Filipino-British rugby star Marcus Smith gives his styling tips after being tapped as a fashion brand ambassador.
Given sports and fashion’s deepening connection, athletes now double as style icons. Social media has also given us a glimpse of their personal styles. Some could even be our own fashion inspirations.
Fashion brands have also tapped athletes as their endorsers. Athletes now sit front-row in fashion shows, or star in a brand’s latest campaign.
Joining this list is Filipino-British rugby star Marcus Smith, who was recently named an ambassador for English menswear brand Charles Tyrwhitt.
“On a personal level, obviously, a lot of my time I spend wearing rugby kit and sports gear but once in a while, I enjoy dressing up. For me, there’s no better brand than Charles Tyrwhitt in terms of the variety they have of clothes. You can dress up super smart or you can dress down as well,” Marcus told The GAME during his recent visit to the Philippines.
It’s a full-circle moment for Marcus, who tried to emulate David Beckham’s style growing up.
“You see fashion icons like David Beckham and more recently guys like Jude Bellingham. These guys are not just sportsmen, but they’re fashion icons. I definitely, when I was younger, wanted to emulate David Beckham and I’m sure there’s many young kids who want to be like Jude Bellingham as well,” he admits.
Given this, we asked the Harlequins fly-half for some menswear styling tips. Here’s what he had to say:
Trust your gut
For Marcus, being intuitive also applies to fashion. Maybe it’s through this that we get to discover our true fashion sense. Less on over preparing, and more on trusting our guts as we go through our closets.
“If you’re in your wardrobe, just pick and try to mix and match,” he says.
Be your biggest fan!
It’s one thing to assemble a nice outfit. But appreciating it is another story.
Fashion or not, this should start with ourselves. As Marcus says: “Back yourself, wear your clothes with pride and confidence.”
Try to be open minded
Last is being brave, according to Marcus. Over the years, we’ve seen male athletes push the boundaries of menswear. Think of names like Lewis Hamilton and Dennis Rodman. It’s through them that we can see how expressive men’s fashion can actually be.
“So I guess try different things, and be open-minded with that as well,” Marcus concludes.
Banner image by Grant Babia.