Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Dress For Success

I know some of you were in the Sports Arena for Sunday's Lakers/Bobcats exhibition game just to check out the pre-mandatory NBA dress code. Indeed, fans everywhere are wringing their hands and crying, "What will Kobe Bryant wear?"

This explosion of fan interest is due to commissioner David Stern's groundbreaking announcement that, beginning November 1, the NBA will enforce a dress code. "Every player must dress like a white man," Stern told reporters.

Actually, that's not true. Here's what his dress code says: "Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business...players are not allowed to wear...while on team or league business: Sleeveless shirts, shorts, T-shirts, jerseys, or sports apparel...headgear of any kind while a player is sitting on the bench or in the stands at a game, during media interviews, or during a team or league event or appearance...chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player's clothes. Sunglasses while indoors. Headphones..." In other words, every NBA player must dress like a white man, hip-hop or no, millionaire or no.

Well, first thing, like everybody else, I worried about Kobe's wardrobe. So, I call Ron Stuart Men's Clothing, downtown. Gary answers, I read Stern's dress code and ask, "How would you dress Kobe?"

"Business casual? Hmm," Gary says. "I would probably put him in a pair of slacks and a sports shirt with an open collar, something with a stripe."

"How come a stripe?"

"A little color, a little more fashion than a solid. Or a solid with a texture to it, something with a pattern. Then I would work with his complexion and everything."

"How about a sports coat?"

Sponsored
Sponsored

"I wouldn't necessarily put him in a sports coat. Business casual, on Fridays, for most occupations, is a sports shirt and a pair of slacks, a pair of loafers or, perhaps, a more casual shoe. If I had to put a sports coat with it, I would probably put him in a solid sport coat that would coordinate..."

"How much?"

"About $800."

* * *

I'm talking to David at Jus-Workwear, ("...largest selection of Carhartt clothing in Southern California"). "Let's say Kobe walked in right now...how would you dress him?"

"We only have jeans and work shirts."

"I know, but let's say he came in anyway and begged, 'I gotta get something.' What could you do for him?"

"The only thing we have along those lines, unfortunately, are dress, collared shirts, but all the shirts have Carhartt on them. We just deal in Carhartt. That's all we sell."

"What if Kobe told his manservant to remove the Carhartt emblem? Could he comply with Stern's dress code, wearing one of your shirts?"

"Yeah. They're a thicker shirt because they're a work shirt, but, yeah, they have a nice button-up collar."

Kobe would like that. "Do you have anything resembling slacks?"

"We have canvas pants; they're more of a lightweight canvas, for working." Silence. "Yeah, we could make them look good."

"You don't carry dress shoes, right?"

"Nope."

"How about black boots?"

"We got black work boots."

"Could your boots pass, on a moonless night, as a European, high-fashion, cutting-edge black boot?" I envision Kobe, hands on hip, pout on face, modeling leather biker boots at the Hotel Del.

"I wouldn't go that far," David laughs.

Pity. "Okay, Kobe's got his Carhartt dress shirt. He buys a pair of your pants that are borderline, but, possibly, could pass the dress code."

"Yeah. If he knows how to iron he could put a crease in them and make them look nice."

Deal. "How much?"

"Work shirts, around $40; pants, about $40. Say, 90 bucks for everything."

* * *

I ask Kari, at the Shirt Tale on Camino Del Rio South, about dressing Kobe.

"I do one type of thing: button-up dress shirts," Kari says. "You know how the Pat Riley collar curves?"

Never heard of it. "Yeah."

"I do that. Custom dress shirts. Sometimes, tall people want a longer collar because short people, if you put too long of a point on the collar, it won't look right. With custom shirts, you can do anything you want. You can place the spread as far apart as you want or as close together. The point -- that's how long the collars are -- you can make them anywhere from two inches to four inches. You can pick tie space, no tie space, or with tie space. And your cuffs, there's all kinds of things to do with cuffs. There are regular cuffs, one-button cuffs, two-button, notched. French cuffs, there are four different kinds of French cuffs: pockets, no pockets, pleats on the sleeves, or no pleats on the sleeves. It's full custom."

I am dizzy with shirt lore. "How much?"

"They start around $120 and go up."

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Looking back at race relations in Coronado

A former football player recalls the good and the bad
Next Article

Gilbert Castellanos, Buddha Trixie, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shane Hall, Brian Jones Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival

Grand Socials, gigs, and record releases in Del Mar, City Heights, Solana Beach, Little Italy, and Ocean Beach

I know some of you were in the Sports Arena for Sunday's Lakers/Bobcats exhibition game just to check out the pre-mandatory NBA dress code. Indeed, fans everywhere are wringing their hands and crying, "What will Kobe Bryant wear?"

This explosion of fan interest is due to commissioner David Stern's groundbreaking announcement that, beginning November 1, the NBA will enforce a dress code. "Every player must dress like a white man," Stern told reporters.

Actually, that's not true. Here's what his dress code says: "Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business...players are not allowed to wear...while on team or league business: Sleeveless shirts, shorts, T-shirts, jerseys, or sports apparel...headgear of any kind while a player is sitting on the bench or in the stands at a game, during media interviews, or during a team or league event or appearance...chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player's clothes. Sunglasses while indoors. Headphones..." In other words, every NBA player must dress like a white man, hip-hop or no, millionaire or no.

Well, first thing, like everybody else, I worried about Kobe's wardrobe. So, I call Ron Stuart Men's Clothing, downtown. Gary answers, I read Stern's dress code and ask, "How would you dress Kobe?"

"Business casual? Hmm," Gary says. "I would probably put him in a pair of slacks and a sports shirt with an open collar, something with a stripe."

"How come a stripe?"

"A little color, a little more fashion than a solid. Or a solid with a texture to it, something with a pattern. Then I would work with his complexion and everything."

"How about a sports coat?"

Sponsored
Sponsored

"I wouldn't necessarily put him in a sports coat. Business casual, on Fridays, for most occupations, is a sports shirt and a pair of slacks, a pair of loafers or, perhaps, a more casual shoe. If I had to put a sports coat with it, I would probably put him in a solid sport coat that would coordinate..."

"How much?"

"About $800."

* * *

I'm talking to David at Jus-Workwear, ("...largest selection of Carhartt clothing in Southern California"). "Let's say Kobe walked in right now...how would you dress him?"

"We only have jeans and work shirts."

"I know, but let's say he came in anyway and begged, 'I gotta get something.' What could you do for him?"

"The only thing we have along those lines, unfortunately, are dress, collared shirts, but all the shirts have Carhartt on them. We just deal in Carhartt. That's all we sell."

"What if Kobe told his manservant to remove the Carhartt emblem? Could he comply with Stern's dress code, wearing one of your shirts?"

"Yeah. They're a thicker shirt because they're a work shirt, but, yeah, they have a nice button-up collar."

Kobe would like that. "Do you have anything resembling slacks?"

"We have canvas pants; they're more of a lightweight canvas, for working." Silence. "Yeah, we could make them look good."

"You don't carry dress shoes, right?"

"Nope."

"How about black boots?"

"We got black work boots."

"Could your boots pass, on a moonless night, as a European, high-fashion, cutting-edge black boot?" I envision Kobe, hands on hip, pout on face, modeling leather biker boots at the Hotel Del.

"I wouldn't go that far," David laughs.

Pity. "Okay, Kobe's got his Carhartt dress shirt. He buys a pair of your pants that are borderline, but, possibly, could pass the dress code."

"Yeah. If he knows how to iron he could put a crease in them and make them look nice."

Deal. "How much?"

"Work shirts, around $40; pants, about $40. Say, 90 bucks for everything."

* * *

I ask Kari, at the Shirt Tale on Camino Del Rio South, about dressing Kobe.

"I do one type of thing: button-up dress shirts," Kari says. "You know how the Pat Riley collar curves?"

Never heard of it. "Yeah."

"I do that. Custom dress shirts. Sometimes, tall people want a longer collar because short people, if you put too long of a point on the collar, it won't look right. With custom shirts, you can do anything you want. You can place the spread as far apart as you want or as close together. The point -- that's how long the collars are -- you can make them anywhere from two inches to four inches. You can pick tie space, no tie space, or with tie space. And your cuffs, there's all kinds of things to do with cuffs. There are regular cuffs, one-button cuffs, two-button, notched. French cuffs, there are four different kinds of French cuffs: pockets, no pockets, pleats on the sleeves, or no pleats on the sleeves. It's full custom."

I am dizzy with shirt lore. "How much?"

"They start around $120 and go up."

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Pet pig perches in pocket

Escondido doula gets a taste of celebrity
Next Article

Hip-hop artist Don Elway makes movies for his music

Not Ordinary EP tells a story of life on the streets
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.