NBA All-Star Weekend News: Basketball Stars to Strut at NY Fashion Week
NBA players will not only be busy with the NBA All-Star weekend but they will also be strutting the runway for the New York Fashion Week's Fall 2015 shows.
Set to be aired on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., the "NBA All-Star All-Style" fashion show and competition will highlight major NBA stars like Lebron James, DeMarcus Cousins, James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Zach LeVine.
Forbes noted that these players will be paired with stylists such as Erin Heatherton and Chanel Iman. The designs will be judged by Charles Barkley and GQ's Will Welch. The fashion show will also reportedly be hosted by Shaquille O'Neal with special performances from Flo Rida and Wale. Comedian Kevin Hart will also be providing commentary and have backstage interviews. Reports also said that John Wall will also be a contributor to the show.
According to Washington Post, the event, produced by James, will be composed of three parts: dressing for the boardroom, a night out, and attire worn to the game.
It added that eight players will take part during the first round with four advancing to the next round and then two will make it to the final round.
As part of the show, Forbes said that Kanye West will also be releasing his Yeezy Boot during the fashion show and the singer will also perform in a concert with Durant on the 12th.
The show will serve as a "fast break" for the basketball stars, who will not only be spending their time for the games during the All-Star weekend, but also take some time off the court.
Parsons, in an interview with ESPN, said he has prepared for the show by hiring a stylist.
"I have a stylist that's going to go and dress me for the three different looks. I haven't seen them yet, so it's going to be a surprise, but they're going to be extremely, extremely attractive," Parsons told ESPN.
With this statement, Parsons seem to be taking his modeling seriously but the public has repeatedly criticized him for sporting skinny jeans and funky shirts. Even his teammate, Dirk Nowitzki, agrees with this criticism.
"You want to know the truth? I think his fashion is horrible. But, then again, he tells me I dress like an old man. We think he dresses like Justin Bieber. So if you're into that kind of stuff, then I guess you can vote for him. If you like some grown-man stuff, some slacks, some button-downs, then I got him beat," Nowitzki told ESPN.
Fashion shows such as these, according to Forbes, are not new to basketball players as they have already participated in activities like this. James covered Vogue while Amar'e Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett and Carmelo Anthony have participated in Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.