How Real Friends of WeHo star Jaymes Vaughan pulls off looking fashionable on a budget

‘I’m sorry I’m not a boujee fashion girl, I’m a budget fashion girl,’ Jaymes Vaughan reveals to DailyMail.com.

The TV host-turned-travel entrepreneur currently stars in MTV’s ‘The Real Friends of WeHo’ with some of Hollywood’s most influential and successful LGBTQ+ personalities, including celebrity stylist Brad Goreski.

Ahead of the season 1 finale airing Friday, March 3, Jaymes reveals his secret to looking dapper next to his very stylish co-stars.

Ahead of the season finale airing Friday, March 3, Jaymes reveals his secret to holding his own (on a budget!) next to his very stylish co-stars

The Real Friends of WeHo is the gay equivalent of the popular Bravo franchise ‘The Real Housewives.’

The show goes deep into the lives of six gay friends (including Brad Goreski, Todrick Hall, Curtis Hamilton, Dorión Renaud and Joey Zauzig) living and pursuing their passions in West Hollywood.

‘On the show I’m with people known in the fashion world, but I like to say that my style is pajama adjacent; I like things that are comfortable that look like maybe you want to cuddle up with me,’ he said. 

Jaymes shares his simple techniques for making a chic sartorial statement on season 1 of the MTV hit series.

Matching sets are foolproof 

To avoid a fashion mishap, the star leaves experimentation to the professionals.

Instead of playing with colors and prints, he relies on something tried and true: coordination. 

‘I find matching stuff, I let other people do the work for me,’ he says. ‘If you get the top and pants that go together then you’re good. 

‘Leaning that way saves me from looking like booboo next to somebody like Brad Goreski who knows exactly what he’s doing.’

Find a brand that works for you

Many people think you have to spend a lot of money on designer pieces to be fashionable. 

On the contrary, that’s often what people do when they don’t have a strong sense of personal style. 

Jaymes and his husband, actor Jonathan Bennett, are big fans of contemporary clothing retailer Express.

The couple and founders of OUTbound travel company got married a year ago at the Unico Riviera Maya Hotel in Mexico, looking flawless in Express tuxedos.

‘The reason Express works for us is because a lot of their suits have stretch, so you can get them off the rack and they fit perfectly.

‘There’s a scene in the show where I’m there with fashion icons and feel like I’m holding my own in Express and no one knows it’s Express.’

‘On the show I’m with people known in the fashion world, but I like to say that my style is pajama adjacent; I like things that are comfortable that look like maybe you want to cuddle up with me,’ he said.  Pictured with Jaymes: Brad Goreski, Todrick Hall, Curtis Hamilton, Dorión Renaud and Joey Zauzig

Jaymes and his husband, actor Jonathan Bennett, are big fans of contemporary clothing retailer Express

A black suit can be worn anywhere 

You don’t need an extensive wardrobe to look good, a few key pieces will suffice.

‘I say get one really good black suit because you can do a lot with it,’ shared the television personality.

Despite filming opposite trendsetters Todrick Hall, Curtis Hamilton, Dorión Renaud and Joey Zauzig, Jaymes reveals that he wore the same black suit throughout the entire taping of the reality show. 

‘I wore it in the promos, to a charity event that Jonathan and I hosted, and an engagement party.

‘This has worked for me so I figured let’s just do this and see if anyone notices, and no one has picked up on it yet.’

According to Jaymes, a suit jacket with a tuxedo-style lapel offers maximum versatility.

‘With a tux lapel detail, the set can be your tuxedo, or a regular suit when paired with the right shirt and bowtie.

‘You can pair it with a tank top and a tennis shoe and it’s trending, or with no shirt underneath at all.’

Fit is paramount 

Arguably the most important aspect of a suit jacket is fit. 

‘If you have the means, you should get your suits tailored, unless you get it from Express; the extra slim with the stretch hugs perfectly 9 out of 10 times.’ 

Fashion is a form of self-expression

Staying true to his personal aesthetic is the key to Jaymes’ wardrobe happiness and style confidence.

‘There are times when I definitely misunderstood the assignment; where I show up to a dinner and everyone is giving and I’m in discounted Lululemon, but there are other times when the black suit kills it every time.’

Shop off-price retailers

‘I’m a Marshalls/T.J. Maxx girl and I’ve recently discovered the joys of Saks Off Fifth,’ revealed the star.

‘I didn’t realize Saks has their own brand that they sell it deeply discounted in Saks Off Fifth. 

‘Everyone else is spending thousands of dollars on their looks and I’m like baby this suit was $360!’