On Monday, Giants superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. strutted into the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium wearing a yellow double-breasted Calvin Klein suit with a turtleneck and steel-tipped boots. The yacht-chic ensemble cost a reported $5,000 — but the headlines it made were priceless.
Consider Beckham walking evidence of the shift that’s happening in the NFL.
While fashionistas like Tom Brady and retired Giant Victor Cruz were once considered outliers for their high-fashion tastes, the league is now catching up with the NBA, where players treat every pre-game entrance as a viral fashion moment.
“The NFL walk off the plane has started to become equivalent to the NBA tunnel walk,” said stylist Courtney Mays, who dresses NBA stars Chris Paul and Kevin Love.
Footballers are enlisting stylists and filling their Instagrams with shots of themselves dressed to score style points. But it’s not just peacocking — there’s a real game plan: strategizing for a highly visual post-football career a la “Good Morning America” personality Michael Strahan or Cruz and his Nike contract.
“In football, with one hit you can be out of a job,” said stylist Dex Robinson, who dresses Cleveland’s Tyrod Taylor and Chicago’s Khalil Mack. “Players are saying, ‘How can I maximize my brand while the eyes are still on me?’”
The teams are supportive. Both Robinson and Brandon Williams, who dresses Kansas City’s Orlando Scandrick, work with franchise photographers to snag perfect images of their clients.
“The teams are making sure the team photographer is on the tarmac when these guys get off the plane or walk into the stadium,” said Williams. “The accessibility . . . is a big deal.”
Meet the gridiron warriors giving new meaning to the phrase “Sunday best.”
High-Flying Jet: Jamal Adams
The Jets safety has turned his Instagram page into a de facto modeling portfolio, showcasing his refined skater-boy style. While it’s unclear if the 23-year-old works with a stylist, he did reach out to Robinson during his college playing days at Louisiana State University. “I gave him the price, and he said he was going to figure it out himself,” said the stylist, who praised Adams’ look and speculated he must be working with a pro. “He is putting up some GQ style photos.” Stylist Williams concurred: “His look is just too good [to be done on his own].”
Giant Style Star: Odell Beckham, Jr.
Known for his acrobatic one-handed catches, the Giant is equally risky when it comes to his Sunday togs. Dressed by stylist Jason Rembert — who also works with pop star Zayn Malik — the 26-year-old moves seamlessly from eye-popping suits to flamboyant logo looks like the Fendi T-shirt, jacket, pants and hat combo below. He’s even inspired a fan account on Instagram, @objfits, which chronicles his every sartorial move — and challenges him to not repeat a look.
Chief Sartorialist: Orlando Scandrick
The Kansas City Chiefs cornerback began working with stylist Williams two years ago while playing for Dallas. The goal: “To put him in the conversation [that’s about more than just] him having a stellar game,” Williams said. The stylist strategically upgraded Scandrick’s wardrobe to lay the groundwork for an eventual future career, which Scandrick hopes to make in broadcasting or fashion.
“We live in a world where perception is everything,” Scandrick, 31, told The Post. “And so I’m conscious of what I am putting out there. The way I dress is just another tool I use to craft that narrative. I feel like I look — good. Being deliberate with my fashion choices helps me separate myself from being just another athlete with a helmet on.”
Cleveland Clotheshorse: Tyrod Taylor
Known for his acrobatic one-handed catches, the Giant is equally risky when it comes to his Sunday togs. Dressed by stylist Jason Rembert — who also works with pop star Zayn Malik — the 26-year-old moves seamlessly from eye-popping suits to flamboyant logo looks like the Fendi T-shirt, jacket, pants and hat combo below. He’s even inspired a fan account on Instagram, @objfits, which chronicles his every sartorial move — and challenges him to not repeat a look.
Buccaneer Makeover: Ryan Fitzpatrick
In September, the usually sedate Harvard-educated quarterback, 35, brought extra flavor to a press conference by wearing teammate DeShaun Jackson’s jacket — unzipped to expose a forest of chest hair — and gold chains. Looking like the twin of MMA star Conor McGregor, “Fitzmagic” became a viral sensation. “[It] showed that there is power in image,” said Williams.
Sleek Panther: Cam Newton
Silk pajamas, sherbet-hued suits and dandy hats: The Panthers quarterback has turned post-game press conferences into spectacles as exciting as his unique style of play. The 29-year-old sometimes works with power stylist Rachel Johnson, who also dresses Victor Cruz. But mostly Newton collaborates directly with designers, including milliner Alberto Hernandez.
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