Russell Westbrook wore his first custom suit in 2008 for the NBA draft. Ultimately, the Seattle Supersonics selected him 4th overall. Since then, Westbrook has journeyed off the court and onto the runway, being one of the most talked-about Met Gala attendees in 2022, wearing Thom Browne.
Here, we see how rapid the transition from athlete to celebrity can be, especially in the United States. Sports stars are expanding into the fashion industry, using their influence to make a statement outside of the game. While Westbrook is one example, the transition occurs regardless of the athlete or sport and continues after their sporting career ends.
Although fashion has been present throughout his career, Westbrook attended his first Met Gala in 2021, themed “About Time.” He wore a custom blue Ralph Lauren suit, his favorite color, and dyed his hair to match. His influence doesn’t stop at gala appearances and pregame looks; he also influences fashion through his own brand, “Honor the Gift.”
Elsewhere in the NBA, Dennis Rodman. A controversial player and a must-mention in the world of fashion and sport, Rodman is still noticed for gender fluidity in his style nearly 25 years after his retirement, frequently spotted in long skirts and crop tops along with baggy jeans and blazers.
On a particular episode of Late Night with David Letterman, Rodman strutted on stage in a sheer unbuttoned cheetah print shirt with neon green hair and sprayed Letterman’s hair the same shade. Besides being one of the best NBA rebounders to date and friends with Kim Jong Un, Rodman used fashion to express himself and just so happened to make a social impact, encouraging gender-fluid expression.
In a separate, more serious example from 2014, the Los Angeles Lakers donned “I can’t breathe” T-shirts in reference to the killing of Eric Garner by an NYPD officer. Not only was this a fashion statement, but it also had a social and political meaning. According to LeBron James, a Heat player at the time, the shirts were meant to recognize and honor the family. While the Heat started the shirts, other teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, in the following games.
Athletes such as Westbrook and the Williams sisters surpass fashion events; they result in actual trendsetting and style influence. Not only are they creating fashion, they’re also designing it. Serena Williams designs for Nike; Neymar Jr. designs childrenswear for Puma; Misty Copeland co-founded Greatness Wins; there are examples all over.
It’s also important to note that these collaborations and works include both designer and accessible brands, spanning sports, gender, socioeconomic class, and purpose.
You can dress like your idol no matter who you are. You can bleach your hair like Neymar or wear a Rolex like Tiger Woods. Dressing like your idol is important, not only to inspire but also to influence. The span of options is endless; while a Rolex may be out of reach, bleaching your hair is a much more cost-effective option with seemingly the same effect. This allows people to test their fashion and try something new, inspiring confidence and change within themselves and the industry.
Serena Williams has been a fashion icon since her tennis debut in 1995. From playing in a denim skirt in the 2004 U.S. Open to the controversial French Open catsuit just a few years ago.
The catsuit is particularly notable, as the president of the French Open said it would not be allowed in the future following its appearance. The backlash streamed in after the announcement, furthering the closed-off elitism of the event. It is especially worth considering that Williams wore the suit for health reasons, as she had recently given birth. Although she wasn’t personally upset by the decision, it sparked a larger conversation about what sports leaders perpetuate in event rules, pushing the boundaries of what is right and influencing the world.
Wearing unconventional fabrics runs in the family. Venus Williams has significantly contributed to fashion, causing waves of change worldwide as well. When Williams wore a lace dress in the French Open in 2010, it revived the French lace industry and re-popularized the fabric. This is just one example of sports' influence on international fashion and industry.
The publication of these fashion statements changes the game for all of us (literally). It gives the average person more confidence in expressing themselves. This movement in fashion, influenced by athletes, is an open door for all of us to be free in how we dress, offering yet another outlet in a world that is constantly closing them off.
While some argue that following in the footsteps of celebrities cheapens fashion, it actually encourages people to go against the norms within their lives. Every room has a fashion standard; whether it’s class or the workplace, there’s a way you’re “supposed” to dress. By adding avant-garde fashion of celebrities at fashion events, award shows, and on the street, it inspires change in the everyday for countless people.