Marilyn Monroe is the Heat’s #1 Fan?

Ever since LeBron James announced he was taking his talents to South Beach, clothing brands are working to capitalize on the new big three. The most popular shirts are decidedly anti-LeBron and basic plays on words like Quitness and Miami Hate. Where's the wardrobe love for the Heat?

Enter Purple Heart Clothing based out of Miami. The company makes locally influenced gear including the "Miami-Wade County 3" tee that Dwyane Wade wore after re-signing with the Heat. He's worn their other 305 centric gear to events and models for their website. Purple Heart came out with a "3 Kings" shirt earlier in the season to celebrate the free agency signings, but Wade is usually the focus of their NBA designs.

Their most recent offering entitled "#1 Heat Fan"  has Marilyn Monroe in a Dwyane Wade jersey getting a little lippy. I understand the use of D-Wade (although Mario Chalmers or Joel Anthony would be much funnier) - but why Marilyn? Well, perhaps because back in her day, she was a bit of jersey chaser - after all she was married to Joe DiMaggio. She's a timeless beauty but most would associate the blonde bombshell with the west coast and perhaps the Lakers, rather than the Heat. If she was alive and young during this generation and not the 50's and 60's, would she be competing with Kim Kardashian for most valuable backside and picking up a few championship rings without playing a game? Would she be a bandwagon fan and cheer on the Heat? I can picture Ms. Monroe as Jimmy Goldstein's date court side in Los Angeles rather than hanging out with Lil' Wayne and Gabrielle Union in Miami. But maybe Marilyn enjoyed purple drank with her pills?

Purple Heart used Marilyn Monroe's image in the past, but instead of in a jersey, she's fully inked up on a previous shirt. Marilyn is a pin-up icon and her image works well with the tattoo culture in Miami, but basketball seems like a stretch. While the drawing is nice despite the "HEAT" logo looking a little boxier than on the jersey, the image would look better as a graphic for a website or a sticker but a girl in a jersey on a shirt, is a lot for a simple tee.

The graphic shirt is available on the PurpleHeartClothing.com website in both a men's and women's sizes for $29.99 if you want to show your love for pin-ups and post-ups.

(via Dwyane Wade's Twitter feed)

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.

The Oregon Ducks' New BCS Uniforms: Where's the Mallard?

Another Bowl game brings another new look for the Oregon Ducks, who've worn a variation on the Nike Pro Combat 2010 Uniform every game this season. Nike's American Football summit took place in Dallas yesterday and the company launched the updated Pro Combat System of Dress for the 2011 season and seemingly lucked out with the Ducks BCS Championship game against Heisman winner Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers. There is no grander stage for Nike to showcase their newest duds for next season and get jersey geeks salivating. The Ducks will wear the new advanced garments for the big game, along with the Florida Gators and the Boise State Broncos, respectively.

The most surprising part about the Ducks' 2011 uniforms are not all the technological design updates like the further streamlining of the already fitted jerseys, the new Air Zoom Alpha Talon Cleat and the use of Nike's patent Flywire technology in a sports performance garment. But rather, compared to what Nike has produced for Oregon in the past, the BCS Championship uniform is rather underwhelming. From head to toe, the entire ensemble is a riff on what the Ducks have worn all season and sticks to the same colour palette. The jersey is mainly white with grey, black, neon and silver accents. The Duck wings are back again, this time in gun-metal grey on the shoulders. The thin Oregon font in grey on the chest and arm sleeves and is highlighted, naturally, in neon. The result is minimal, futuristic but also incredibly bright. Thank goodness Glendale is a closed dome stadium as natural light would make the game unwatchable - the Boise State Broncos in blue wearing on the smurf turf would be easier to watch.

The biggest complaint from Oregon aficionados is that the Ducks stray too far from their traditional team colour palette of green and yellow. I believe that team colours must  feature on the main body of the jersey and pants and the accessories should use the alternate colours to highlight the overall look. The accessories are by the far the best part of the kit and most interesting. The gloves use two shades of silver to form a diamond pattern while black duck wings and an Oregon O display when the wearer puts up their hands to form the "O" and look very sleek. The carbon fibre helmet mimics the gloves with the diamond pattern and the "O" is in the now trademark neon. It's a striking helmet, however I do miss the traditional mallard helmet that the Ducks wore earlier this season, which is a classic in sports design that fuses technology, design and references the duck perfectly.

It's interesting that the Ducks are back in neon, using a yellow that could look much more green in certain lights and on television. Paired with white jerseys, black and grey elements, and bright shoes designed to blur when in motion, the uniform will likely look dizzying and incredibly bright in high-definition. However, perhaps it will give them a competitive advantage against the more basic, traditionally styled Auburn jerseys offered by Under Armour.

While stylistically more advanced, it'd be nice to see Nike push the creative envelope and take the uniform to the next level with the 2011 Pro Combat System of dress design, using the advanced technology and original Ducks colours. Will the jerseys be re-imagined before the Ducks march on the field on Glendale? Don't be surprised if Nike and Phil Knight have something else up their fitted sleeves for BCS championship game on January 10th. Rumor has it that the alternate gun-metal grey (called anthracite in the Nike colour wheel) jerseys that are now available on GoDucks.com, will include pants and that the Ducks have an option to go with white jerseys and anthracite pants. Will the Ducks take in the Tigers in a two-tone, all white or completely different look? Without a doubt the Ducks stand out and literally wear their Nike Corporate link on their sleeves, but that doesn't mean they should eschew traditional completely. Can you go forward without looking back? Only time and Beaverton folks know for sure.

Note: A portion of this post appeared in Sophia Brugato's post for BeyondtheBeat.net entitled "Uniform Watch: Why Do We Care What the Oregon Ducks Wear?". Be sure to check it out, thanks for the style love, Sophia!

Amar’e Stoudemire Gets More Credit From Anna Wintour than Mike D'Antoni

Amar'e Stoudemire seems like a new man since he became a Knick this off-season. New York is a like a Mikveh for Amar'e - not only because he's discovering his Jewish roots but socially, he's been reborn as one of fashion's chosen people. Stoudemire's stylish flare caught the eye of the single powerful person in the fashion industry, American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Amar'e emerged on the style scene this past Mercedez Benz Fashion Week, before the NBA season began. Ms. Wintour personally invited Amar'e to the Fashion's Night Out runway event and launch party hosted by Vogue, which is the official kick-off to fashion week. He also attended the Tommy  Hilfiger twenty-fifth anniversary runway show, where he sat front row between Anna and Hamish Bowles, the European editor-at-large for Vogue. Since September, the rumours are swirling that Amar'e could be the second black man (and basketball player) to appear on the cover of American Vogue, after LeBron James. Amar'e is no stranger to modeling and thanks to his own adventurous sartorial sense and high profile stylist - he's become one of the most fashionable men in the league.

Vogue's new big three? Front row at Tommy Hilfiger's 25th anniversary runway show. Photo credit: Getty Images.

After the Knicks win versus the Raptors this past Sunday, Amar'e was dressed deliberately understated in Louis Vuitton sneakers, wool trousers, green tie and a black zip-up sweater. I had to ask if he's criticized more for his game or his wardrobe? Anna Wintour and coach Mike D'Antoni are known as two of the most demanding individuals in their respective professions, but the answer may surprise you. Amar'e Stoudemire - super model? Maybe.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPr4rCDZj_c]

UNDRCRWN x Starter Snapback Hats and Style Guide

The early 90's aesthetic is big again among NBA players from Amar'e Stoudemire to James Harden and Brandon Jennings. What's ironic is that the Starter jackets and Polo boots many of us 80's babies grew up on hoarding - the new kids of the NBA were still in diapers when the brands were popular. Sports lifestyle brand UNDRCRWN recently teamed up with throwback favorite, Starter, for a cap collaboration with their own version of the retro trend. The holiday drop features five caps in the iconic snapback Starter style. The "Simon Says" style is a play on the 1980's toy using bright primary colours and yellow stitching and a black bill for a graphic, yet clean look. The infamous "UNDRCRWN" logo is embroidered on the front in white and the Starter logo on the back of the cap completes it. The "Script Club" style references the popular NBA Draft Cap from the early '90s. The cap features "UNDRCRWN - World Champions" stitched across the front of the cap, as well as a patch reading "World Champs on the left side and the Starter logo on the back. The cap is retro chic without the kitsch and is available in blue, green, red and black.

Now that throwbacks have become the new lid of choice since the standard New Era fitted is falling out of favor. But how do you wear a vintage piece without looking like you're trying to go too retro? I've compiled a little guide to bring you the best in reasonably priced menswear and streetwear brands to rock with a snapback. To stay current, make sure you pick throwback style items but in modern, fitted silhouettes. Mix in neutrals and classic pieces to balance the look. The wardrobe guide is inspired by early 90's style well as the new youngings that are dressing like they're bringing '88 back.

All five hats will be available for sale at www.shopundrcrwn.com and select UNDRCRWN retailers worldwide now.