Known to the industry and social media as NoIgJeremy, Jeremy Haynes’s story started in Augusta, Georgia, around 145 miles from Atlanta – also known as Black Hollywood – where he currently resides. The Clark Atlanta University graduate was supposed to pursue a medical degree as college was paid for by his grandmother on the account that he’d become a doctor, but – spoiler alert – that’s clearly not what happened.  Instead, he studied Fashion Merchandising with a concentration in Fashion Design and spent a year interning under stylist and proprietor of The Ivy Showroom Fiskani Kaira. Opportunity came when he was hired at BCBG Max Azria, the brand that had the early 2000s by the neck.

Around 2012, his drive and devotion to his art propelled this once 11-year-old kid who dreamt of being a stylist to top wardrobe stylist at the company and buyer for the Atlanta market. His career took off as the reality TV scene in Atlanta exploded. Fast forward and today, he’s a stylist to the stars working with Usher, La La Anthony, Monica, Toya Wright, T.I and Tiny, Megan Good, and the casts of The Housewives of Atlanta and Married to Medicine.

Our conversation proves that André 3000 was right when he said: “The South Got Something to Say.”

When people see celebrities wearing something they hate, they may comment, “I could’ve done a better job” – but could they have? How’d you know that you actually could?

Everybody has a purpose, and everybody has their God-given talent. Whether you’re an author, vocalist, or artist, you have a talent. Dressing others had consistently been a passion of mine and, by all accounts, is the talent God gave me. I honestly felt I’d be great at mixing my own style and theirs by blending the two. I realized a while ago that I’m walking in my purpose because I’m happy with what I get to wake up and do each day.

What would you say is the science between dressing your clients in what you think they’d look good in versus dressing them in a style that compliments them?

All my clients have varying styles, so I start by asking how they want to look. Toya Wright loves being sexy and showing her body. Monica is very Tomboy Chic; she adores baggy oversized articles of clothing that the vast majority wouldn’t wear. My method is finding out what the event is, whether they’re doing press, what time of year it is… If it’s summer, I must be mindful of them not sweating. I also need and want anyone I’m dressing to look good at all angles. Then, at that point, there’s the significance to what they’re wearing. Is it current and relevant but not super trendy? I also check in with the glam team because knowing how a client is wearing their hair can really alter a look. There are a lot of questions to figure out.

In the beginning, how did you go about building yourself as a brand? What made people believe in you?

I believe my biggest success story is not having social media, specifically Instagram, for as long as I did. I’ve only been on the platform for two years now, and it’s been around since, what, 2013? To be perfectly honest, I didn’t want it; I adored being in the background and simply being a stylist. Since people couldn’t tag me on Instagram, many of my clients and friends began hashtagging #noigjeremy. It was somewhat challenging to reach out to me until one of my clients convinced me to create one. She made me realized I needed some type of digital platform or online presence. What caused individuals to have faith in me? My drive! I buckle down, and I will accept a job whenever somebody connects, saying they need me.

How did you go about gaining celebrities as your clients? Who was your first?

A great deal of it came from when I was working at BCBG as a wardrobe stylist. Tons of female celebrities came into the store back in the day, and that’s how I started connecting with that type of clientele. La La Anthony was my first celebrity client. I dressed her for Luda day weekend in Atlanta for his Ludacris Foundation.

What’s the biggest AHA moment you’ve ever had?

When I really started making money… that moment came a few years ago. I remember just taking a step back three years ago and thinking,” wow, people are really paying me to dress them.” Of course, I don’t take that for granted because they could quickly go to the mall or some shopping center, but many people have difficulty putting things together.

Who’s your dream client?

Jennifer Lopez! She is so fashion-forward and has such a great body type.

As a celebrity stylist in the south, what struggles have and are you still facing?

It’s a difficult occupation to have in the South since almost all the notable stylists live in LA or NYC with easy access to all the big-name showrooms. I can say we only have one actual showroom in Atlanta: The Ivy Showroom. So, I can’t just get up and go to the Balenciaga showroom and pull like folks in the other two cities, especially when the event is in two days. Then there’s the southern stigma that Atlanta has. Many people don’t think we have a valid perspective on fashion. Some of that stigma can be credited to several stylists here not respecting the quality of work versus the quantity of work.

Which of your clients would you say like to have the most fun with fashion?

I feel Usher is one of the most stylish men in Hollywood and has access to anything he wants; he is one of my clients who enjoys having fun and has a strong point of view. Porsha Williams is a fun girl and will wear anything I suggest to her. We have that trust factor. She’s one of the few people who won’t say “ew” to particular looks. Out of all my clients, I feel that Monica loves fashion the most, so I would say Monica out of everyone.

Let’s talk Monica. When did she become this fashionista? It seems like I got on Instagram four years ago, and she was just parlaying in designer.

If you think about the days of the 1990s when Monica and Aaliyah were the Meg the Stallion’s, Cardi B’s, Rihanna’s, and Nicki Minaj’s of that time, they all had iconic fashion moments. Aaliyah was so stylish and edgy; Brandy had her own style, and Monica was the around-the-way relatable girl. The more I work with her; I learn so much about her history with fashion. Monica was Chanel’s muse for two collections; she has videos with Karl Lagerfeld and Roberto Cavalli. Alexander McQueen worked with Monica a lot before he passed away on looks for her music videos. When it comes to social media, she’s highly invested in her image and the content she puts out. It’s a whole process with Monica, and I love that.

Ten years from now, what is Jeremy doing?

I spend a lot of time thinking about this question because people who know me always ask me the same thing. I really love the craft of styling, and if I’m still able to succeed as a stylist in the next 10 years, I will be exceptionally content…. of course, at an elevated level. If, for some reason, I’m not styling, I would love to own a styling firm. It would be extremely dope to have an agency with other stylists underneath an umbrella parent company where I teach them how the business works and train them and perhaps make a percentage off the projects they book.

Four of the worst trends of the moment?

People will kill me for saying this; however, I’m from the old school Deep South. First, I don’t really like women in sneakers. I absolutely love to see a woman in heels. I know that’s so unrealistic in today’s era, but I really do love old-school glam. Second, I love how in fashion, we revisit trends, but I really hate that we cannot let the 1990s go. I’m burnt out by it; however, it never appears to go downhill. It’s challenging to be creative when individuals consistently reference that decade. Third, I’m not into the huge platform sneakers that guys are wearing with extreme skinny jeans. I’m ready for that to end. Lastly, kitten heels, hate them!

What would you be doing had you never moved to Atlanta and found your way into the styling scene?

I would have gone to medical school like my grandmother wanted. I would’ve had to become a doctor because there’s nothing else to do there.

Lastly, three creatives we should interview next.

Stylist Casey, aka Icon Tips; you already did Esé Azénabor-Grembowski and hairstylist Alonzo Arnold.

IG: @therealnoigjeremy