7 style-centric questions for L.A. Clippers sartorial standout Blake Griffin
Italian luxury menswear label Ermenegildo Zegna and Los Angeles Clippers player Blake Griffin hosted a made-to-measure suiting event earlier this month, with 15% of the evening’s proceeds being donated to Team Griffin, an Oklahoma-based AAU basketball squad that Griffin himself was part of in his youth and now sponsors. (Previously known as Athletes First, the team was renamed earlier this year.) Although Zegna doesn’t disclose specific sales figures, a brand rep described the sum raised for Team Griffin as “in the five-digits.”
The event, held at the brand’s three-story Rodeo Drive boutique on June 8, attracted a range of Zegna-clad notables including L.A. Galaxy soccer player Robbie Rogers and actors Julian Morris (“Hand of God”), Justice Smith (“Paper Towns”), Mo McRae (“Empire”) and Terrence “J’’ Jenkins (“Coupled”). Nattily dressed as they were, though, none cut as dashing a figure as the man of the hour, who wore a slim-fitting bright (maybe even cobalt) blue Ermenegildo Zegna made-to-measure two-button, notch-lapel, double-vent suit paired with a buttoned-all-the-way-to-the-top-button white dress shirt (also Zegna) sans necktie. The outfit was finished off with a brown belt and brown shoes.
Between posing for photos and chatting with guests, we asked Griffin a few questions about his personal style.
When did you first wear the Ermenegildo Zegna brand?
I had a Zegna suit early on [in] my rookie year, which was my first Zegna suit, so that was 2009, 2010. And I’ve just stuck with Zegna ever since – the made-to-measure [suits].
What do you like about the brand?
Everything. They start from the very beginning of the [suit-making] process and take it all the way through. I’ve done a lot of different custom suits, and nothing quite fits me the way that Zegna does.
How do you describe your personal sense of style?
My style is a little bit more simple, a little bit more classic. I try to dress it up with small pieces of something bold – instead of going the route of everything bold which is not really my style.
Do you work with a stylist?
I do. Her name is Maya Krispin.
What’s the process? Do you tell her specifically what you want?
I’ll send her pictures. She’ll buy stuff, and I’ll say yes or no, but she has a great eye so I rely on her a lot.
Do you enjoy working with a stylist?
Honestly, it’s something I never dreamed I’d have, and it’s something that I’m so grateful for – just not having to think about it.
Is there a favorite brand – besides Zegna, of course – that you might not have discovered without the help of a stylist?
Common Project shoes. Shoes are a big thing because I can’t just go buy regular dress shoes. So whenever I can get a great pair of dress shoes – or even casual shoes – it’s awesome.
Ermenegildo Zegna Rodeo Drive, 337 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
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UPDATES:
1:26 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated the percentage of sales donated to Team Griffin. That organization received 15% of proceeds, not 50%.
