Jason Jennings

Home Tiburon, California and Timber Rock Shore, Michigan

Occupation Author and speaker on business leadership

What are you wearing? In a nod to the season I’m wearing my go-to-a-party Armani velvet jacket, a Zegna tuxedo dress shirt, a pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans and Ferragamo belt and shoes. To counter the weight of all those designer names, I’m wearing my $15 blue plastic Swatch watch that I picked up in the Zurich airport years ago and the yellow Livestrong wristband I’ve vowed to never take off. A sprig of holly from the garden at home serves as my
boutonniere.

Where would you wear this outfit? Believe me, only when going to a holiday party! Normally when giving a speech or doing a book signing, author event or meetings in New York I’m fairly buttoned-down.

Describe your personal style. Recently, my speaking agent in Washington, D. C., called me a Renaissance man. It was the highest compliment I’ve ever received. My style is defined by my activities: writing, music, cooking, entertaining, studying (learning Spanish), adventure travel and designing and building homes.

Who are your fashion influences? Soon after I met George Staubli, my partner of 30 years, he shared his most important guiding principle for good taste: that understatement, simplicity and quality equal class and sophistication. I don’t shop without him and his discerning eye.

Favorite designers? Armani, Zegna, Versace in that order and, of course, Swatch.

Where do you love to shop in Marin? Gene Hiller in Sausalito, Costco in Novato and all the stores and shops in the Town Center in Corte Madera.

What is always in your bag/pockets? I’m a walking electronics store and am never without my iPod (late ‘70s heavy metal and ‘80s hard rock), Treo 700 (I’ve given up my laptop), Sony Digital camera (you never know when you’ll come across a great shot for the website) and an MP3 recorder (for capturing interviews of up to four hours in length) and the entire tangle of wires and chargers that make them all work.

What is the single most essential piece in your wardrobe? My black Armani sports coat. I can pair it with jeans and a T-shirt for travel, dress it up with a pair of Zegna slacks and collared shirt for a cocktail party or combine it with a pair of beaten-up chinos for a casual weekend breakfast.

What would you never be caught dead in?  For starters, I’d never wear a brown suit, nothing plaid, no loud colors, no class or fraternity rings and I consider wearing any kind of loafer with a suit an offense worthy of life imprisonment!

Where do you like to eat in Marin? When we do dine out in Marin my favorites are the Caprice in Tiburon (love the new menu) and any small family-owned Mexican or Thai restaurant.

What is your best cheapo secret? I love the Mossimo Twill Jeans from Target. They’re comfortable, are a bit scruffy, fit terrific, look great and are like $20 a pair.

What’s your fashion pet peeve? When commuting on the ferry to the city I’m amazed by the scores of high-powered male executives wearing pants that are many inches too short and always find myself mumbling under my breath, “Don’t you have anyone in your life with the taste, courage or compassion to tell you that you look totally goofy in your too-short pants?”

If your life were a movie, what would be your theme song? I wish I could answer your question in a way that would make me look cool but can’t. The theme song would have to be a song I grew up singing in church: “How Great Thou Art.” It’s a song about praise, reverence, humility, wonderment, celebration, forgiveness and aspiration. It is the theme song that keeps me going.

One of the most in-demand motivational speakers in the nation, Tiburon’s Jason Jennings is also a best-selling author. His latest book, Think BIG – Act Small, was published in 2005.