Steal His Style: The Varsity Jacket
The retro renaissance is in full swing in the NBA. There are vintage inspired uniforms worn by the Golden State Warriors and Kobe's overbite is back with a vengeance and poor shot selection to match. Players are also taking vintage cues when it comes to their off-court wardrobe. For the past few seasons, menswear has become enamored with preppy styles and a cleaner version of 90's hip hop references. Gone are the baggy jeans, Rock and Republics and all iced-out everything. Now, wardrobes are full of snapbacks, Starter jackets and a bevy of Ralph Lauren.
The varsity jacket is a classic that can work in every man's wardrobe when worn appropriately. American streetwear brands are all offering their own branded take on the Letterman style. While luxury fashion houses like Rick Owens and Balmain mixed unexpected fabrics and fitted silhouettes for a modern interpretation on the classic, NBA stars have recently started designing their own personalized varsity jackets. Let's take a look at some of the style highlights when it comes to the varsity jacket and how you can put your own look together without the high price tag and endorsement deal.
When it comes to the most popular brand, Nike comes out on top. Nike Sportswear launched an aggressive marketing and design campaign this year focusing on their classic Destroyer jacket, their version of a varsity jacket. At events across the world, and at the Nike Sportswear flagship store in New York City, the blank canvas is customized with the help of Nike designers. They brought on cities, trend setters and their own roster of athletes to showcase the styling options. Nike's reigning king, LeBron James, was the first NBA athlete to début his custom Nike Destroyer jacket. He's been followed by burgeoning fashion designer Amar'e Stoudemire as well as his teammate, Chris Bosh.
When you're out hunting for the perfect varsity jacket, the key thing to keep in mind is shape and fit. Lay the jacket out and make sure the waistband, usually made of a stretchy material, isn't a lot smaller than the shoulder width. If the jacket makes a definite v-shape, it will likely look like that on you -- too big in the shoulders, too tight in the hips and could give you a gut that otherwise isn't there. Make sure the shoulders fit properly as many cheaper varsity jackets will have a tiny collar and huge shoulder, and not a more even distribution. Also, many jacket sleeves tend to widen or be very large in comparison to the body of the jacket. Remember that anything can be taken in, but likely not let out. It's better to size up, then tailor down to the get best fit.
In terms of materials, the Letterman style standard is a wool body with leather sleeves and optional iron-on or sewn-on letters. If you want the jacket to last, leather is a better option than vinyl sleeves as it is more breathable, meaning you won't have to dry clean it as often. The best places to look for a quality jacket are eBay or a local vintage store. It takes some digging, but you can find some really interesting or limited pieces. If you feel like getting creative, you can find letters, numbers or have a logo made to style a basic piece into something personal.
Here are a few of my picks for varsity jackets on budget, as a bespoke or limited edition Nike Destroyer jacket will cost you upwards for $2000. Layering thin materials in classic patterns and fabrics -- such as chambray and gingham -- with denim and boots is an easy way to look polished but casual from now until early spring.
DQM's Miami Meat Tee is incredibly appropriate
The new Miami Heat team is a publicity beast of epic proportions and many clothing companies are trying to cash in on the hype. However, my new favorite Heat inspired item dropped well before Bosh, Wade and James decided to unite under Pat Riley. This "Miami Meat" tee comes thanks to Russ Bengtson's epic storage locker of kicks and other basketball paraphernalia (I'm convinced 'Sheed is hiding out there in his trademark cutoff sweatpants). Dave's Quality Meat, better known as DQM, is a shop, brand and collaborative company in New York City, founded by professional skateboarder, Chris Keefe. DQM released the shirt a few years ago, likely when the shop opened in 2003, but there's no word on a re-print of the design. The graphic is simple, clean and almost too appropriate considering everyone wants a bite of the Heat this season. Deep fried pork knee ala Bosh, anyone?
Chris Bosh's Complex (Magazine) Style
Chris Bosh is quickly becoming a publicity machine. Even before Bosh took his own talents to South Beach to form the new trio consisting of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James for the Miami Heat, he was everywhere. There were appearances on Entourage and late night talk shows, sitting court side at the NBA Finals and most recently, he's been flexing his style muscle at New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week before training camp began. He's completely revamped his personal style, reflecting his new imagine in the press. Gone are the dreads, crazy baby momma and ill-fitting garments in his wardrobe. Now, Bosh is all about clean lines both in his hair and in his clothing as well as his petite new fiancé, Adrienne Williams. It's as if when he was in Toronto, Bosh was a boy and now Miami (perhaps thanks to his teammates' influence) has made him into a man.
- Chris Bosh and fiancé Adrienne Williams on HBO's Entourage. Photo credit: Dime Mag/HBO.
Bosh is back on the fashion tip again, this time for Complex Magazine. He played model and muse for a shoot with photographer Dania Graibe in Miami. Bosh has two outfits, one that's all casual basketball gear in Heat red, black and white and the other is a more fashionable look ensemble better suited to off-day fun than on court play. No word when the shoot comes out, as Complex posts all their content online along with a monthly print edition of the magazine. Likely, the full shoot will début in the November issue once the season is underway. What do you think Bosh's look? Should he keep up his new look and play model more often? Check out the video below and let me know what you think.
Style Seeker: Black Diamond Bracelets
Get your fatigues on, all black everything, Black cards, black cars, all black everything.
Jay-Z "Run This Town", featuring Rihanna & Kanye West
A few simple lines from a verse is all it took for the menswear masses to follow Jay-Z's example and go for the now infamously titled, all black everything look. "Murdered out": black on top of black on top of MORE black is not a new concept, but since Hova went all monochrome it's popular again. Not only are there black cards and cars, but all black accessories: hats, sunglasses, sneakers and of course, jewelry. A black matte ceramic watch is a statement piece but the one accessory that's really taken off for men, and especially NBA athletes, is the black diamond beaded bracelet.
Sean Carter himself really brought the black diamond bead bracelet to the forefront right around the time his latest album, The Blueprint 3, dropped. He's worn the bracelets in every editorial he's appeared in and wears them in almost every paparazzi photo. His signature model is the Shamballa Jewels' black diamond pavé bead bracelet. The company preaches that their pieces will "invite the possibility of connecting to the energy of creation". Whether or not Mr. Carter wears it for spiritual or fashionable reasons or both; the bracelets make a style statement. The designs are simple but beautiful and luxe due to the materials being used. Shamballa took a basic idea, the spiritual bead bracelet, and made it special and marketable because a high-end crowd wants something high quality. While it's hard to an exact price on the bracelets, similar models go from $4000 to upwards of $40,000 depending on the amount of black diamonds or onyx used in the design. I can only imagine what the cost is for a custom design item.
It's not all that surprising that NBA players, who use stylists who also work with A-List actors and musicians, have caught on to the black diamond craze. LeBron is still friends with Jay-Z, despite eschewing both the Nets and Knicks as options for the upcoming season. The King has worn the bracelets since last season. Recently, he wore a black diamond necklace at the Cowboys at Redskins game in Washington D.C.. Apparently, LeBron really likes black diamond everything.
Chris Bosh, who we saw at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this season, picked up on his teammate's style and has begun wearing the black diamond bead bracelets. I can understand players using the same stylists or admiring a friend's style, but isn't that complete style biting? Perhaps a leather bracelet or a more interesting option, like this Martin Margiela (another Jay-Z favorite brand) ring could help show off more of Bosh's personal style personality.
Brandon Jennings picked up a few bracelets for himself this summer as well. He's not only tweeted his love affair for his accesories, but wore them to the Under Armour basketball brand unveiling in New York City. The black diamonds do match his new shoe, the Micro G Black Ice, quite well, along with his black Camaro. David West is another fan of black diamonds and has worn them for sometime. I'm not sure if he's following someone else's style tips or found them on his own. There are more athletes, stars and stylists who wear the brand, but it's curious how so many of the most well-known NBA athletes are obsessing over this same trend.
Would you wear the bead bracelet? If the price disconcerts you, Oliver Smith has a similar model for a little less than $2000. Other black bead bracelets that are still stylish at a small price are available from online stores like Asos or you can pick up a beaded bracelet for under $5 in Chinatown or off of eBay. Either way, it looks like the beaded bracelet is here to stay, at least until the H-O-V picks a new signature accessory. We'll see if the NBA follows suit yet again. Only time and good stylist, will tell!
Style Seeker: NBA and NYFW
Since David Stern instituted the NBA dress code for the 2005-2006 season, NBA players have adapted. Perhaps it was a case of the right rules at the right time, but players are embracing the fashion scene like never before. Most of the ill-fitting, "thug" apparel is exchanging for suits that cost most than the chains that were once popular. Players are learning to express themselves off the court using looks from the runway and many use stylists and personal shoppers. This year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York (NYFW) brought out the fashionista set of the NBA including some sartorial surprises. Let's see who's showing an interest in fashion came dressed for the occasion.
Out of the new big three in Miami, who would have guessed that Chris Bosh would be the one making rounds at fashion week? Bosh and his fiancé, Adrienne Williams were fixtures at many events including the Lacoste and Cynthia Rowley runway shows and the Varvatos after party. Quite a few of my Twitter BFF's took note of Bosh's outfit at Lacoste. The whole thing is a little too well matched for my taste. If you're going to show off interesting socks, at least take more of a risk - give us a pop of unexpected colour. His outfit is fits into the Lacoste aesthetic, but he needs to stop trying so hard. Adrienne looks cute but that shade of burgundy is far too dark for her fair complexion and light hair.
Adrienne wasn't Bosh's only front row company this week, Ron Artest showed up sans psychiatrist to the Bebe catwalk. RonRon really dressed up for the occasion. He's wearing almost the same outfit as he sported to the MTV VMA's a few days before, including the same ShinShin tee (can't knock the hustle!) and faded jeans. He added a zip up (four stripes - faux adidas?) and a fitted cap for good measure. Bosh went subdued but trendy in layered v-neck and tee, raw denim and the now ubiquitous NBA black diamond bead bracelets. I can't hate on this look for Bosh, he looks much more relaxed than at the Lacoste show. Ron gets a pass purely for possessing the crazy card. Does he honestly have an interest in design? Perhaps he was just there to visit his friends the Kardashians, who design looks for Bebe. At least he looks more together than he did on Kimmel.
Ben Gordon and his girlfriend attended the Perry Ellis menswear show. Ben went for casual cool but dull with the classic dark jeans, dark jacket and button up shirt combo while his girl wore a great pair of flesh tone sandals to complete a graphic look. Hopefully some of her fashion sense will continue to rub off on Ben and he can try something a little more daring next time, as it sounds like they'll be back next season.
One of the most surprising appearances at fashion week was J.E. Skeets Andy Rautins and fellow New York Knicks rookie Landry Fields. Andy is known for having a keen interest in fashion, much like his dad, Leo. We can see the Gucci belt peeking out and his signature stud earring. Tweet of the week has to go to Field. While he doesn't have a lot of sartorial sense, he does have a great sense of humour. Shoutouts to Hanzel.
There were no LeBron, D-Wade or even Kobe sightings at fashion week this year. But my biggest disappointment was that the reigningNBA fashion plate, Jimmy Goldstein, was a no-show.
The NBA super fan instead chose to go to go to Turkey for the FIBA Championships. While I was crestfallen to not see his signature hat in the front row, I'm sure he will appear at the shows in Paris as most of his wardrobe and model company, come from overseas.
Best photo of the week has to go to Bosh and ZZ Top at the John Varvatos after party. If only Bosh kept his dreads long, he may have fit in better. We'll see if Bosh keeps up his interest in fashion this season while playing along Wade and James. It's funny how a change of scenery and a new contract can change your wardrobe, haircut and social circles. Although it's nice to see more players taking an interest in fashion, I long for the pre-game entrances of more fashionable NBA players like Zaza Pachulia and Steve Nash. Is it October 26th yet? Bring on the season, please!