WELCOME TO PHILADELPHIA — The concept of the “special trick” that fashion designer Brian Alexander Lunsford and Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith utilize to ensure that the fit of the designer’s outfits is up to his exceptionally high level caused the designer to start laughing uncontrollably.
If you saw Smith on draft day in April when Philadelphia took him 10th overall, or if you got film of him heading into the stadium on Sundays during his rookie season, you already know that he takes his suit game seriously. Smith accepted the 2020 Heisman Trophy, and he was selected by Philadelphia as the 10th overall pick. It is a passion that was ignited at a young age when his mother made him dress up for church, was stoked in high school when the football team was required to wear dress shirts and ties on game days, and has developed to the point where Smith possesses a degree of fashion expertise that has helped him gain the respect of teammates as well as experts in the field.
“His style is next level,” said Tom Marchitelli, who has designed suits for a number of NFL players, including Smith, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, and most recently, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for his Super Bowl debut. “His style is next level,” Marchitelli said of Smith. “His style is next level.” “There are guys who are wearing suits that are perfectly tailored, and then there is DeVonta, who is taking it to another level that most guys aspire to be at.” “There are guys who are wearing suits that are perfectly tailored.”
Ingenuity is required to advance to the next level in this game. Smith, who is appropriately known by the moniker the Slim Reaper, prefers not simply a slim cut but rather to have the suit painted on. But how exactly can you get your body into something that is so constricting? This is where Lunsford enters the picture.
“[Smith] is all like, ‘I want ’em skinnier,'” the source said. I’m thinking to myself, “Dude, what?! ” I don’t think there is any way we could get any thinner than this. “Your foot will just barely fit in it,” laughed Lunsford, the haberdasher and proprietor of Brian Alexander Bespoke, as he described the shoe to the customer.
Smith continued by saying, “We were running into problems with me getting my foot into the bottom of the pant legs,” and “so we ended up having to put a zipper at the bottom of them so I could put my foot in.”
Although there is a possibility that the design work will be difficult, Smith’s distinctive frame provides for an excellent canvas. Marchitelli, who was 6 feet tall and weighed 170 pounds, described his physique as resembling that of a “mannequin with extra-long arms and legs.” Smith has a 42-inch chest in comparison to a 32-inch waist, which creates the “perfect V-shape.” Whereas the decrease from chest to waist size could generally be approximately four inches, Smith has a 42-inch chest and a 32-inch waist.
Lunsford stated, “He’s about the same size as me,” referring to the other man. “It’s possible that some people will comment that we’re on the thin side. I often tell people that we have the physique of Bruce Lee. I warned them, “Don’t be fooled by all those suits.” We’ve got holes in the bottom of us.’ We are able to successfully pull off the slender look as well as the slim fit. “Smitty absolutely adores it in whatever form it appears in,”
According to Smith, his favorite suit from this season was the raspberry one he wore when they played the Kansas City Chiefs in the beginning of October. Smith led the club with 64 receptions, had 916 yards receiving, and scored five touchdowns as a rookie. It was challenging for him to step outside of his comfort zone because pink is his favorite hue.
“I have no qualms about putting myself in harm’s way. “Even if it’s completely insane, I’m going to wear it,” he stated.
Even down to the luggage he was carrying, everything was flawlessly coordinated, which demonstrated his keen attention to detail and showcased his impeccable taste.
“If you’re going to wear a suit and you’re going to have a bag, you have to have a bag that matches with it,” he added. “You’ve got to have a bag that matches with it.” “Unfortunately, things are like that. You can’t only take baby steps.”
Smith had what was likely his best performance of the season on that particular day. He caught seven passes for a career-high 122 yards, and it was the first time in his NFL career that he had a receiving game with more than 100 yards. What are the odds?
“I experienced my very own Spike Lee moment. “I said, ‘Was it the suit?'” recalled Lunsford, making a reference to Nike’s “It’s gotta be the shoes” marketing campaign starring Lee and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Lee and Jordan were featured in the campaign. “Man, he’s already prepared for this. He already holds a position of authority. That moment is made more better by the costume. You not only feel wonderful, but you also look nice. When you’re feeling happy, your performance is good. So on that day, he most likely experienced a lot of happiness.
When asked about the parallels between his approach to the game and that of the fashion industry, Smith responded that both are rooted in commerce. He stated, “Every game day is a business day, so I’m going to put my suit and tie on,” and he did so.
Smith is already the owner of the title of best-dressed Eagle, which cornerback Darius Slay opted to bestow upon him without being asked at the beginning of one of Slay’s press conferences toward the end of the season. Smith is of the opinion that it goes beyond only his own team.
“I kind of feel I’m already, with the suit and tie, best dressed,” he remarked. “I’m already wearing a suit and tie.” “But you have to keep a firm grasp on it. Maintain the same approach. This is the reason why I do it before every game.
Lunsford further elaborated, saying, “I think he’s literally competing with himself.”