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Courtesy of Courtney Mays
Sports Illustrated and Empower Onyx highlight the diverse journeys of Black women through sports, from veteran athletes to rising stars, coaches, executives and more, in the Elle-evate series: 100 Influential Black Women in Sports.
Stylist, designer and consultant Courtney Mays is the visionary behind some of the best dressed players in the NBA. Today, thanks to Mays and the mentors she credits before her, like Rachel Johnson, LeBron James’s hairstylist, the convergence of style and sports happens in the tunnels of the league’s stadiums, game after game.
“I think Rachel really pioneered the idea that the tunnel could be that five-second runway,” says Mays. Players no longer arrive with their heads down in ill-fitting hoodies or suits; The NBA players’ new pregame uniform consists of luxury branding, tailored suits and intentionally styled clothing. But it’s not just about showing off or competing for the best dressed player: the weekly catwalk is to let the world know there’s something to say that’s louder and more impactful than any triple or triple double.
“LeBron, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony are the veterans of this movement. We are paying attention to what they are wearing when they arrive in the arena. Now what you’re seeing is guys getting their power back,” says Mays. “I can haggle, I can nail, but I’m also a businessman, or I have an affinity for fashion. As you’ve seen Klay Thompson enter the arena on his bike and Russell Westbrook, he really pushes the limits with his style. It’s great that guys have started using style to influence a culture.”
Mays understands that it can start with fashion, but that’s the vehicle, not the message. It’s about image: it’s important how the world perceives you, especially as a black man or woman.
“I think blacks are the arbiters of style. Most of our country is based on black culture’s definition of what’s cool, whether it’s music, fashion or food,” says Mays. “Whether our counterparts realize it or not, they are idolizing these athletes, and they are black men and women. We can be in that power if we allow ourselves and use the style to be in that conversation.”
While fashion and sports may seem like opposites, for Mays, they are both part of her DNA. Her father, an NFL player, and her mother, a flight attendant, instilled in her a strong sense of style and the importance of always looking your best. Growing up in Cleveland, Courtney always loved sports, she played basketball, field hockey, and lacrosse all through high school. She then went to the University of Michigan, destined to be a pediatrician. Just like college, she teaches us to explore other interests. Courtney joined a fashion club while she was in college and fell in love with art history. Her next stop was New York City: she told her mother that she had an internship with Tracy Reese (one she didn’t have) just to get permission to go to the capital of style and chase her dreams. her. Fast-forward to 2022 and Mays is the go-to stylist when it comes to menswear.
“I’m kind of a tomboy, for lack of a better term, in my own style sensibility,” says Mays. “I love making menswear. I love menswear fabric. Even when I think of our house, I see Glen pinstripes, herringbone and plaids. Those are the fabrics I gravitate towards. My perspective has evolved because fashion has become genderless and I love playing with sizes.”
Like his NBA clients, Mays wears a uniform that epitomizes his personality: simple, comfortable, classic, approachable and understated, with a point of view. He may not be the center of attention, but he commands attention, making you curious to wonder about the person behind the black suit, plain T-shirt, and must-have sneakers. His approach to style and life is with purpose and passion.
“Everything we do is intentional,” says Mays. “With Chris Paul, when he was president of the players’ association, we were really trying to make sure that the image of him reflected that, being president, making sure that he always had that business man style. You are creating or curating those identities through fashion.”
While the above-average musculature of NBA players is the envy of most men, getting dressed off the court is more of a challenge. Even with his own six-foot frame, Mays can creatively create and manipulate a striking appearance, regardless of size or body type. His point of view is as strong in front of the camera as it is behind the scenes, challenging designers to push their boundaries to include more inclusive shapes and sizes.
“I recently went to the Nike store and they started selling plus sizes, which is quite a feat,” says Mays. “I would love to create or even help encourage those brands to get better when it comes to size inclusion. And there’s a huge opportunity when it comes to men and women: They’re missing out on an entire market of people who just want to look and feel great, but don’t have access to pieces that fit.”
Mays understands the power of the image. She is more than a stylist; she is an activist and influencer who uses fashion as her voice for the world to see and hear black men and women.
“Style is a way of telling stories. Style is a platform to talk about bigger issues. Style is how you present yourself to the world without having to open your mouth,” says Mays. “Style is a combination of all the things that you are, whether it’s your taste in music or your history, where you’re from. There are so many things. It’s crazy; it’s just clothes, but it’s also so much more than that.”
Senita Brooks is a contributor to Empower Onyx, a diverse multi-channel platform that celebrates the stories and transformative power of sports for Black women and girls.
Source: www.si.com