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Style Icon: Walt “Clyde” Frazier

October 17, 2011 by WendyB

In the ’90s, I lived with a roommate in a nice-enough apartment building. We had a doorman, a marble lobby and the location was decent — not too far from the subway — but it definitely wasn’t Park Avenue. One day, I saw a tall, elegant man in the elevator. He was wearing the most expensive-looking pair of men’s shoes that I had seen in my life. I was transfixed by the shoes. The years might have affected my memory, but in my recollection, the shoes were a caramel-colored alligator with a high shine and an ombre effect. I know nothing about sports but, considering the man’s height and his extraordinary shoes, I thought, “This must be a professional basketball player!” Then I considered my merely okayish building and thought, “Well, he can’t be a very successful one if he’s living here.”

Not long after that, I saw the man in the elevator again. He was signing a boy’s basketball, and I peeked at the autograph. It was retired Knicks legend and Hall-of-Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Yeah, I was a little off about the success thing. I still don’t know what he was doing in that mediocre building though. You can do better, Clyde!

Clyde does color commentary for Knicks games. When I’m at the gym, I occasionally see him on one of the televisions tuned to games. He’s still an amazing dresser. This year, I saw him wearing a lavender ensemble that was so beautiful I almost cried. The man isn’t afraid to make a statement. Here are a few of Clyde’s eye-popping looks. Click the photos to go to the sources.

Cheetah print jacket in 2011. Photo courtesy Newsday, via the Huffington Post.

Cowprint in 2011. From Dan Goodman. Click to see some more great Clyde looks.

Tiger print in 2011 from Something Burning.

Minty fresh in 2006. The tie! The pocket square! I die. From Slam.

Just stunning. At a book signing this summer.

Is this a leather suit?! February 2011. From Newsday.

A three-piece suit from another book signing. Click for a fun interview with New York Magazine.

Back in the day, Clyde wore hats with panache.

Vintage, pimptastic Clyde. From GQ. Click for an interview about Clyde's style.

Damn! From Kicks Addict.

If I ever see Clyde again, I will ask him to sign the most fashionable thing on my person at that moment.  He’s an All-Star in the style stakes! He shouldn’t be signing basketballs. He should be signing Prada shoes.

UPDATED TO ADD: Thanks to Elena of Fabulous Finds for pointing out a fantastic April New York Times story about Clyde’s style (the animal-print suits were custom-made, as are most of his clothes). It mentions an Upper East Side apartment that he’s been in for 30 years. It must be the same building I used to live in! To my relief, the article says he was about to move to Harlem, where he acquired three penthouse apartments. That sounds more glamorous and appropriate to me. Everything about Clyde needs to be glamorous. The story also says Clyde is opening a sports bar at the end of this year. I’m going to be hanging out there, stalking him. I NEED to speak to the man who told the Times, “If your suit is popping, your tie can’t.” That’s my new favorite fashion-related quote. Anna Wintour’s “Ask someone else” has been replaced in my heart after a mere 10 days.

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Filed Under: sports, style icons

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lara says

    October 17, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    Love when men take risks with fashion! He’s still in a suit so why not make it fun? The hats kill me!

    • WendyB says

      October 17, 2011 at 7:40 pm

      I wish I were his best friend. We would hang out in his giant walk-in closet and he would try on all his outfits so I could vote on them and it would turn into a fun musical montage just like in the movies. No, I haven’t thought about this a lot — why do you ask?

  2. elena daciuk says

    October 17, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    i have been in awe of this man as well…did you happen to catch the ny times article on him? there is a link for it in my blog post about him…
    http://fabulousfinds-elena.blogspot.com/2011/05/mens-corner-peak-into-one-mans-closet.html

    “However absurd, it fits in a menagerie of 100 or so suits that hang on five racks and with patterns of tiger stripes and leopard spots; designs of bold plaids and checks; and colors of yellow, red, salmon and orange.”

    gotta admire a man who is not afraid of prints AND color!

    • WendyB says

      October 17, 2011 at 7:41 pm

      Thanks SO much for the link.

      • elena daciuk says

        October 17, 2011 at 8:16 pm

        i wonder if he realizes how many fans of his fashion sense there are… =)

  3. Cameron says

    October 17, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    I’m now hearing the theme from Shaft… damn that man’s a snappy dresser! I say you should wear as much animal print as you can when you hit up his bar to meet Walt!

    • WendyB says

      October 17, 2011 at 8:06 pm

      That might be a good strategy. And maybe a hat!

  4. Madeleine Gallay says

    October 17, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    you know that at a dinner party, he’s the one you’d want to sit next to … even if you didn’t swoon at the presence of a major basketball legend

    he wears it right and happily

    bravo

  5. Collette Osuna says

    October 17, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    What a cool cat he is!!!! Love his fashion sense:)

  6. Megan Mae says

    October 17, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    I lost it at the cowprint suit. A++ Would see again. I love it.

  7. The Styley says

    October 17, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    This is one of my favorite posts so far! Amazing style.

  8. Sheila says

    October 17, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    Now that is one stylin’ man! I love his suits – especially that leather one!

  9. StefM says

    October 17, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    Love this! Forget “ask someone else.” It should be, “Ask Clyde!”

    • WendyB says

      October 18, 2011 at 9:33 am

      Yes!

  10. Mardel says

    October 18, 2011 at 7:02 am

    Gotta love a man who’s not afraid of color.

  11. Pam @over50feeling40 says

    October 18, 2011 at 8:07 am

    Maybe Clyde was frugal with his living arrangements so that he could afford more fabulous clothes!! I love his bold, out-there statements in style! Also, I have one of your rings featured on my front page! It is the coolest ring…just love it!

    • WendyB says

      October 18, 2011 at 9:33 am

      Well, that’s the reason *I* wound up in that building! Ha ha!

  12. Susan Tiner says

    October 18, 2011 at 10:53 am

    Fashionister! The cheeta print jacket is to die for.

  13. Franca says

    October 18, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    I’ve never heard of him but he looks amazing! We need more men like this!

  14. Miss Conduct says

    October 18, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Suit-wise, he’s sort of the American Don Cherry. However, if his commentary were as provocative and offensive as Don’s I’d surely have heard of him despite not being a basketball fan. You wanna see some SUITS, go poodle Don Cherry.

    • WendyB says

      October 18, 2011 at 2:17 pm

      Oh my! Don Cherry is in a lot of trouble, it seems. Interesting floral suits though!

  15. That's Not My Age says

    October 18, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    Clyde is cool.

  16. Stephanie says

    October 18, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    first off, thanks for your comment ^_^

    that man is too much for me. his suits are ridiculous!

  17. The Style Crone says

    October 18, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    This man knows how to wear a hat! And every other piece of clothing that he decides to make shine. Waiting for your post from his sports bar.

  18. JustMe says

    October 18, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    A leather suit??!

    That takes a lot of balls. And also a lot of deodorant.

  19. Terri Berry says

    October 20, 2011 at 7:46 am

    Clyde did what more people should do. Live below their means. So he’s not some moron celebrity that had a closet full of money and is now in foreclosure (at least I hope not). That’s why he lived in your apartment building (maybe he had the penthouse?) and was able to buy expensive shoes.

    • Terri Berry says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:22 pm

      I want to go to his new bar too! And when do I ever want to go to a sports bar?

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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