The NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Cavaliers is "shaping up as one of the season’s biggest stages -- for fashion," as designers "benefit from mainstream exposure," according to Scott Cacciola of the N.Y. TIMES. Warriors G Stephen Curry said, "You stress over outfits for days and you wind up wearing it for 30 seconds when you walk from the parking lot to the locker room." But Cacciola notes those 30 seconds are "important to broadcast partners like ESPN and Turner Sports, who have filmed these entrances throughout the postseason to help fill pregame airtime." No one "made a bigger splash in recent weeks" than Thunder G Russell Westbrook, whose "bursts of sartorial pyrotechnics -- denim overalls one game, zebra-print blazer the next -- were offset by an obstacle course of trash cans, ladders and heating ducts." Stage and film production designer Brett Banakis, who runs his own firm, said that it "made sense for high-profile players to embrace their opportunities to flash some individual style, even if their milieu is a loading dock." Social media has given player arrivals "greater currency," and they have also become "much more involved productions." Meanwhile, Nian Fish, creative director for her eponymous firm, said, "You can see a guy holding up a big floodlight because they’re obviously going through this dark tunnel. So I’m like, wow, that’s really amazing that they’re doing a lighting production to create a video of this, their own version of the red carpet. They’re really producing this shot" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/8).
WALL'S WAYS: ESQUIRE's Jonathan Evans noted Wizards G John Wall on Monday partnered with online consignment shop TheRealReal to "sell a portion of his wardrobe" to benefit the John Wall Family Foundation. Wall said he has "always loved fashion," but he "really started paying attention to clothes and shoes" when he came into the NBA. Wall: "It's a way for me to express myself and I like to have fun with it. Right now, I like Fear of God pieces, BAPE; a lot of fun stuff. I like Balmain and Mike Amiri jeans and my own 5 Deep and Wall Way jackets, T-shirts, and hats. Most of my suits are custom made, so I like the three-piece fit." He added, "The way I play the game sometimes inspires my style. I like different designers and their looks: Tom Ford, DSquared2, LV, or HBA. We all like to look good, just in our own way" (ESQUIRE.com, 6/6).
