Former NBA star Dwyane Wade is known as much for his style as he is for his legendary game. For most of his time with the Miami Heat, fans looked forward to his pre-game walk through the tunnel just to get a glimpse of his drip.
Although his basketball days are behind him, D-Wade’s style hasn’t missed a beat. He’s a fixture on red carpets, wearing show-stopping looks, alongside his wife, actress Gabrielle Union.
In a recent interview with High Snobiety, Wade talked about the evolution of his style, crediting the men in his family for giving him an appreciation for looking good.
Wade says he inherited his love for fashion from his father, who always wore something worth talking about.
“He was just a fly dude, and it didn’t matter if it was a sweatsuit or if it was a suit,” he said.
And growing up watching his dad and uncles prioritize self-care made him want to keep his appearance on point.
“I always knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be one of them sharp-dressed men who smelled good, who stayed clean-shaved, and all that,” he said. “I’ve been getting my nails painted since 2007.”
Wade says he started taking risks with his fashion choices during the 2005 - 2006 NBA season when the league implemented a business casual dress code on game days. At the time, he hired a stylist who helped him step out of comfort zone. But these days, Wade sees style as a form of self-expression, and enjoys using his choices to showcase his personality.
“Me and my body, we love putting on clothes,” he said. “It’s not something I play around with. It’s a part of my personality, it’s a part of my lifestyle. So I’m not just wearing clothes. I put that sh*t on.”