Shaq the Fashionista? The TNT Guys won’t allow it. While Charles Barkley loves playing fashion police with NBA stars yet Shaquille O’Neal has to defend his funky hairline and aquamarine suit. But that’s the Shaq style book. He broke down his fashion history, including the hardships of finding clothes that fit his 7’1″ frame, recently. And he explained his easy-going approach to dressing up which doesn’t always agree with his loved ones.
“I don’t go Prada and Louis Vuitton… I don’t really do that,” O’Neal told People. It’s true we’d rarely see him in one of the billion-dollar valued brands. He still keeps it classy and well-tailored even if it’s not well-received.
“I’m told by my family and my friends I don’t really know and understand fashion.” Can you blame his family either? Myles O’Neal is a model by day and has the trendiest fashion perspective. Taahirah and Shareef are never out of step in their style either. But it doesn’t look like they can crack their dad’s dress code. “My definition of fashion is, ‘How would you look if you’re trying to have a meeting with Jeff Bezos? How would you look if you are at a conference with President Barack Obama?’ ” This is the newest Shaq-ism to live by.
So when Shaq answers the question of who he is dressing up for, what does he look like? Pretty much what we see of the big man. When he’s going for the ‘homeboy’ aesthetic, like when he’s deejaying or when he’s spotted in a restaurant, he opts for jeans and big shirts. Other times, especially when he’s doing his TV gig at TNT, he likes to be “very nice and very clean” in his appearance. And his easy OOTD statement applied to his fashion-related ventures too.
Shaquille O’Neal’s style evolution
O’Neal’s two most prominent business forays in the fashion industry are both budget friendly and trendy. It’s well known he walked away from Reebok the first time to launch an affordable shoe brand under Walmart. Moreover, he launched the XLG fashion line under JCPenney, a collection of menswear focused on inclusive sizing and suits that don’t break the bank.
It’s a far cry from the prime Shaq when the 4x champion’s questionable fashion was at its peak. We’re talking comical hats with suits and long, baggy coats he spent upwards of $3000 to get it tailored to his requirements. He once admitted he chose the outlandish styles to get attention. He’s since evolved from his self-proclaimed “clown” phase and is in his corporate era. That’s bespoke suits, sometimes stylish eyewear, and occasionally the DIESEL bling.
He still gets made fun off for some of his funny choices, mostly courtesy of the Inside Crew. But he stays true to it and shows his evolving style game.
