#5 Best Dressed Player of 2012: Kobe Bryant

Fashion in the NBA: Kobe Bryant is the 5th Best Dressed Man in the NBA's 2012 Playoffs

For many years now, Kobe Bryant has been the NBA player that even those who do not follow the NBA are keenly aware of. Indeed, Bryant is one of the best players the game has ever seen, and has truly built an empire on his talents over the years of his career. Kobe Bryant is known not only for his talents on the court, however, but for his approach to fashion and style as well. One of the best-dressed players in the NBA, and having been featured on covers of GQ magazine, Bryant never steps into the public eye without looking his absolute best. He’s not trying to be a trendsetter by any means; simple, classy and sophisticated are perhaps the best words to use when trying to describe the way Kobe approaches fashion. The following are just a few things to understand about how Kobe Bryant dresses, and can help you to improve your own look as well.

Avoiding the Trends
Trends are omnipresent in the NBA; there are plenty of players who base their entire approach to fashion on sticking to the fly-by-night trends that have been a huge part of professional basketball for years now. Kobe knows better, however, which is why he tends to take a simple, clean approach to his appearance at all times. You’re not going to see him taking a great deal of risks in the way he dresses, but this is by design. Bryant would much rather stick to a tried and true appearance that works for him than test the waters with some trend that could easily fade away in a matter of days. Slim-cut pinstripe suits, fashionable shoes and an overall elegant appearance are all characteristic elements of Bryant’s look, and make him what he is today when not on the court.

Skinny Ties
One thing that Kobe Bryant does do that other NBA players tend to shy away from is he wears skinny ties like it’s his job. Skinny ties aren’t always easy to pull off, yet Bryant is somehow able to do so with very little issue. In fact he has been featured on the cover of GQ magazine wearing a plaid patterned skinny tie, sleek tie bar, and slim fit gray suit.

Bryant tends to stick to ties that offer a bit of contrast when paired with pinstripe suits; silver and teal, for example, featuring horizontal stripes. Bryant’s ties are far from being overly skinny (such as those found in “hipster” fashion), but they aren’t nearly as wide as those which are worn by others in the industry. Still, his ties add a lot to his appearance, and make all the difference in the world when it comes to his ensembles. Our verdict: a great approach to add modern style to his look without choosing a look that is disproportionate to his larger frame.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
The most important thing that modern men can take away from how Kobe Bryant dresses is the way he stays away from current trends. Trends can be fun to experiment with, but more often than not they cause people to steer away from a sense of fashion that already works just fine for them. Avoiding this can help you to maintain a sense of yourself that you’ll never find if you hop from one trend to another on a regular basis. Go with a clean, classic and sophisticated look for best results. Also, take note of how Bryant chooses patterns, cuts, and styles that compliment his body type. Ultra skinny ties for instance would not look right on his big & tall frame.

Your Cheap-Neckties Team