Well she dunks like a dude (kinda), and almost got drafted in to the men’s basketball league (not really). So why shouldn’t she wear guy clothes?
Brittney Griner, of Baylor fame and WNBA rookie, recently drew attention (actually not much) for coming out of the closet and becoming one of the few openly gay athletes in professional sports. And in a fascinating profile by ESPN titled Owning the Middle it was revealed that Nike will allow her to make some interesting fashion choices:
“We can’t get into specifics,” says Nike spokesman Brian Strong, “but it’s safe to say we jumped at the opportunity to work with her because she breaks the mold.”
Griner relishes the chance to show her evolved style, saying she doesn’t see herself as a certain “type” anymore. Others might call her a stud, but she’s just BG now. “It clicked for me,” she says. “I used to do the whole baggy, hard-core, I’m-a-boy look. Then I went through a preppy phase. Now I have the athletic, bow-tie look. I found my style.”
So she’s going from the “I’m-a-boy” look to the “I’m a nerd” look. No - really. Nike is excited that the fashion world is pushing the NBA towards more androgynous styles:
Androgynous models are coveted in high-end fashion, but the trend toward gender-neutral clothing has only just begun to reach the sports world, with NBA stars Russell Westbrook and Dwyane Wade blurring the lines in their tight jeans and fitted sweaters. No sports apparel company has taken it a step further and expressly targeted the gender-fluid crowd — and whether Nike is willing to ride the edge with Griner remains to be seen. “We can’t get into specifics,” says Nike spokesman Brian Strong, “but it’s safe to say we jumped at the opportunity to work with her because she breaks the mold.”
What could possibly go wrong with NBA fashion being led by Westbrook and Wade?
Oh.
Right. Stahp!
Ok a capri pants suit? Really? Come on!
How long before they are all sporting Justin Bieber-esque leather outfits?
I wonder what Kobe thinks about all this.
Agreed.
