The Elements Of Style w/ Joseph Hines
Joseph Hines | Luxury-wear + Lifestyle Influencer
Few people can understand the hard work, dedication, and attention to detail it takes to be a successful stylist and influencer. Though it seems all glitz and glam, it is both challenging and rewarding work. It requires the humility to fade behind the scenes and let your clients shine-And it requires a deep sensitivity in learning how to translate what someone sees and feels about themselves into what they wear.
Atlanta-based influencer Joseph Hines, is making waves in the fashion and lifestyle industry. Spending the last decade working for high-end luxury brands and perfecting the art of the consultation, Hines is known for his fresh and modern approach, but he isn’t afraid to turn up the heat!
We we’re honored to sit down with the lifestyle influencer to discuss The Elements of Style!
LL: Let’s get into it! Tell me about yourself - Your background, where you’re from and how you got to Atlanta?
JH: My name is Joseph Hines, I was originally born in Chicago, but moved to Georgia when I was young. Initially, I had little to no interest in fashion, however, I knew that I needed to dress well enough to get out of the house without my mom telling me to change. Honestly, at that time basketball was my main focus. However, 2 major injuries during my Junior year of high school changed that.
My freshman year, I was fortunate enough to join an organization called Pathways to Success, at Georgia Southern. It was a great change of pace, as all of my mentors were in leadership positions on campus while others were getting their Masters or Doctoral degree. That was the first time I saw men who looked like me, that dressed well, and I was fascinated by the response it got on campus.
Long story short, it got me into the fashion game very early and once I graduated I moved to the city!
LL: Congrats on the launch of Affluent, a custom ready to wear collection. Tell us about this endeavor!
JH: My company, Affluent, is designed to help clients curate an aesthetic both online and in person, through custom offerings that not only agree and speak to who they are as an individual, but to the client and customer they are hoping to interact with.This is separated into 2 sides of the business. First, the custom suiting and second the branding. Specifically, we deal with clients who are looking to build a luxury and elevated image that sets them apart from their peers, both in the real world and the digital content they are creating.
LL: What’s new for you this year?
JH: A lot! I’m currently building an off the rack offering for clients, as well as curating exclusive events around the city for “no pun intended’ Affluent individuals, who are looking to socialize, have a good time, and network.
LL: What is your styling philosophy and core beliefs?
JH: Content is King but Context is God.
When it comes to styling, there has to be an understanding and respect for the occasion and setting in which you are looking to wear something. For example, a gentleman dressed in a very nice tuxedo w/ a bowtie at a brunch event may look nice, but the setting may be wrong for that outfit. This is why my core beliefs heavily involve understanding the context of ‘where’ and ‘who’.
LL: Where do you pull inspiration from when working on a new look?
JH: As weird as this may sound, I pull a lot of inspiration from architecture and traveling. Something about nice scenery/setting gives me inspiration!
LL: You meet a potential client for a consultation. What is the most important step of the consultation process?
JH: The initial discovery call or conversation. This allows me to ascertain the clients needs: where he is looking to wear the items and how he is looking to be perceived. Everyone has a different personal style that complements them and if you dress someone in something that is in opposition with their nature, especially if they are just starting off with revamping their wardrobe, it can often be detrimental.
For example, if I’m talking to a client that is very subtle, quiet and laid back it doesn’t make sense to put him in a bright or extremely loud color, because it won’t match who he is as a person, resulting in them not presenting themselves in a confident manner. Understanding, developing and curating a game plan custom for my client are the most important parts of the process as well as the fitting.
LL: Explain how image relates to branding and why it is so important to being successful?
JH: A lot of people say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, however, whether we like it or not the cover often determines whether people even pick up the book, let alone read it’s content. 90% of communication is nonverbal so my job involves helping them master communicating through imagery. A lot of times men get to a point in their career where they feel that their aptitude and performance doesn’t require them to care about their appearance.
With social media being such a huge part of our culture today, perception plays an important part of your success and how your value may be perceived. We are all 24 hour billboards for our business so if you are not intentional about the image you display both online and in person it could be the difference between being viewed as the fast food spot or the 5 star restaurant.
LL: What is your favorite item in your closet?
JH: This is situational for me. However, if I had to choose, it would probably be my navy red pinstripe suit, because it can be dressed up or down, depending on the event I’m attending.
LL: Which trends do you want to see disappear?
JH: The resurgence of baggy suits and extremely wide-legged pants is one trend I hope fizzles out soon. While it is good for garments to drape and not be tight, there is a fine line between being swallowed by what you wear vs. a looser fitting look overall.
LL: What feeds your soul?
JH: Connecting with like minded individuals. Something about being around others who are also striving for more and enjoy growth as much as you do is always re-energizing.
LL: Who is your biggest role model and how has that person influenced your life?
JH: Kobe Bryant. His tenacity, focus, and work ethic is something that I have always admired and try to carry with me in my business.
LL: What are you looking forward to most in your future career?
JH: Getting to a place where my name and company is synonymous with luxury both in the aesthetic we give as individuals and with the events and content we curate.
LL: How do you stay balanced in a world where it is easy to lose sight of yourself and what is important?
JH: Being clear with my goals and setting my focus at the beginning of every month. I’m huge on whiteboard and goal setting. At the beginning of every month I plan out my focus as well as goals and action items. I've always believed that the clearer you map out the direction to your intended destination the quicker you get there.
LL: The season is changing. What is a great functional item to add to your wardrobe for fall?
JH: The two pieces I’d recommend are a safari jacket or overshirt:
The safari jacket is great, because it allows for an elevated casual look for men to be sophisticated and refined, however still approachable in casual settings.
The overshirt is a great light layering piece for Atlanta’s bipolar weather.
LL: What celebrity would you love to curate a look for and why?
JH: I would love to do something for Drake. Simply because that has always been one of my favorite artists and I know we could curate something extremely tasteful for him.
LL: What has been the most memorable moment of your career, so far?
JH: My most memorable moment hasn’t come yet, but in another month or so I will be able to post about it, so stay tuned and follow me on instagram
Connect with Joseph Hines
@Mr.Jhines | @affluentxlife mr.jhineslifestyle@gmail.com
