“I by no means actually thought that I would be able the place folks can be questioning what I used to be carrying,” says Wardell Stephen Curry II, or as followers of the Golden State Warriors, Crew USA basketball, or his unmatched expertise behind the three-point line name him, Steph. However they do—they care quite a bit. On LeagueFits, an Instagram account that usually posts pictures of fashionable outfits worn by NBA gamers, over a million followers intently watch their favourite athletes’ type decisions. “ID Cardigan?” one particular person commented on a picture from LeagueFits of Curry carrying a cream sweater with bejeweled buttons and two-tone army-green denims. “Can anybody ID the pants?” requested one other.
When Curry entered the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation in 2009, what he and his fellow gamers wore to video games wasn’t one thing they thought twice about. Followers weren’t eager about it both. Fifteen years later, although, that is now not the case, and now, “tunnel suits,” or outfits worn by gamers within the tunnels that join area again entrances to locker rooms, are a enterprise in and of themselves and a really public manner for gamers to showcase who they’re off the courtroom. Due to that, athletes who perhaps by no means thought-about vogue a precedence early on of their careers now see the advantages of leaning into it and, because of this, growing their private type. Curry is one such participant.
(Picture credit score: The Hapa Blonde/GC Photos/Getty Photos)
On Steph Curry: Bottega Veneta jacket, tank, denims, and sneakers
(Picture credit score: The Hapa Blonde/GC Photos/Getty Photos)
On Steph Curry: Zegna shirt and bottoms
Within the area between his gold medal win in Paris and the beginning of the 2024–25 NBA season, Curry—who, when in comparison with fellow professionals like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and Russell Westbrook, has by no means been recognized to indicate out style-wise on recreation day—debuted head-to-toe seems to be by Bottega Veneta, Versace, Zegna, and Ferragamo. “THE LOOOOOKS ARE LOOKING,” one commenter wrote on a picture of Curry’s laid-back Zegna look from the US Open that was posted by his stylist since 2023, Jason Bolden. (You may acknowledge Bolden from his work with Cynthia Erivo on the Depraved press tour and Nicole Kidman.) “Could be the most effective match I’ve seen him in,” one other particular person commented on a LeagueFits put up showcasing Curry’s Bottega Veneta outfit from New York Vogue Week.
Suffice it to say, with the NBA season now underway, the four-time champion has by no means had so many eyes on his outfits. And already, he is residing as much as the hype, persevering with his streak of spectacular and surprising ensembles, now in tunnels throughout America (and ultimately Canada). “Good match,” LeagueFits captioned a pre-game picture of Curry from early November. “Somebody inform Wardell to maintain dressing like this.”
(Picture credit score: The Hapa Blonde/GC Photos/Getty Photos)
On Steph Curry: Ferragamo Nappa Bomber ($6200) and Denims With Contrasting Stitching ($1090)
Nothing Curry does is by chance or probability. He is meticulous in all the things he pursues, and that features vogue. The 36-year-old two-time MVP is nicely conscious of the truth that what he and his fellow gamers put on issues. “These tunnel moments for us, we need to be tremendous intentional,” says Bolden about Curry’s seems to be this season. Individuals are watching—tens of millions of individuals. “So while you see these photos of him, and also you see these ‘suits that everyone goes loopy over, it is as a result of there’s some intentionality [behind] them. It is a feeling of, Wow, I actually like this model, Jason. We should always actually symbolize them,” the stylist continues. When folks choose aside each outfit you put on prefer it’s recreation tape, a chance to focus on underrepresented designers and types arises. At the very least, that is how Curry and Bolden have chosen to strategy a few of their tunnel ‘suits on this period of heightened curiosity surrounding vogue within the NBA.
I have to be pushed in sure instructions to know the way I can stretch my vary and flexibility with the ‘suits I placed on.
Steph Curry
“I’ve tried to reap the benefits of all the alternatives, have enjoyable with it, and [most of all] be intentional,” says Curry of vogue. His principal precedence is to uplift Black and Brown designers who may in any other case not get the form of publicity that comes with a participant of Curry’s caliber and recognition carrying certainly one of their designs within the tunnel. When a extremely large recreation comes round, the duo needs to be prepared to provide a platform to a smaller, on-the-rise designer of colour. “That is the factor that I’ve actually taken much more into consideration [this season],” Bolden says. “Anyone can put on superb seems to be, however what is the intention behind them? There must be one thing larger than garments, and that is to rejoice these gifted individuals who do not get a chance to be plastered everywhere.”
(Picture credit score: Jed Jacobsohn Images by Jed Jacobsohn)
On Steph Curry: Savant Studios jacket and pants
However Bolden and Curry aren’t on this mission alone. Curry’s curiosity in buoying Black and Brown designers within the tunnel began again in 2022, when he partnered with Sherri McMullen, the proprietor of the Oakland boutique McMullen, and his former stylist, Sheraine Robinson, to focus on designers at a number of video games throughout Black Historical past Month. On the finish of the common season, he posted a few of his favourite seems to be with the caption, “An honor to showcase only a few loopy gifted Black vogue designers on the earth this previous month. Like to June79, Romeo Hunte, Richfresh, Telfar, and naturally, Sherri McMullen of McMullen, for retaining me recent throughout Feb. #BHMFits does not cease right here… maintain going!” To recreation one of many NBA Finals later that season, he wore a customized go well with by Patrick Henry of Richfresh that the league posted on its Instagram account. Proper now, that account has 89 million followers. Practically 5 million of them noticed the video, based on The New York Occasions.
The next season, when Bolden and Curry started their skilled relationship, they took the latter’s initiative a step additional, partnering with Rakuten to amplify Black and Brown designers from the Black in Vogue Council within the tunnel. This yr, when Curry’s type is at its most seen, his capability to bolster up-and-coming designers is bigger than ever earlier than, which is why he is as soon as once more increasing his relationship with Rakuten, the main purchasing vacation spot for money again and rewards. All through the 2024–25 season, Curry will proceed donning ensembles made by Black and Brown designers like Billionaire Boys Membership, Áwet, and Saif Ud Deen at choose high-publicity video games. To make it straightforward for followers to help these manufacturers, following his tunnel walks, the outfits Curry wears will instantly be made obtainable to buy and earn money again on from Rakuten, with taking part retailers together with Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Mr. Porter.
(Picture credit score: Jed Jacobsohn Images by Jed Jacobsohn)
On Steph Curry: Des Pierrot jacket and pants
“I am enthusiastic about some seems to be which are arising,” Bolden says. “There’s this play on utilitarian that we’re leaning into quite a bit—the Stephen Curry uniform.” As a result of it is so utility-focused, he emphasizes that it is also relatable and approachable for buyers who may not be able to put on one thing actually loud and showy like a few of Curry’s fellow NBA gamers want to put on on recreation days. “I believe that anyone can see [these outfits] they usually can break them aside,” Bolden says. They’ll take that “Stephen Curry uniform” and make it theirs.
“One type [I remember] is the Des Pierrot look from our final run,” Curry recollects of the denim jacket and white gauze trousers ensemble he wore in December of 2023. “He nonetheless stands out to me as a man who had a tremendous story but in addition had a signature design language that I actually gravitated towards.” Hopefully, he says, the 2024–25 season can deliver extra moments like that. “The seems to be will communicate volumes,” Curry says. “Then [people will] ask what the model was, and clearly we’ll inform them, after which they will store it.” It’d solely take 10 seconds for Curry to stroll by the tunnel and previous the photographers who seize every participant’s trendy second. However for manufacturers, particularly ones ready for his or her large breaks, these few seconds are all it takes. Curry and Bolden are on a mission to maximise these alternatives as usually as attainable.
Jason Bolden and Stephen Curry with garments by Black and Brown designers like Áwet and Saif Ud Deen.
(Picture credit score: Oliver DeFilippo; Courtesy of Rakuten)
To take action authentically, Curry explains that he has to really feel snug and related to what he is carrying. “I am nice once I get to take a look at a rack and say, ‘Oh, I like the best way that appears and the best way that feels,’ or ‘I am not so positive about that,’ and take a look at one thing [else] on,” Curry says. “And that complete course of has been actually enjoyable to be part of as a result of I have to be pushed in sure instructions to know the way I can stretch my vary and flexibility with the ‘suits I placed on however [also know that Bolden’s] received to take notes from me on the place I really feel snug and what I [will actually] need to put on.”
Although he is concerned about vogue—an curiosity that seems to be rising every season—followers should not count on Curry to all of a sudden begin displaying as much as video games in a single extravagant ensemble after one other. “I do not ever need to appear like there’s a component of making an attempt too exhausting only for the sake of being loud,” he says. If he feels just like the outfit suits the second and him, it will come throughout higher to followers, showing genuine as an alternative of contrived. “I like to inform all people that Steph was quiet luxurious earlier than Succession,” says Bolden. “All our rising designers that we at all times put on, there’s a lot luxurious there, however he isn’t making an attempt to force-feed you something.” For the duo, the purpose is to indicate that extra designers than simply those all people is aware of about and wears, particularly within the league, exist. Their work is gorgeous, inventive, and in a position to make an already assured competitor like Curry really feel much more prepared for tip-off.
I like to inform all people that Steph was quiet luxurious earlier than Succession.
Jason Bolden, celeb stylist
“What [athletes] put on speaks volumes—[it says] a bit bit about how they really feel,” Curry says. When a participant walks down the tunnel carrying one thing they have been trying ahead to placing on, they stroll a bit in another way, he explains: “He is received his chest out a bit—he is received a unique swag about him.” Followers may by no means get to talk to their idols on the courtroom. Nonetheless, they can examine what jacket or cool pair of denims made them excited to dress that day. With each outfit he wears within the tunnel, Curry is giving a little bit of himself to his followers, providing them a glimpse into how he is feeling, the place his tastes lie, and what he prioritizes when it comes to manufacturers and designers. Hopefully, in flip, his priorities will develop into theirs, too.
