Finally off the lazy train to start blogging, and no better time to start than after this look by Dwayne Wade started a firestorm of varying opinions.
People have mixed reactions on the selection of NBA players’ pre-game & post game attire. I enjoy the creativity and craziness that come with these outfits, and for my first post will focus on this look using some of the knowledge I’ve gained working in suiting.
NBA athletes (and all professional athletes) have one thing in common: huge shoulders. The shoulders of a suit are what engines are to cars. The silhouette, vibe and overall fit of a suit start in the shoulder. Professional athletes have such broad shoulders that they need not jackets with padding, as it adds unnecessary and unflattering bulk. Wade’s suit (Gucci S/S 2013) has minimal padding, so his body fills out the jacket rather than vice versa. Sleeves of the suit are on point, exposing what looks like a quarter inch - half inch of cuff. The jacket is slim and covers a good amount of his longer torso.
The pants, albeit very short and a little on the snugger side, still complement the look as a whole. Summer is approaching and like we do with jeans and chinos, it is OK to have suit pants hemmed shorter to expose ankle and show off your expensive loafers. I personally wouldn’t have hemmed the pants to that extreme length, but to each his own.
To top it off the suit comes in a polka dot pattern. This guy makes millions of dollars, is a celebrity, gets mentioned as a HOF player, on the cusp of getting a 3rd ring, has someone carrying his very expensive bag, and makes millions of dollars. If anyone has the right to rock a polka dot double-breasted suit, its Flash. Wade did take some aspects of the suit to the extreme, but overall the fit of the suit is in the right direction. More than what color or pattern the article of clothing is, fit is paramount in menswear, something that Michael Jordan still has wrapped his head around.
