Marcus Paul: The Stylist With a Mission to Make Hip-Hop Move Past Streetwear & Embrace Alt Brands

This article originally appeared in the Sept. 3 issue of Billboard, by Bee Shapiro.

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Sartorial derring-do has long defined hip-hop’s streetwear fashions. But with hoodies and sweatshirts reaching critical mass, a refined take on hip-hop style is emerging. Brooklyn-based men’s stylist and former model Marcus Paul is an evangelist for the movement, taking a polished-is-better approach when dressing stars like LeBron James, Jay Z, Pusha T and Desiigner. “I care about the quality of the garment, which a lot of younger people don’t seem to care about.”

To that end, Paul leans on tailored indie brands and highbrow European labels for the artists he styles.

For Pusha T’s 2015 album Darkest Before Dawn, Paul selected a fitted embellished sweater overcoat by Belgian designer Dries Van Noten, whose fabrics and use of color and patterns “are amazing,” says Paul. “I don’t have anything against streetwear, but I’m looking for details and not necessarily brands.”

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Checking Out Pusha T’s Closet

By Bee Shapiro

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Jacket: I love the pieces from ‘By Walid’. It’s this London brand my stylist Marcus Paul put me on to some time ago. This piece is silk with 18th-century embroidery. Every jacket is a one-off. I actually went to the designer’s studio last week in London and got to meet him. It was pretty fresh. He’s extremely artsy and a really cool guy. He had some newer patterns and jackets to choose from. For me, the details matter: Fashion and hip-hop are always about being first and being different and being able to set yourself apart from the bunch.

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For the full NYTimes article, click here.