On Thursday, December 14, Michael Kors welcomed guests into its new Westfield Century City boutique to celebrate the opening along with the launch of another location in Beverly Hills. To fete, Sports Illustrated editor Jamie Lisanti held a discussion with the magazine’s “Fashionable 50” member and football wide receiver Victor Cruz on his experience with all things sports, fashion and their interconnection.

“Growing up in Paterson, there’s a level of grit and pride for where you’re from; our clothes and our fashion represented that,” said Cruz of the New Jersey community that he says prided itself on pushing the trends. Although he admits, it sometimes resulted in an unflattering era of shirts, hats, and pants that were intentionally several sizes too large, it transitioned into an appreciation for the art of style itself. “Looking back, I’d much rather be in a suit that fits you the right way,” Cruz said before citing LeBron James, Johnny Depp, Jake Gyllenhaal and Deion Sanders as more recent sources of inspiration. However, his ultimate fashion hero, James Bond, upholds his ideal. “I have every single Bond outfit pinned on this vision board on my phone.” While one might not notice it, the sartorial sense even carries over to the field as Cruz insists on having a uniform that fits just right.

Rounding out the night, DJ Bliss livened the atmosphere with music as guests sipped from Cruz’s favorite whiskey cocktail served in limited-edition Michael Kors engraved glasses.

Written by Ericka Franklin

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