Men’s style tips from hockey star Steven Stamkos
It can be tough shopping for a guy – even if that man is an NHL hockey player making millions of dollars off of contracts and endorsement deals. Just ask Tampa Bay Lightning centre, and Markham, Ont., native, Steven Stamkos.
Stamkos, who is launching his third limited edition watch with the Swiss brand Tissot, says it can be tough for the modern man to find his style and look good to boot.
"Today the style is more of a tight fit, a modern fit, so it can be tough for guys to get it right," says Stamkos, who stands at an impressive 6'1 and has the powerful build of someone who spends a lot of time at the gym.
Because of athletes’ bigger builds, it can be difficult to find clothes that fit properly. “You have to get [clothes] tailored or custom-made,” says Stamkos, whose favourite brands include Gucci and Louis Vuitton (for footwear), John Vavartos (for suits), and 7 For All Mankind (he’s a huge jeans fan).
But not all guys have millions sitting in the bank (Stamkos, just 21 years old, recently signed a five-year contract with the Lightning that will net him a cool $37.5M). Here are his tips to help keep your guy looking stylish, even if he doesn’t have the bank account of a pro-hockey player.
1. Fit is everything. We can blame the hit TV show "Mad Men" for the slimmest of slim suits that are all the rage right now, but let’s face it: not all guys are built like Don Draper. Instead of settling for an out-of-date cut or poor fit, Stamkos suggests getting suits tailored. "The loose, baggy clothes are out of the question. Today it’s more of a tight fit, just not to the extreme skin tight." Other than Vavartos, Stamkos cites Richard James, the popular Savile Row tailor, as one of his favourite go-to places for suits.
2. Avoid loud colours. Only "Gossip Girl"'s Chuck Bass can pull off a green and pink blazer. But if you want to rock that bold style, wear it to a party and keep it out of the office. "I prefer a lot of black and white, and lighter colours," says Stamkos, who recently bought a light-blue and yellow suit, which even he admitted was "pretty loud."
3. Take chances. Stamkos says he wasn’t familiar with the fashion world when he first joined the NHL, but his Tampa Bay teammates helped him out. "There were guys who were well dressed and they gave me tips so my style has matured. It’s nice when you take pride in what you look like." Now he says he’s not afraid to buy clothes that don’t quite fit in the box, such as a recent black and grey checkered suit he bought during the playoffs last season.
4. It’s all about the accessories. He has his own watch named after him (the new Tissot model is called the Stamkos PRS200), so of course he has a thing for arm candy - and we’re not talking about supermodels. "There was a time when buying jewelry or watches or even sunglasses for men was rare, but now you see a lot of men buying them," he says.
5. Style is all about comfort. Avoid style regrets by choosing clothes that make you feel good, rather than being a slave to trends. "If you feel comfortable wearing it, for the most part people have an appreciation that you have the guts to wear something like that. You have to be comfortable with what you wear; it’s the most important thing."
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