Inside Chris Paul's Pregame Wardrobe

If you're an NBA player, dressing in head-to-toe designer clothes is practically part of the job these days. But there’s a difference between the guys who rely on designer hoodies and ripped jeans and the ones who really have their head in the style game. The latter crew not only tend to work with professional stylists, but also have their personal tastes completely dialed in. (We’re looking at you, Kelly Oubre). After all, having great style is as much about knowing yourself as it is what’s happening in fashion.

Chris Paul is one such standout. Together with his longtime stylist Courtney Mays the Houston Rockets point guard has a wardrobe of pre-game outfits that are on trend and stacked with coveted grails, yet manage to be unique to Paul’s history and personal taste. Whether he and Mays are drawing inspiration from a favorite movie, making a social or political statement, or finding new ways to wear Paul’s favorite wardrobe icons, every look is as personal as it is fashionable. Below, Mays walks us through a few of her favorite fits from the season thus far and how they came to be. Here’s to five more months of Chris Paul’s cozy, collegiate brand of drip.

Stay Cozy

“Chris and I wanted to intentionally champion black designers and HBCU’s this season. We got the sweatshirt from the student union at Texas Southern University in Houston. Chris loves his tailoring, but we were all about a more cozy vibe this season.”

High School Daze

“This bomber was inspired by the Jets jacket Arsenio Hall wears in “Coming to America”; Chris designed it with the Jordan Brand team. It’s a classic movie in his house. The scrunchy socks were a throwback to Chris’s high school days. I love them with the sheer Nike React for a mix of nostalgia and exclusivity.”

Rocket Red

“Another staple in Chris's wardrobe is a patterned trouser. I love them too—just add a sweatshirt or a bomber jacket and you’ve got a great outfit. I pulled a few pairs for this look and Chris decided to go with the red plaid Gucci. Bolder is better.”

Speaking Up

“This look changed a bit in real time—Chris wore the pants with Pyer Moss’s iconic “Stop Calling 911” tee, then wore this We. Society tee with a different look (shown above). I think we both love how we can use fashion to express messages of social change. Our fashion says a lot about who we are. Why not use it as a platform to insight awareness and take a meaningful stance?”

Time for Another Signature Sneaker?

“Michael Barnett (a.k.a. Mike B), designed this jacket in collaboration with Cockpit USA. I love an opportunity to partner with and support my fellow stylists, and it was a cool way to give Chris’s polished style some edge. This is a super-luxe, all-black version of the original U.S. Navy G-1 jacket. I should also mention that Chris wears Common Projects with almost everything. When the rest of the outfit is busy, they’re always what we go for. He should really be the spokesperson for the brand at this point!”

HBCU Drip

“In our quest to support historically black colleges and universities, we’ve been trying to find unexpected ways to wear collegiate styles. Why not wear sweats with a double-breasted jacket? This look was one of our favorites this season.”

Big Pink

“5001 Flavors in Harlem has been creating one-of-a-kind pieces for pro athletes and hip-hop stars for decades—they’ve made bespoke suits for Notorious BIG, Sean Combs, and Colin Kaepernick, to name a few. For Chris we did this pink suit, which is bold and a bit of a risk, but still true to his style and in line with the NBA dress code.”

Barney's Bros

“NBA players are basically keeping Barneys in business with their love of elevated streetwear, but Chris and I always try to find a way to rework his closet favorites instead of breaking the bank. Chris loves a bomber jacket and this Off-White version is a work of art on its own. We switched to the Fear of God x Nike sneakers at the last minute; they are just too good.”

Houston Prep

“This color-block sweatshirt reminds me of everything ‘middle-school class photo.’ Chris always wears some jewelry—these colorful bracelets were a great way to amp up the preppy vibe.”