Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 at 11:00 am  |  128 responses

Kobe Bryant’s Stylist Explains the Pictures

Mamba’s style guy tells the LA Times that the look they were going for here, was a mix of Tupac and Epic Fail. Or something to that effect: “Kobe was amazing to work with because he was cool with everything. He trusted us. We took a picture and he liked it so we kept going. We wanted to do a picture with a hat because the photographer wanted to do everything in white. I didn’t want to use accessories that would look too retro. Let’s do it in a cool, young way because that’s what Kobe is. He’s a cool, young and successful athlete. I wanted to give a modern approach. I was thinking of [rapper] Tupac [Shakur] where I put a band underneath in the hat to make it look hip-hop, but … it translates in a surreal look where it creates a strong image. It was something that hasn’t been done before. It’s mixing the inspiration of Tupac and a gentleman with a white hat … a mix of a hip-hop and a conservative look.”

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  • Addam

    Now, try reading the stylist’s quote aloud with a lisp. Too Funny.

  • T-Money

    I see what Ryan’s trying to get at, homosexuality is not defined by style, attitude, posture. He does look hella effeminate though. Which is not a good look IMO.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    Somebody tell this guy he “looks gay,” please.
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1168953/index.htm

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ Tariqُُ

    I don’t think that Kobe looks gay. He just looks like Jem from Jem and the Holograms. (Look it up).

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    Ryan; “Gay” was certainly not my first thought when I saw those pictures. “Dressed for slave trade in the late 1600′s” however, was. What was the “stylist” attempting to bring across again? I’m confused.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    Who I believe was straight, Tariq.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ Tariqُُ

    I agree with Ryan that there’s no homogenized image for “the homosexual man.” Although I don’t know why I suddenly feel the urge to listen to “Karma Chameleon”…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Allenp

    Spaceship
    I really didn’t get the slave trade angle.
    The picture with the hat and sweatband reminds of old 80s movies with street dancers.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ Tariqُُ

    Yes, Ryan, Jem was straight. Kobe’s image has nothing to with sexuality, it has to do with gender bending.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ niQ

    What about the term “Metrosexual?” lol

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    Spaceship Jay: I LOL’d at you. Having been on a few photo shoots in my day (2 or 3 with Mr. Bean), I imagine a young, probably homosexual stylist with minimal experience with or prior knowledge of pro athletes hopefully pulling together a wardrobe in advance of the shoot, then feeling like he hit the jackpot when he found a tall, handsome model who was confident enough to try these weird-@ss clothes on. Kobe is pretty game.
    That said, I’ve also been on enough of these to know that the photogs show the pictures to their subjects as they go. Also, Kobe had sat for a makeup person. So Bean knew what the hell he was getting into.
    He couldn’t have predicted the reaction of the Slam comments section, of course. Or maybe he could have.

  • http://nuggetsnation.proboards.com/index.cgi clapzilla

    The First 2 Pictures Don’t Even Look Like Him. He Probably Just Wanted To Stop Steve Nash’s Gloating About Having The Strangest NBA Player Photoshoot Ever. http://www.nba.com/suns/photogallery/nash_gq_shoot.html?curPhoto=3

  • http://dsfjklf.com Jukai

    I live right outside of Manhattan, plenty of game dudes there. I’ve never seen ANY of them wear anything like that. I’m guessing a lot of these cats never met a gay man before.

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    Allenp
    The all white with the extra-dark face creeps me out a little. Many a pictures of black men and women looked like that in those times. Maybe its just me.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ Tariqُُ

    Ryan: OK, how’s this: he doesn’t “look gay,” but he looks a lot like Boy George.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    I literally don’t believe I’m typing this, but: What Jukai said.
    I’ve gotta leave. I hope some of you malleable youngsters DO meet some real-life gay dudes before too long. I don’t have time for this. I’m busy raising my own kids.

  • sal35

    A tanned Cristiano Ronaldo?

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    Ryan,
    Not to get all psycho-analyst on you, but this speaks to a brief article that was wrote in SLAM magazine a long time ago that made me completely understanding Kobe as a person… Which is as him being a complete foreigner to American culture, even in which he’s admitted to be true. The odd grimace, the Jordan emulation, the odd times he uses “slang in interviews”; even the Denver situation speaks to me that he’ll always somewhat be a guy looking from the outside in.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/CathedralsRecords?feature=mhw4 Earl

    Those huge veins look funny sticking out of that gay shirt.

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    In which I dub him, Anti-Mike.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    Thanks for remembering that, Jay. I think a lot of it still holds true.

  • OneStep

    I’m not sure why so many “contributors” here have felt the need to express their opinions about Kobe’s look by deriding and insulting the gay community by association. I just think he looks stupid. Not for the first time either.

  • http://www.nba.com/bobcats BETCATS

    What a f*cking b!tch-ass fa&&ot.

  • vtrobot

    @ ryan, i know true equality is one of the more important issues in life and the stereotyping of any people is very wrong and shouldn’t be done. i believe that everyone has the right to live and love however they see fit. that being said, kobe looks like a gay man in that shot with the hat. which gay man? one that doesn’t exist. he looks a ton like kobe, but much gayer. i know that not all gay man look and dress the same. kobe looks like a man who’s proud to be gay and wants the world to know it. actually, i do see your point now, he also looks like a straight man who appreciates dressing up in feminine fashion. let’s settle it: he looks totally bi.

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    Constructive conversation… Meh.

  • http://joe_c_jr@att.net Joe

    Breakin’ 3?

  • http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com Tarzan Cooper

    Wow, ryan must have some um fancy friends. And theres nothing wrong with that. To each his own. If ur into cornholing, then go ahead about ur business, as long as ur not impeding the rights of others, conhole all u want, that is ur right. Mr bean does look really strange here, he looks as though he is about to sprout some wings and go collect teeth from children, while in his fancy suit

  • http://twitter.com/PDXGayBBall dma

    even i can say it’s homo.

  • http://kdshgjkhsd.com Boing Dynasty

    Even you dma? Then its official.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com/ albie1kenobi

    to us sports-watchers, kobe obviously looks ridiculous and outlandish; i mean me and my co-worker had a good laugh about it. however i’m curious as to what the fashion world thinks of these pictures. fashions are often ridiculous and outlandish so maybe these are good looks in their eyes? what does Tyra think? what does Vanessa think? what do kobe’s two daughters think? these are important questions that we need answers for.

  • http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com Tarzan Cooper

    Albie, if u mean vanessa as in rev runs daughter, then I have other things to occupy her mind instead of these weird mr bean pictures………….. And as far as the whole kobe wasnt born in usa so he doesnt fully understand the culture explanation, bs. Mr bean has been here for about 20 years right? Thats more than enough to be able to know that those pictures looked really odd and it might have been a good idea to use that superstar veto power. But he didnt, and apparently liked those clothes and pics,so its on him.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ Tariqُُ

    OK, I have to reiterate Ryan’s point for a second: People are conflating a certain image they associate with “flamboyant” homosexuals with homosexuality itself. Wearing a fabulous chiffon blouse with glimmer or something doesn’t make you “gay.” Desiring to suck another man’s c*ck makes you gay. And you can do that in a jeans and t-shirt, as I’m sure Eboy will tell you.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ Tariqُُ

    Like someone said earlier that the pictures of Kobe “looked like another version of Kobe, if Kobe were gay.” It’s as if Kobe can’t look the way he normally looks and be gay too.

  • Robb

    I’m a big Kobe fan and these pics are definitely an Epic Fail. Someone here already said it: the metrosexual version of Spy vs. Spy

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    EPIC FAIL, WTF!! hip-hop? tupac? NO

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com/ albie1kenobi

    @Tarzan: didn’t even know rev run has a daughter. why did you think the “Vanessa” i mentioned was her? why not Rick Fox’s ex-wife? in any case this Vanessa i mentioned is kobe’s current wife.
    on a related note, anyone here has shown these pictures to their non-sport-watching significant others (you know, the ones who watch entertainment tonight or whatever crap TMZ puts on) and ask them what they think?
    (sidenote: i wonder what Holly thinks…)

  • Rusty

    kobe Bryant – Soft touch

  • http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com Tarzan Cooper

    Albie, cuz u just asked what would tyra think? Then vanessa. Ive watched too much runs house so I know vanessa is a model or fashion designer or some such thing. So thats what came to mind. AND WHERE THE EFF IS HOLLY? She is aware the playoffs are on right?

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Cheryl

    I don’t know, Ryan, something about the pointy nose and the pursed lips, not necessarily the clothes…

  • Tj

    Wow someone set dude up–that picture with the hat!! Lmaoo.

  • http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com Tarzan Cooper

    Ill be the first to defend anyones right to say or do what they want as long as they dont step on others same rights. Jeremy piven,. You people are so cravenly pc that you wouldnt know a good time if it sat on your face. …Look, mr bean let them put those retarded clothes on him, take pictures, and publish those pictures. In said pics he looks like a flaming gay man. Is there anything wrong with being a flaming gay man? No. Are all gay men flaming? No. Does he look like a flaming gay man in those pics? Yes.

  • Dyce

    Ok, I’ve read the comments and Kobe does look gay! Being that I went to FIT for a year I’ve interacted with many a homosexual and have heard them use that term. “You look so gay” today. Even though it is a stereotype being expressed, it still is understood at the point which one is trying to get across when using the expression.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Ryan Jones is a racist.

  • albie1kenobi

    Tarzan, I mentioned Tyra because her and Kobe performed a song together in a show during the 2000 all-star weekend. It’s hilarious. Hopefully it’s on YouTube somewhere

  • ron burgundy

    mona lisa smile…

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    WORD?! $1,080 for a sleeveless t-shirt?!

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Why did “Bruno” not fare half as well as “Borat” in the box office and for critics? Simply because in North America, if there’s one thing that invokes outright ignorant hatred, MORE so than racial/religious/xenophobic bias, it is homophobia.

  • http://www.youtube.com/ The Promise

    Thats so gay, that may cause his team to lose tonight.

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Wow, Farmer came in to scold in a humorous way, then BET hit it outta the ballpark, sensitivity be damned.

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Myles Brown

    Riley: “Y’all n*ggas is gay.”

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