← The Glossy Podcast
The Glossy Podcast
NFL fashion editor Kyle Smith: 'It would be a miss' for fashion to ignore the sports opportunity
00:38:53
Loading summary
Transcript128 lines
- [00:00]
Kyle Smith
Foreign.
- [00:05]
Jill Manoff
Thanks for tuning in to the Glossy podcast. I'm your host, Jill Manoff, and today I'm sitting down with Kyle Smith, who was named the first fashion editor of the NFL in the fall of 2024. Thanks in part to social media, there's never been more interest in athletes style and its influence is apparent in both the trends taking shape and the fashion brand deals being announced left and right. I wanted to ask Kyle about fashion and sports love affair, including what he believes are the driving forces. I also wanted to ask about his day today because there is no way he is styling the whole league. I hope. Welcome, Kyle.
- [00:44]
Kyle Smith
Hi, Jill. I'm so excited to be here.
- [00:46]
Jill Manoff
I'm so excited to have you and thank you for answering my dm. We came together at last.
- [00:51]
Kyle Smith
I feel like it moves the world. DMs move the world at this point.
- [00:56]
Jill Manoff
Oh my God, I so agree. And I was just like, he responded so fast. You are. Anyway, well, I know that you're busy, so I'm sure you're getting messages left and right. Talk to me. Since the fall of last year, how has your schedule changed? I know you're traveling all over the place. You're home today.
- [01:12]
Kyle Smith
I am thankfully home today. So briefly, but my schedule is cuckoo. I think a really good example is, is I had like a week in my life. It was like Monday Night Football. I went with my friends Quentin and Emily, who play on the Rams. Then the next day had a fitting with Marnie, had some meetings, went to Berlin the next day, spoke at a film festival, flew back home by Friday, immediately went to Aloe to get a suit for Joe Burrow, then went to Louis Vuitton to get some glasses, went to the Sunday Night Football game in LA with the Bengals, and then Monday flew to Dallas for a photo shoot with Vogue and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.
- [02:06]
Jill Manoff
I mean, this is like a list of all the big names, brands, people.
- [02:12]
Kyle Smith
It's really crazy. And I. But you know, I can't complain because I guess this is what I wanted.
- [02:18]
Jill Manoff
Yes. And this is exceptional because Sarah, our podcast producer, and I were comparing notes. We are football fans. I don't know that I myself know the details. We're heading into the divisional round, then the conference championships. Does this have to do with your busy time? Is it. It's because we're inching near the super bowl or is this the new norm?
- [02:37]
Kyle Smith
This is. It's a little bit of both. You know, the super bowl is our Super Bowl. You know, I love when people describe their busiest time as The super bowl. And like, no, this is liberally our super bowl, but also, like, I'm kind of the only person in my company that has to deal with Super Bowl. But then also Fashion Week.
- [03:01]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [03:01]
Kyle Smith
Like, I somehow am squeezing in Men's Fashion Week next week and then Pro bowl and then Super Bowl. It's a really crazy time. It's a really crazy time right now.
- [03:13]
Jill Manoff
Well, no doubt. Well, talk to me how your road to this job. You were a fashion fan maybe before a sports fan. Have they always played hand in hand for you? And what were you doing prior to working for the NFL?
- [03:25]
Kyle Smith
I've always worked in fashion, and I had no interest in sports, like, until a couple years ago. Like, I was always in fashion, always dreamed of working in fashion. I would say my first big break was working for Carla Welch, celebrity stylist, red carpet Justin Bieber. She's. Yeah, she's amazing. Like, she's just. She. I always say, like, she was the best education I ever had.
- [03:54]
Jill Manoff
Iconic. She's so good.
- [03:56]
Kyle Smith
No, she's so iconic. And then really just stayed in celebrity styling, started doing some, like, fashion pr, advertising and campaigns. And then I got a job at the NFL Network. Pre Covid.
- [04:15]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [04:16]
Kyle Smith
As a stylist, like, dressing just what the hosts are wearing. But that's when I would be on set, and I would be on set of these TV shows, and they're talking about football players, and they'll be walking in, like, wearing Gucci, and I'm like, wait a minute. Like, that's brand new Gucci. Like, how does this person. You know, I. I recognized it because I was like, this is the same stuff Carla was putting, you know, Justin in on the red carpet or something. I was like, there's something happening here. And then Covid happened, you know, got laid off. Because styling is not Covid friendly. But I was like, I gotta stay involved here. Like, this is really. Something's happening. And then I started an Instagram account that. That had just like, what players are wearing. And it was just a proof of concept. And then, like a couple months later, I got a dm, another DM from the NFL that said, do you want a job? And I was like, that's so funny. I used to work here.
- [05:25]
Jill Manoff
I know you.
- [05:26]
Kyle Smith
So, yeah, like, I know you guys. So then it started off as like a just like social fashion person, just posting what players are wearing, like, what's really cool. And then it just really grew, you know, it was like in consumer products and working on collaborations with designers. And then it became what it is today.
- [05:48]
Jill Manoff
Oh, my gosh. And it's everything. We have to circle back really fast. When you talk about styling the hosts on the NFL Network, are you the guy that's responsible for all these crazy suits? I see them sitting on this table, and I'm like, wow, they're really nice. They're tailored to a T, but, man, they get really inventive with that one suit per week.
- [06:08]
Kyle Smith
It's really cuckoo. But that was my job, like, in 2019, working with that team to dress them in their suits. And, like, you know, we have lots of, like, female hosts that, like. Right. Like, it's very TV friendly stuff. Styling, you know, things that, like, I don't really consider, like, what is. What patterns are gonna look too crazy on tv. Yeah, that's no longer me. Because that's probably, like, the hardest job.
- [06:40]
Jill Manoff
Yes, no doubt. Tell me your job now. Like, you mentioned, you're doing partnerships. You're styling. Not everyone. How would you break up your duties?
- [06:51]
Kyle Smith
I would say there's, like, three big buckets. One is the consumer products end, which is, like, what we sell on NFL Shop. What, you know, like, what merchandise can fans buy? And so that includes, like, our mainline products, like, you know, jerseys and other cool. Just, like, stuff that's always available on NFL Shop, but also partnering with really cool brands. For example, this hoodie was from, like, one of my first collaborations I worked on with Warren Lotus.
- [07:26]
Jill Manoff
Nice.
- [07:26]
Kyle Smith
It was a really cool LA streetwear designer. And it's like, how can we work with cool designers to bring in a younger audience or a Gen Z audience or a fashion audience? You know, if Rihanna is doing the halftime show, how do we work with Fenty to create really cool products?
- [07:46]
Jill Manoff
Cool.
- [07:47]
Kyle Smith
Or there's, like, the Christian Jussicks of it all. And, you know, we're like, this is a cool story. We have to do something. And then the other big bucket is, like, the social element. How does all this play out into social from the consumer product side? How are we posting on NFL style? And who is the best dressed player of the week? Creating content with players to post on social. So, like, going into their closet and just following them as they get ready for a game. And then the other big bucket is just all player focused. So they come to me and say, like, what does a stylist do? How do I go to fashion Week? You know, what is the Met Gala? All these questions, and I try to answer them as much as possible and work with them as much as possible.
- [08:39]
Jill Manoff
Yeah.
- [08:39]
Kyle Smith
To just help with their fashion goals, because you Know, a lot of these players are just, like, young, awesome, cool dudes that have a sense of style and they want to know, like, how that can help them whether just express themselves or they want to be directly involved in the world of fashion.
- [08:59]
Jill Manoff
Oh, cool. So you're acting as, like, a consultant. They can come to you if they have questions. And then am I correct in saying you also have individual clients, like Joe Burrow?
- [09:09]
Kyle Smith
Right, right. And what I love about my job is I get to work directly with players that want to be very involved and use my previous experience as a. As a stylist. And Joe is, like, for sure one of my favorite players to work with. That's actually why I was just in Cincinnati for 10 hours, I think. But, you know, so I. It's so fun. And that's why I'll go Cincinnati for 10 hours.
- [09:40]
Jill Manoff
Ah, he has some great style. He is adventurous. I love him. Tell me who's the best. Can you tell me the best players closet that you've seen?
- [09:50]
Kyle Smith
Best players closet that I've seen. Honestly, I haven't been into too many closets because there's a lot. There's a lot of players, but one that I specifically remember is Pat Certain's okay. We filmed an episode of a series called behind the Fit with him, and his closet is crazy. Just, like, so organized. And there are just, like, shoes everywhere, but, like, just crispy and just like, shoes of. They're like grails.
- [10:26]
Jill Manoff
Oh, nice.
- [10:27]
Kyle Smith
No, his closet was really cool.
- [10:29]
Jill Manoff
Amazing. So not every player. Some guys just have style. Some people are just interested in fashion. Not everyone has a stylist. It's interesting. Interesting. I seem to recall I was listening to some interview with, like, Travis Kelsey, and he was talking about, like, picking out his outfit for three hours before every game. He spends three hours picking out his look. I don't know how old that interview was. But anyway, tell me, like, is. Is it the recommendation that everyone gets a stylist, or would you say, like, 80 have a stylist? What's the. What's going on there?
- [10:58]
Kyle Smith
I don't think everyone should have a stylist. And I think also what people, like, don't really understand about styling is every stylist client relationship is so different. And that involves, like, the whole world of fashion, not just sports. Some guys just want a personal shopper because they're so busy. They have practice, they have commitments. They can't go out and buy the newest, coolest stuff and really work on, like, what they're going to be wearing. Some Guys want the other end and just want like a full service of getting new clothes, but also telling them how to wear it, giving them suggestions, being like, this would be the actual look that you should wear. So Travis, for example, he for sure dresses himself, but he also has someone named Danielle Salzito who helps him just get into the room with brands. Like, he was one of the first people to wear the Louis Vuitton designed by kids super collection. And that was because of Danielle, who just got him that relationship. And then he takes it from there.
- [12:10]
Jill Manoff
Nice.
- [12:10]
Kyle Smith
Some other players. Joe, for example, My relationship with him is I'm in la, I go out and I find a bunch of cool new things, but also things I know really matter to him. Like, Joe loves space and dinosaurs. So I'm always on the hunt for a really cool space T shirt or like a vintage Jurassic park shirt, for example. And then I'll go to Cincinnati, we put some outfits together. I give them like, I'm like, this could be cool. But in the end, Joe's always the one that's like, actually, I like this and this. So, you know, I feel like every, every person is different and what they want from a stylist and sometimes they don't need it. You know, I think a lot of guys, like I said, these are young men who have a sense of style and sometimes they really know how to express it and really use those tunnel fits as an opportunity to show people who they are. They'll wear that Jurassic park shirt with new Balenciaga pants, for example. So huge. That's kind of how I feel about styling.
- [13:22]
Jill Manoff
Yes, that makes great sense. So you noticed this. The tunnel fits. You started seeing what was happening a few years ago. I tell you what, A couple of years ago, I started an Instagram that I never took off that where I wanted to feature because everybody was doing the tunnel. I wanted to do like, the court side fits courtside, because everybody looks so cute. But anyway, and now brands are like, piling on. The brands are seeing the opportunity they want the partnerships, they want to dress the. The folks. But anyway, fashion and sports, what's happening here? It just seems like it's hit some peak moment and is there ever any going back? We'll just keep building from here. We're going to keep meshing together.
- [14:00]
Kyle Smith
I mean, I always say, like, fashion and sports are these two huge industries.
- [14:08]
Jill Manoff
Yeah.
- [14:09]
Kyle Smith
Neither of them are going anywhere ever.
- [14:11]
Jill Manoff
Right.
- [14:12]
Kyle Smith
But now they're really, like, together. It's like two huge divas coming together to maximize their slay. And, like, I love it. And I think it's for a few reasons that we've really seen this convergence. One is just, like, the authenticity of it all. I think with especially that comes from sports. In the end, like, our athletes, their job is to play and do their job and be the best athletes in the world. And it's really exciting to see, like, what they are wearing and, like, what they're up to, because everything they do is them, is, like their authentic self. They're not paid to sell an album or a movie or a product. They're just wearing something because they want to. And so if I see a player that I love, that I know is really cool and awesome and gives back to his community, like someone I aspire to be, and if he's wearing something, I'm like, wait, maybe I want that because I kind of want to be like him. I want to do that. And so I think from the fashion season, sports is like these really cool stories. And who wouldn't want to be a part of that journey of, for example, a player or some kid from a small town making it all the way to the NFL, being drafted, winning a Super Bowl. Like, that's a really awesome story to be a part of. And it would be a miss if fashion didn't want to be a part of that in some way.
- [15:54]
Jill Manoff
You're so right. Every brand is trying to nail authenticity. And, you know, when I would ask maybe, like, a womenswear brand that was expanding to menswear, and I'd ask about the marketing, and I'd be like, well, you're not going to be working with style influencers. Does that work for guys? And they're like, no. Guys aren't looking, following. Maybe a lot of guys are not following style influencers on Instagram, but they are following athletes. They all always mentioned athletes. Even if it wasn't like a high fashion company, it was like a huckberry or something like that. But they were always looking for that very relatable athlete. Nothing new there. Right, right.
- [16:29]
Kyle Smith
And I mean, like, what I think is really cool is, like I said, they don't. They're not there to sell something.
- [16:38]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [16:39]
Kyle Smith
You know, and so it's like. And we can feel that as. As, like, consumers in 2025, we always know when we're being sold to.
- [16:47]
Jill Manoff
Yeah.
- [16:49]
Kyle Smith
And so I think we're all just kind of waking up to the fact that maybe this influencer was getting paid to tell us this. Or you always hear something about, oh, this viral sweater or something. And I'm like, is it viral because everybody's wearing it, or is it viral because you just told me it was? And so what's so awesome about sports is, like, to me, so there's 18 weeks of a regular NFL season. It to me, that's 18 weeks of fashion shows.
- [17:25]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [17:25]
Kyle Smith
And so then I really get to see, like, what's sticking around, like, what brand, what style, what colors were here from week one to week 18.
- [17:35]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [17:36]
Kyle Smith
That, to me, is a viral sweater. That, to me, is, you know, a trending brand. That's how I know, like, what really. It cuts through all the noise of these, like, viral, you know, brands and pieces. I'm like, okay, like, this one's cool. This is gonna stay.
- [17:56]
Jill Manoff
This one actually caught on organically. And that because five guys were paid to wear it.
- [18:01]
Kyle Smith
Right, right, exactly. It was like, someone from this team over here and someone from this team over here, you know, all wore it. And then that's what catches my eye. Then that is what I. I look to, and then I'll reach out to that brand or I make sure I'm going to their fashion week show to see, like, then what's next.
- [18:21]
Jill Manoff
Let's talk about trend a bit. I know for a long time, street wear, quote, unquote, streetwear was what was dominating the look. I mean, sneakers, kind of a. I don't know, souped up, athleisure type of a vibe. I don't know how I would call it. But is it still dominating is what's evolved? I feel like we're seeing more suiting, but also more creativity. But you tell me.
- [18:43]
Kyle Smith
I mean, I think that is a. A question kind of about, like, the larger implications of street wear. Street wear used to be, like, very affordable street wear or street wear, you know, used to very for, like, just the common person, and I think there's still a lot of that. But also, like, I used to work for Amiri.
- [19:06]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [19:06]
Kyle Smith
And that was another big, like, connection to sports for me, because so many players love amiri, for sure, but also Amiri, which is streetwear, you know, it's denim, but it's like thousand dollar jeans.
- [19:20]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [19:21]
Kyle Smith
So really, I think what streetwear is is really broken down. And to me, streetwear is just, like, personal style. How are you taking maybe, like, a Runway thing that was styled out, you know, Runway still also a business selling a product, and then how are we making it our own with streetwear? So what I see in the tunnel is a lot of different things, a lot of different styles, and that's what I think is really cool about the NFL is we have so many different body types, personalities. It's. Each team is huge. So there's for sure a guy out there that you can resonate with. We have tall guys, shorter guys, you know, like really, you know, like slim guys, and like much larger guys. Like, so, like, it's inspiring for people that want to wear a suit, but they've always felt like their body wasn't meant for a suit. I guarantee you there is a guy, a player, wearing a perfectly done suit in your body type.
- [20:24]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [20:25]
Kyle Smith
So we see everything. And so trends. I don't know, I can't speak to it because there's so many. There's so many that are happening. But I always see suits. I'm always seeing really cool streetwear and designers, but then also players that want to really express themselves wear something that they know nobody else is wearing. So sometimes also, like, it's not even a trend that's happening. It's like the start of a. Of a trend that I will see later outside the tunnel.
- [20:56]
Jill Manoff
Yes. See, they are setting trends. It's funny that you mentioned body shape with these guys, football players. I mean, depends on their position. I guess it's more typical of an all American guy. I just remember I would never in any million years compare myself to you or Carla Welch. I just remember I styled back in the day, somebody who was a hockey player. His legs were like tree trunks. It was like my work was cut out for me. I. I had to get like, anyway, some special pants. But anyway.
- [21:23]
Kyle Smith
Exactly.
- [21:24]
Jill Manoff
Is it a child? Yeah, it's a lot of custom.
- [21:27]
Kyle Smith
A lot of custom. You know, I work with a lot of suit designers, tailors and weird workarounds. I have guys with like a 38 inch waist, but their thighs are too big and we have to go up to a size 40. But the tailor, the waist, it's like, it's crazy. It's really crazy.
- [21:47]
Jill Manoff
Every outfit's a project.
- [21:48]
Kyle Smith
Every outfit is a project. But also this is when, like, creativity really gets to take place. Like, I was in Tokyo and I got these Yoji Yamamoto pants. Like, I'm a waist size, like 33, you know, like, you know, pretty average. But it's Yohji Yamamoto who plays with proportions and, like, extra fabric and all these crazy things. So these pants, they fit me perfectly, but also miraculously fit a waist size 40 player.
- [22:21]
Jill Manoff
Oh.
- [22:22]
Kyle Smith
And I was like, you know what? Take these pants, you know, like, wear them. Do whatever you want. But we have a winner. So, like, because who would have thought you Know, like, it was like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Like, for some reason, this is when you get really creative. You're like, you know what? Let's maybe work with Japanese designers because they seem to know how to fit your body. Or let's think outside the box a little. And then I think then when you stumble upon something you normally weren't thinking about, then you're like, oh, maybe I found something here. And then that's when these trends start to trickle down.
- [23:00]
Jill Manoff
So fun. I have to ask. Tell me about, first of all, how you carry your experience at a Paris Fashion Week into your current role. Also, at the same time are brands, like, rolling out the red carpet for you, and they understand that you're the. That you're the most powerful man in fashion right now. But anyway, like, tell me about your. The access that you're getting with brands. And also. Yeah. How. How that translates to. To these great fashion experiences between your job.
- [23:28]
Kyle Smith
Yeah. I mean, obviously, as someone who's always dreamed of working in fashion, Paris Fashion Week is like, it. It's. I don't want to say that's my super bowl, but it's maybe my. It's my something. It's my halftime show, or I don't know what, but it's.
- [23:45]
Jill Manoff
It.
- [23:45]
Kyle Smith
It's very exciting to go. And what I love about going to Fashion Week is seeing the community that develops and all the inspiring people. And it's also become this place where I see my friends that I haven't seen since maybe last Fashion Week or the last big thing we were all at together. And there are certain shows that I will see, like, 10 football players.
- [24:13]
Jill Manoff
Oh, wow.
- [24:15]
Kyle Smith
And I'm like, what's happening? Why are we all gravitating toward this brand? And then it really helps me understand, like, okay, this is going to be it for next season, maybe, or this is going to take over the tunnel and those. Like, which players? There's so many, like, pockets of players in their own style. So I'll be, like, at the Louis show, and there's, like, so many athletes there, and I'll be at the kids super show, and there's so many athletes. And that really helps me understand, like, what are these players seeing, these trendsetters? Like, what do they see? And it helps me kind of figure out the stories that will be coming about or who should we be working with? Should we collaborate with them potentially on a cool capsule collection, a Super bowl collection? Fashion Week is very, I think, impactful to the world of sports now because it tells us who's hot and who's going to be really cool next season, because then it's something that we should consider working with.
- [25:15]
Jill Manoff
Yes. You've become a bigger sports fan since this fashion meets sports relationship. I was gonna ask if, like, the. The hardcore sports fan and the. The person watching the tunnel is one in the same now. Like, I would think maybe increasingly, or how would you describe that?
- [25:34]
Kyle Smith
Yeah, well, we have our hardcore fans. Like, they will watch every Sunday, every game day, no matter what. Like, they are there to watch the game, and I love that for them. What I do and what I think the NFL sees the opportunity with fashion and tunnel fits is the helmet off experiences. You know, at the NFL, we wear helmets, thankfully. But what that does, though, is it kind of stops. Maybe that organic connection that you might make with a player on the field. So how many opportunities and what opportunities do we have to create another connection, a helmet off connection? Like, when can you see their face and really. And really build a relationship with this person? And fashion, I think, is such a key player there. When you see a player walking in wearing a Sade T shirt. Oh, now I may be interested in this player because he likes Sade too. He likes Jurassic park too. And so what that does is it really grows our audience. It helps us get maybe more casual fans interested and involved, and they want to follow this player from team to team no matter where they are. They're now, like, invested in being a fan of the NFL. So, you know, we have these casual fans. We have, like, these avid fans. Fashion's really helped us bring more of those casual fans and be like, look, there's something here for you. There's a player here that you can relate to. There's a storyline here that you might connect with. And that's like, I think the coolest part about fashion is its potential to bring people together.
- [27:32]
Jill Manoff
I love it. Well, tell me about the super bowl being your super bowl and how that translates. Let's talk about the tunnel fits that we're going to be seeing on the Super Bowl. Is the conversation with the guys going, I need the best look of the year.
- [27:45]
Kyle Smith
Right.
- [27:46]
Jill Manoff
We're not messing around. I want this designer and I want this. Like, the stakes are higher.
- [27:52]
Kyle Smith
Stakes are very high. But this is also the thing is we don't know who's going to the Super Bowl.
- [27:59]
Jill Manoff
Oh, right on.
- [28:00]
Kyle Smith
Right.
- [28:01]
Jill Manoff
I didn't think of that.
- [28:02]
Kyle Smith
We have no idea. We always joke that there's a script, but in the end, like, we have no idea who's going to make It. And so, thankfully, fashion moves very, very quickly. So once it is decided, like, we got this AFC team and this NFC team going, like, then the race is on. To find that really cool fit to work with the hottest designer, to call up the best stylists in the world to bring together one of the biggest outfits you might ever wear.
- [28:39]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [28:40]
Kyle Smith
Besides your uniform. So the race will be on shortly, but we still have to figure out who's going. That being said, there are so many really cool things that we work on surrounding the Super Bowl. We, of course, have NFL honors, One of our biggest red carpet moments. I know it's always fun to see who shows up wearing what. It's award season. It's basically got Oscars, Grammys, ESPYs. It's also NFL honors.
- [29:11]
Jill Manoff
Totally forgot about that. Yep.
- [29:14]
Kyle Smith
And then we also. This year, GQ is putting on a fashion show at super bowl with Bodhi.
- [29:22]
Jill Manoff
I saw that, too. This is. Is it a first of its kind event? That's amazing.
- [29:26]
Kyle Smith
First of its kind. They plucked someone from New York Fashion Week and just dropped them at super bowl, which I think is such a testament to where we are today.
- [29:37]
Jill Manoff
You're not kidding. What are your goals for the year? Like, you want to kill it. You're gonna do a great job. You're doing a great job. More amazing collaborations. Are we gonna see a collab with Amiri? Like, what are we gonna see?
- [29:49]
Kyle Smith
I mean, I just. My goal is to get through super bowl and then. And rest and sit down for just a minute. But, you know, I. It's crazy because so many of my goals I never thought I would hit are happening so quickly. But, you know, we have the whole year ahead. We have, you know, art weeks, and we have the Met Gala. We have draft coming up. Last year at draft, Caleb Williams wore a custom chrome hearts suit.
- [30:23]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [30:25]
Kyle Smith
Gorgeous and insane.
- [30:27]
Jill Manoff
I remember that.
- [30:27]
Kyle Smith
I feel like was right. It was, because it's so cool. Like, why. Why wouldn't you. Yeah. Like, why wouldn't you remember?
- [30:34]
Jill Manoff
Yeah.
- [30:35]
Kyle Smith
But I really think it set the tone for every draft after that now because players are really recognizing, like, this is their first big moment to be in the public eye. It's probably their first red carpet. As a very young professional, how can they really stand out? And how can they let the world know, like, who they are? So I'm really excited for this year's draft to see what everyone's going to be wearing. And then we have kickoff again in September.
- [31:08]
Jill Manoff
Yeah.
- [31:08]
Kyle Smith
You know, like, so. Because we have, like, fashion Week next week, and Then Fashion Week in June. Then when September comes, I'm like, okay, like, what are we taking away from all these fashion weeks? Like, what are we. How are we using that to help define who we are?
- [31:25]
Jill Manoff
Yes. Oh, my gosh. How far we've come. I think of the draft, like, back in the day, it looked like the kids wearing their. Their dad's suits.
- [31:32]
Kyle Smith
Oh, my God. Yes. They look like Roblox characters. Like, it was really. We've come a. We've come a long way.
- [31:39]
Jill Manoff
A long way. Now the question is, who's gonna help Major League Baseball?
- [31:44]
Kyle Smith
That's. Oh, my goodness. Are you with me?
- [31:47]
Jill Manoff
I'm. I'm in. I'm in St. Louis, and I'm a Cardinals fan, but I see, like, they're like, fits, and it's just, like, a T shirt and shorts. I'm like, come on.
- [31:55]
Kyle Smith
I know, but I also always say this. Like, if that's who you are, if you're a T shirt and shorts guy, great. Like, fashion isn't for everybody, or. I don't want to force somebody into a fashion conversation they don't want to be a part of. I want to make sure people are using fashion as a tool. And at the end of the day, if your favorite thing to wear are flip flops and sweatpants and a T shirt from high school.
- [32:26]
Jill Manoff
Yes.
- [32:28]
Kyle Smith
That's you. That's your style.
- [32:30]
Jill Manoff
That Kelsey guy got a lot of flack for those flip flops that one time.
- [32:34]
Kyle Smith
And you know what? When he retired. When he retired, I put together a post for NFL Social that was like, I'm obsessed with this guy's style, and it was just sweatpants and flip flops.
- [32:46]
Jill Manoff
Yep.
- [32:46]
Kyle Smith
Because, like, he keeps it real.
- [32:48]
Jill Manoff
Yeah.
- [32:49]
Kyle Smith
Keeps it real. Like, I know who you are. I know, like, this is authentically who you are. If we saw Jason Kelce wearing, like, the newest Loro Piana and, like, and Versace, I would be like, who is making you do this? Did Travis come over? Because this is not. This is not you.
- [33:09]
Jill Manoff
Did this stylist know anything about you at all?
- [33:12]
Kyle Smith
Exactly, exactly. Like, we all make sure we're telling authentic stories here.
- [33:17]
Jill Manoff
Yes. Oh, my gosh. Last question for you. What's inspiring you now? You, like, you've been making the rounds. Maybe you saw a show or you saw a silhouette or what have you, but what's the last thing that really. Like, it's seeping in your mind. It's emerging. Maybe we'll see some of it next year.
- [33:33]
Kyle Smith
You tell me what is on my mind right now. Well, what's on my mind is, to be honest, I was just watching Suite Life of Zack and Cody and as we do. Yeah, as one does. And I was like, these guys have some really good outfits on. That's literally all you need to revisit. No, like, I think you should revisit because I was watching it on the plane and I was like, wait a minute. This, like, flame button up shirt with like a flame long sleeve underneath is kind of cool. They were into something, they were onto something. And I always look for fashion, I think, where people least expect it. So I'm always looking out, touching grass, making sure I'm offline, and seeing what people are wearing. So I'm really inspired right now by my sweet life of Zach and Cody.
- [34:27]
Jill Manoff
I mean, good answer. I would have ended on that because I love it. Oh, my gosh, Kyle, this was so, so fun at your busiest time. Thank you for being here. We so appreciate it. It was great.
- [34:37]
Kyle Smith
Thank you, Jill. This was.
- [34:48]
Jill Manoff
That's all for this episode. Our theme music is by Otis MacDonald. Be sure to give us a rating on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening to the Glossy podcast. See you next week.