Making a Case For J. Cole's Underrated Style
The rap game's most stylish underdog.
Image via Complex Original
J. Cole's second album, Born Sinner, dropped yesterday, and while Kanye West is getting a lot of the shine, Cole also deserves some credit for his skills on the mic. It's hard for any artist to be noticed during Yeezy season, with the Internet buzzing about 'Ye's bombastic beats and intense fashion. But we never doubted J. Cole's sense of style. He has a discerning eye when it comes to his sartorial choices, and he's definitely one of the best dressed rappers in the game right now.
That's right—we said best dressed, and here's why: He's wearing all of the brands your favorite rappers aren't on yet like AMI Alexandre Mattiussi, Carven, and Avelon. Maybe you aren't noticing because you're not looking closely enough. Guys with real style wear dope clothes in silence. Plus, he's not wearing leather pants and dressing in all black like the rest of the artists in the game. Respect!
After the leather circle-jerk that was Summer Jam 2013, it's refreshing to see a guy who approaches not only his music and lifestyle with individuality, but with the way he dresses, too. We're Making a Case for J. Cole's Underrated Style.
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He seamlessly incorporates streetwear into his look.
Streetwear gets a bum rap—maybe it's because the word "street" is in it, but streetwear is cool and choosing the right items is key to rocking it right. This Black Apple NYC denim jacket with leather sleeves is just the right mix of high-end design and streetwear. J. Cole wore this look to perform on Jimmy Fallon, and if its' good enough for him to kill the stage in, then it's good enough for you to consider wearing.
He knows the importance of balancing out patterns.
J. Cole knows the do's and don'ts of rocking camo. He rocks the print without looking like a special ops soldier. Let him tell you the facts: Do rock camo as a jacket, especially when the print is small and the colors are not too bright. Do wear camo pants because they are a staple in a stylish wardrobe. And do pair the former with dark jeans and the latter with a dark jacket to look cool without looking like a try-hard.
He wears varsity jackets like an MVP.
We know you hopped on the varsity jacket trend last year because every guy with even the smallest ounce of style did. They're not as huge this year, but one fact remains: The varsity jacket will never go out of style. Investing in the right one is a key to it staying a classic piece in your wardrobe, and Cole's Nike Destroyer is something he'll can wear year after year.
He can let one piece do all the talking.
Whats more chill than rocking a camo jacket, black tee, and finishing it off with a pair of black jeans? Here, Cole is rocking a camo jacket from high-end street label Publish Brand. It doesn't get much better than killing a look, and doing so without even trying.
Fashion magazines praise his subtle style.
Complex gave J. Cole one of his first big features (the September 2011 Digital Cover) and after that, he graced the pages of GQ. Most recently, Zink Magazine put him in a fashion spread that reflected his keen eye for style where he rocked brands like Avelon and Carven—the right pieces from brands that have less hype.
He's stylish without scaring off fans with crazy "fashion" looks.
Being relatable is sometimes a celebrity's best quality. J. Cole steers clear of trend-based clothing and puts together great outfits any dude can wear, and it's what attracts his smart fans. You may have purchased Comme Des Garcons Play tees and polos when they were a hype item, then said you were "off that" once your favorite rapper put you onto Givenchy. Put your hypebeast taste aside for a moment and get like J. Cole, who doesn't let anyone else dictate his style and realizes the simpler pieces by CDG Play will always be classic.
He makes runway pieces work in real life.
Rather than go full-on prep at a speaking engagement at Harvard University, J. Cole donned a double breasted wool jacket from revived French fashion house Carven's Fall/Winter 2012 collection. Sure, the jacket looked cool on the runway, but J. Cole brought the piece to life and made a formal item look effortlessly cool. That's hard to do with runway fashion, but he pulled it off like an expert.
He's on his own, non-goth leather wave.
Leather is a big trend now, but it's tough to rock a great piece without either A) looking like a fool, or B) looking like every other dude out there. J. Cole does leather his way by breaking up the monotony of all-black leather and goes for a color-blocked version instead. The patchwork sweater he wore from British-brand Clothsurgeon is one way to try the leather trend without looking like a follower.
He doesn't rely on other rappers' co-signs to dictate what he wears.
It's pretty hard to rhyme AMI by Alexandre Mattiussi with anything else, and it's probably why other rappers aren't wearing this French brand yet. Perhaps it's also because AMI doesn't make leather pants. But with one look at the label's current collection, you'll understand why Cole is a huge fan. It also shows that he's not afraid to be the first to rock a designer, instead of waiting for the likes of 'Ye and A$AP Rocky to co-sign one first.
He takes the road less traveled.
Sure, all rappers wear Givenchy, but J. Cole is not wearing just any piece from the design house, and he sure as hell isn't wearing the overplayed raging shark or rabid rottweilers on his back. He opts for more subtle patterns and items from the Resort 2013 collection, which shows that he wants to break away from the pack and still know how to stay up on what's hot in the fashion world.