Style History: Eric Koston

When: Circa 1975
Where: Thailand
Complex says: Do you think he knew how fresh he would be one day?

When: Circa 1987
Where: San Bernadino, California
Complex says: Koston isn't a Johnny-come-lately to style; he looked cool even as a middle-schooler. He shared this picture during his episode of Epicly Later'd, and revealed he was rocking a Lance Mountain T-shirt. Serious style points.

When: 1991
Where: H-Street's Next Generation skate video
Complex says: Koston had typical goofy boy skate style: oversized clothes and bleached hair. Although he wasn't yet a pro, he was still styling on people—with his gear and his tricks.

When: 1992
Where: Union WheelsRight to Skate ad
Complex says: Skate culture has long inspired streetwear. It's hard not to look at Koston's snapback, graphic tee, and chinos, and not be transported to your favorite brand's spring/summer lookbook.

When: 1992
Where: 101 Skateboards Ad
Complex says: Koston is a great impressario. He's not afraid to dress up in the most comical characters. This '92 101 ad shows the skater in full-on "shred bro" gear. A far cry from his personal style, but not his sense of humor.

When: 1993
Where: A high-ollie challenge
Complex says: Any great skater needs a substantial amount of pop in their ollie. Skaters are known to stack every skateboard on-hand, and see who can clear the most. As goofy as early '90s skating got, Koston looks clean with a polo shirt. It's hard not to look like a bro or IT geek when you rock a polo. However, Koston looks like neither.

When: 1994
Where: Girl Skateboards ad
Complex says: Sometimes you just have to keep it simple and classic with a plain T-shirt and parted-hair.

When: 1994
Where: Kools Incoporated ad
Complex says: Koston has a life-long love of the polo shirt, it was no different in '94. Check how many buttons that joint had!

When: 1995
Where: Girl Skateboards Ad
Complex Says: If you're going to go through a brief chubby stage, you might as well throw on your finest robe and watch to shoot a faux-cologne ad. Right? Girl's Goldfish would start to cement Koston as one of the most skilled and innovative skaters, ever. But he also showed that he had a strong swagger if need be.

When: 1995
Where: Transworld Skateboarding interview
Complex says: His first signature sneaker for éS was still two years off, but Koston was still rocking fresh kicks. Sal Barbier's "Sal 23" sneaker by Etnies is one of the greatest skate shoes of all time. Koston is one of the greatest skaters. Is there any reason why he shouldn't have sported it?

When: 1996
Where: Featured in Girl Skateboard's Mouse
Complex says: Charlie Chaplin was pretty dapper. Koston's portrayal of the silent film star in the skate video Mouse was so true to Chaplin's form, it had us doing double takes.

When: 1996
Where: Girl Skateboards ad
Complex says: Style is formed out of function. Here's Koston in a simple T-shirt; if you're out skating, you can't afford to have 14 layers on. Sorry, menswear publications. Also, look: the hair's gone!

When: 1997
Where: éS Koston 1 ad
Complex says: The Koston 1 might be the best skate shoe ever. It is surely one of the most revolutionary. Featuring a mesh toe box, suede upper, visible air cushioning, and a gum sole, the shoe is as dope today as it was was 16 years ago.

When: 1997
Where: Throwing down one of the craziest tricks ever; Girl Skateboard ad
Complex says: The Fandangle—the one-footed crooked grind—will go down as one of Koston's most memorable tricks, but we also noticed that he started to stray away from the oversized aesthetic. Those jeans actually fit.

When: 1997
Where: Thrasher Skate of the Year cover
Complex says: Accomplishment will always outweigh style. In '97 the Frost was voted SOTY, doesn't get much sweeter than that.

When: 1998
Where: San Francisco (Hubba Hideout)
Complex says: If you're going to be busting down mega hammers, you need comfortable gear that lets you move, but still stands up when you eat shit. Koston rocked a pair of cargo pants and grey T-shirt to throw a backside noseblunt down the infamous Hubba Hideout—to protect him from the pavement and the lurking junkies.

When: Spring '98
Where: A California school yard
Complex says: In the late '90s, as the skate tricks got a lot more technical—so did the gear. Koston is spotted on the cover of CCS' spring '98 mailorder catalog in a pair cargo windpants. Swish-swish.

When: 1998
Where: Sunnyside Retirement Village
Complex says: By now, you've learned that Koston doesn't mean to dress up if a good laugh is involved. The Girl O.G.s showed their age in the skate game, dressing up as reitrees for a skit in The Chocolate Tour.

When: 1999
Where: éS ad
Complex Says: Koston's style started to get more laid back, but he found his signature look. At times, late '90s style looks ridiculous, but Koston can look back and be proud of rocking a T-shirt and not-so-'90s cargo pants.

When: 1999
Where: éS Koston 2 ad
Complex says: éS' Koston 2 had fans split. The first Koston sneaker was so amazing, that skaters weren't ready for the sophomore. It wasn't quite a slump, but we don't expect to see a retro anytime soon.

When: 2000
Where: Throwing down backside noseblunt slides.
Complex says: The Koston 3 sure looked like a pair of Jordans, but it was so fresh, that if your photographer is rocking the same kicks as you—you did something right.

When: Circa 2000
Where: Where pizza is eaten; ollies are popped.
Complex says: If you're going to wear a sneaker as awesome as the Koston 3, you might be able to pop over couches—while casually eating a slice of pizza.

When: 2001
Where: Chilling with the homies: Rick McCrank and Rodrigo Teixeria
Complex says: Did you know that Diamond Supply Co. really is a skate brand? If it's endorsed by Koston, you know it's official.

When: 2001
Where: In California, being as L.A. as possible; head-to-toe in Lakers gear.
Complex says: Koston's love for the Lakers is no secret. What better way to rep your team in the midst of a three-peat than throwing a backside 50-50 down a massive ledge in full-on uniform? Here's Koston rocking complete Kobe gear. All that's missing are the adidas sneakers.

When: Halloween 2001
Where: Chomp on This
Complex says: Koston might be a master of disguise, but his legend in skateboarding is as great as GG Allin's to punk rock. Punk culture and skateboarding go hand-in-hand, so when Koston decided to dress up as punk rocker GG Allin for Halloween, skate fans were super hyped. No, we don't think he ate his own defecation.

When: 2002
Where: éS team ad
Complex says: The éS skateboard team are no slackers when it comes to style. To be truthful, Tom Penny might be one of the coolest skateboarders of all time. But in this 2002 team pic, Koston's mean-muggin' holds it own.

When: 2003
Where: Girl Skateboard's Yeah Right!
Complex says: This might be the most comical moment in Koston's career. Owen Wilson recounts a fictional account of the skater snapping and going berserk—locking a kid in the trunk of his car for asking for a sticker. After that, Koston dressed up as Owen Wilson—breaking out a blunt slide and noseblunt slide down a handrail. All the time incognito.

When: 2003
Where: Transworld Skateboarding ad
Complex says: Mostly, Koston had rocked little to no hair, but briefly in the mid 2000s, he rocked a shaggy hair cut. Super West Coast. We're glad to see it go. But while it lasted, it wasn't too bad.

When: 2004
Where: Looking extra cool for non-candid photos.
Complex says: No one looks wack in a T-shirt that reps Biggie. Even if you're from the West Coast.

When: 2005
Where: Killing handrails.
Complex says: The mop continued in 2005. This might have been the last time it got coverage.

When: 2006
Where: Announcing his departure from éS and arrival at Lakai.
Complex says: It was sort-of big news that Koston left éS to join his buddies and Girl Skateboards team members Rick Howard and Mike Carroll, but not really. What was shocking: Koston in this draft day-like ensemble.

When: 2007
Where: Berrics Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
Complex says: A fitted cap, a T-shirt, dark denim, and simple, suede sneakers. How can you mess this combo up? A lot of skateboard innovation goes down at the Berrics, so when Koston gets down on a training sesh, he has to remain comfortable. That doesn't mean he's not fresh. Also, peep the semi-modern streetwear styling.

When: 2008
Where: The Berrics, Los Angeles, California
Complex says: When you're doing work, wear workwear. Koston looks extra appropriate (and cool) in this flannel. Plus, 11 years later, and the Koston 1 still looks just as fresh. How can you mess up blue suede sneakers with a gum sole?

When: February 2009
Where: Spike Jonze's "We Were Once a Fairytale" Starring Kanye West
Complex says: We're sure you remember the short film that starred Kanye West where he got drunk in the club and barfs out a creature. Sounds familiar, right? If you watch it again, the people he was drinking with were the members of Girl Skateboards—including a suited-up Koston.

When: October 2009
Where: Announcing his first Nike SB sneaker pack
Complex says: Koston's switch to Nike SB is probably the biggest skate shoe news of all time. Koston didn't have his signature shoe until 2011, but he designed a couple of Dunks to hold him over. Here's the skater engulfed in a handful of black suede dunks with a gum sole.

When: 2009
Where: Where you need umbrellas indoors.
Complex says: Koston's style has always been Koston's style. Look at the images from the early '90s and they're nearly identical to more modern ones. Except his clothes are more slim.

When: August 2010
Where: Fresh-dipped in Nike SB "Thai Temple" Dunks
Complex says: Koston paid tribute to his Thai roots with temple-inspired Nike SB Dunks. It takes a lot of balls to rock gold sneakers with matching glasses, but when you have much personal style as Koston—your confidence lets you pull it off. A hometown cap doesn't hurt either.

When: May 2011
Where: Showing off the exclusive Koston x Kobe Nike SB Quickstrike
Complex says: Being on the same brand as Kobe had Koston super hyped. His first signature model received a Kobe VI treatment. Eyes might have been on the kicks, but to talk about the sneakers, Koston rocked a button-down shirt and 5-panel cap—cleaned-up and a Complex-approved look

When: June 2012
Where: New York City
Complex says: When you're arguably the best skater, ever, you're going to have a lot of haters. So what do you do? Throw on a badass pair of shades and say, "fuck 'em." Even though he's in his late thirties, Koston still looks as cool as your local college kid. But way more talented.

When: October 2012
Where: Taking care of the seeds
Complex says: Koston not only shows his love for basketball and camo print, but for the kids, too. Wu-Tang isn't the only one who's for the children.

When: January 26, 2013
Where: Lounged with MMG
Complex says: Who's fresher, Koston or Wale? The answer might not be so obvious. Sometimes the best details are the subtle ones.

When: February 2013
Where: Montalban Theatre, Los Angeles
Complex says: Koston's skate shoe legacy might be as great as his involvement in the sport. With the Nike Koston 2 hitting stores, the skater is as relevant as in his days of oversized pants, polo shirts, flip-in-flip-out ledge tricks. And we're not just talking the fact he's wearing camo and on-point with street style—Eric Koston is the voice of skateboarding, and 38-years-old.

When: March 2013
Where: Fourstar Clothing spring 2013 campaign
Complex says: Koston is a die-hard Lakers fan, but he switched things up and rocked an Orlando Magic jersey. Maybe he was wishing that Dwight Howard hadn't come to L.A.?

When: March 2013
Where: Behind-the-scenes of his latest Nike SB commercial
Complex says: When we say Koston rock a windbreaker from the Nike x Undercover Gyakusou collection, we freaked out a little bit. It was that awesome. We know Koston is signed to Nike, and he rocks fresh gear, but for some reason it caught us off guard in the best of ways.

When: March 2013
Where: Supreme'd out release of the Koston 2
Complex says: Is this Koston's best outfit? He's seen in a Supreme 5-panel hat, Levi's raw denim trucker jacket, and a light blue/white dot oxford shirt. We would wear this kit everyday.

When: March 2013
Where: Nike SB Koston 2 release party
Complex says: Who knew that Koston could golf? For the release party of his second signature shoe with Nike, the Frost dressed-up in his best Tiger Woods impersonation. If you look real quick. You might confuse the two.

When: March 25, 2013
Where: The putting green
Complex says: In the hole, in the hole..

When: April 12, 2013
Where: Hitting the links
Complex says: If you find yourself in pause-worthy situations, at least you have a digi-camo bucket hat on.