Jake Davis Blog

Jake Davis Test Shots: Laurel Pantin

This is the first in a series of Jake Davis Test Shots presented by Fashionista of handpicked "It Girls." I'm co-signing all of their style and trying my best to shoot a visual love letter to my city at the same time. Laurel is a fellow NYU alum so I had to film her Test Shot in my backyard of Washington Square Park. I run around it every morning and see the most inspiring style. I also occasionally feed the squirrels nuts when I'm feeling a bit down. But anyway...

Whether you've seen Laurel on the streets of Manhattan or on the internet her look is incredibly unique. I love her elegance in the school boy uniform. The highlight for me is the vintage Brooks Brothers jacket and Wingtips. A very special thanks to Fashionista, Britt, Lauren, all the "It Girls," and of course Mr. Black for making it all happen... Enjoy some daily inspiration from the incredibly beautiful and graceful Laurel Pantin...

Jake Davis Test Shots Channel link

Fashionista link

Jake Davis Test Shots: Julia Ashwood

Keep it simple... To me the best part of Julia's look is the high-top black chucks. But then again I love The Ramones and Kurt Cobain.

Whether it's design or style to me less is always more. And sometimes it's the simplest most timeless piece dressed down that grabs our attention and makes an outfit feel new and fresh. That shouldn't make any sense but somehow it does...

Jake Davis Test Shots Channel link

Heavy Rotation: Karen Elson "The Ghost Who Walks"

This week turned out to be focused on our biggest inspiration... the women... So let's end it on a good note with the amazing new Karen Elson album "The Ghost Who Walks." The Jack White produced masterpiece comes out May 25th on XL Recordings and features some of the coolest tunes I've heard in a while... 

This is night music for the country or the city. Filled with mystery and allure it sounds like the soundtrack to that Tarantino flick The Vega Brothers that hasn't been made... Yet... A boy can dream... 

Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks

Karen Elson - The Truth Is In The Dirt

Karen Elson official link

Jake Davis Test Shots: Alice St. Claire Erskine

Twiggy mixed with a little bit of La Femme Nikita (and I'm talking about Anne Parillaud not Bridget Fonda, although she was pretty cool in the remake) and you have Alice. Completely understated and unique style... With a porcelain face like hers she can get away with what most can't.

She balances out edge and play quite nicely with her hobo chic look. From the beat up Dr. Martens to the grandpa style overcoat it's all done so well... I almost wanted to make this one black and white like a scene out of a French New Wave film but I kept the color for some daily inspiration. Thanks for checking out the incredibly cool Alice St. Claire Erskine...

Jake Davis Test Shots Channel link

Jake Davis Test Shots: Ianthe Wright

It's interesting when I ask most people their style references they always talk about classic films and icons. A major standout for me is Woody Allen's Annie Hall. Ianthe's vibe is like a modern day Annie Hall... Sharp, stylish, and clever in her personality and wardrobe. Again a recurring theme here is the adaptation of masculine sensibilities but done with a feminine touch.

The double pleated trousers are literally men's pants she tailored herself. The way she combines them with a fitted motorcycle jacket makes you scratch your head like, "how did she pull that off?" A beautiful pair of round tortoise shell frames adds a bit of elegance to the whole ensemble. Really inspiring stuff like this makes my job easy. All I have to do is hit record...

Jake Davis Test Shots Channel link

Jake Davis Test Shots: Caggie Dunlop

I love it when a woman wears our favorite things like denim, work boots, and vintage sunglasses... I really like Caggie's denim on denim look. When you start to appreciate the details like the combination of colors and textures it all starts to make sense. The tortoise gold-rimmed Persol frames with the different hues of her dirty blonde hair. The tattered shorts, shirt, and sloppy boots are incredibly edgy but there's also a soft and beautiful femininity to it. 

The feathered earring and bird tattoos are a subtle juxtaposed detail that might go unnoticed at first glance. The way her turquoise ring highlights the washed out blues of the denim shirt is a really brilliant final touch. Add a little bit of sun and wind for good measure and ladies and gentleman you have some daily inspiration. I hope you enjoy the beautiful and talented Caggie Dunlop...

Jake Davis Test Shots Channel link

Premiere: 'Round About Midnight With Josh Peskowitz

I hope you guys enjoy this video as much as I did directing it. Seeing a craftsman like Joselito cut and shave on his new home court in New York City was really educational. His passion for cutting hair is incredibly inspiring. And of course talking with one my favorite style gurus Josh Peskowitz is always fantastic. He really breaks down the things I can't even begin to articulate.

The filmmaking is pretty simple. I took some inspiration from the classic album covers of Blue Note. I really tried to embody the idea of classic with the entire concept and look. I really hope you get something out of it. Maybe a new barber, maybe a new way to think about style, or maybe just a reinforcement of what you've always believed in. A very special thanks to Ryan at K-Swiss for giving me the creative liberty to bring you guys something I think you'll love. I really respect that. This is the first in a series of films based on the very simple but important concept of classic... Thanks for watching...

Joselito's Barbershop 191 Henry Street New York, NY 10002 (347) 203-8121