvent adversity. Learn from the past. Take every opportunity. And be as fabulous as you were put on this earth to be, one stilettoed foot at a time.

If you don’t have the opportunity to meet J. Alexander in the flesh, the book is the next best thing. If you do know him, there are probably a few familiar stories that will jog your memory.

All in all, it’s a fun and inspirational read. Get to it! Ś Sharon Haver

Where-to-Buy:

"Follow the Model,’ Miss J’s Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power" (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, Simon and Shuster) available at Amazon.com and eBooks.com

Watch: J. Alexander video on FocusOnStyle.com

Montage photos, this page only, copyright Sharon Haver, personal collection
Other photos, this page only, J. Alexander

Published on February 05, 2010

Sharon Haver

Resident fashion expert- With just about 20 years experience in the glamour industry as a New York-based photography fashion stylist, syndicated columnist, contributing editor, lecturer, on-air television/radio fashion expert, and founder / editor in chief of FocusOnStyle.com. Sharon Haver knows the modern-thinking woman wants easygoing style that suits her individual needs, spiced with just the right amount of flip and wit to make it personal.

See Sharon Haver's Bio | View Press Clips | Watch Sharon Haver & Brad Boles

Tags: 'Follow the Model' Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence , alexander jenkins , america's next top model , and Power , ANTM , Bergdorf Goodman , books , brad boles , Charles Jourdan , Dear Diary , Delman , Follow the Model , j alexander , Jo-Anne McFarlane , Michael Alan Stein , miss j , North Rebis , Phillip Bloch , Poise , richard nahem , runway coach , Studio 54 , stylist , Veronika Ming , Vincent Gagliostro