It’s official! After a few years, the most difficult demographic has finally gotten on board of the tailored clothing bandwagon, and it’s finally safe to say that wearing a suit is no longer uncool. For what seems like a moment, youth led by pop and hip-hop culture, have been reassured that it is OK to dress. Hip-hop moguls turned style icons are now recognized for their ability to put an outfit together as well as their music. Athletes are now known for buying bespoke on top of their ability to beat buzzers. Rock stars still shred, only now it’s in three-piece Italian suiting, paving the way for all men to get to know their tailors a little better.
Jay-Z is leading the revolution of the well-fitted garment. It is a breath of fresh air that his education in fame and fortune includes ditching ill-fitting basketball jerseys for Purple Label suits. In an interview with Time Magazine, he was asked whose style he admires most, to which he answered, “JFK. He was classic.” The perfect answer from a man, who, a few years ago, would have been an unlikely source.
The shift not only exists in music. The sports world’s eyes and ears seem to be paying full attention to the cause at hand as well. I’ve seen more giant double Windsor tie knots and five button suits than my stomach can bear in every post-game press conference of most professional sports. This is why I would like to share my deepest gratitude for style standouts like Kobe Bryant, Baron Davis, and Lebron James. They have raised the bar on what millionaire athletes should be wearing. If you had the chance to read the GQ Eye article on Baron Davis, you would have seen a man shot in, arguably, the most fashionable men’s fashion magazine, styled in his own clothing. Not to mention, Lebron James rocking a Made-to-Measure three-piece Purple Label suit and shirt on the cover of the same publication dressed with impeccable simplicity. Who knows what is on the horizon? Perhaps someday an NFL running back will cite Fred Astaire as his style inspiration.
The collaboration between fashion and music isn’t just comprised of rock stars and their supermodel counterparts anymore. Musicians have also become part of the new sartorial movement. Jack White and bands like The Hives and The Killers have taken to a more classic approach when hitting the red carpets as well as the stage. With the unfortunate closing of CBGB’s in New York City came a silver lining: the opening of the John Varvatos store. The flagship, along with an ad campaign featuring rock legends like Iggy Pop, Scott Weiland, and Jimmy Page, just add to the high end menswear fire while leaving flannel shirts and spandex unitards to burn.
All right, kids, save your pennies and buy yourself a new suit, maybe waistcoat, or even a bow tie. These are no longer relegated to what professors are wearing to the chalkboard. You may just find yourself inspiring the next generation of unlikely cover models.
Photo Credits: Kehinde Wiley
Edited by: Gina Conforti
