From a young age, DexRob was anything but conventional. His childhood was marked by an absence of traditional career aspirations—he was a free spirit and a true creative, his mother attested. While other kids gravitated towards sneakers and sports, the kid born outside of Philadelphia and raised in Virginia would find himself drawn to shiny patent leather shoes instead. His heart longed for the refinement of dress clothes.

Dex ventured into sports, running track, and playing football in his formative years. Yet, what most people might not know is that he possessed a hidden talent as a natural comedian. His high school days saw him crowned class clown, occasionally earning suspensions for his disruptive humor. Inspired by comedy legends like Richard Pryor, Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, and Mike Epps, Dex once entertained dreams of a comedy career.

Though initially hesitant about college, he ultimately chose Virginia Union University, a private HBCU in Richmond, where he would earn his bachelor’s in mass communications. Today, like most HBCU students, he reflects on his time at VUU as transformative.

His journey into the world of clothes began after college when he ventured to New York City for an internship at The Britto Agency under the guidance of founder Marvet Britto, known for her work with luminaries like Stefon Marbury, Mariah Carey, and CNN.

Dex has transformed to a seasoned stylist and creative visionary who’s carved out a niche career as one of the select few stylists for male athletes who’s worked with Jalen Hurts, Deandre Hopkins, Sterling Shepard, Rajon Rondo, and Tim Hardaway. Furthermore, he and New York Giants Quarterback Tyrod Taylor just launched their brand Diallo.

How did you venture into styling athletes? It’s quite different from the more traditional work with celebrities or in editorial fashion.

My first brush with the styling world was in the retail sector, where I specialized in visual merchandising, mainly in styling mannequins and windows at G-Star and Reiss. Formally, I started my styling career in-house at Andrew Buckler, a company that later ceased operations when its owner Andrew moved on to become the global creative vice president of design at Converse. This period provided me with the freedom to assist others, thanks to a severance package and unemployment benefits.

One of the notable stylists I connected with was Lisa Smith-Craig, known for her editorial work in the music industry. Lisa had styled icons like Tupac and created CD covers when physical albums were still prevalent. Our paths crossed at one of my previous jobs, and she mentioned her styling company, 4Season, which I was brought on for project management and to assist on editorial projects.

Lisa also had a venture alongside WNBA player Cappie Pondexter. It was through this association that I delved into sports styling. “4Season Style Management” marked my entry into athletic styling, predominantly for female athletes.

I also had the privilege of Lisa introducing me to several NBA players during All-Star events. I proposed expanding our styling services to male athletes within “4Season,” but they didn’t think it would work due to bandwidth. When I eventually left the company, I shifted my focus exclusively to menswear to ensure no conflict of interest or competition with my former colleagues.

Professional styling is already a specialized field; when you add the athletic component, you almost certainly seem like one of a few. What’s that feeling like?

I am, and for a while, it was one of those if you know, you know types of things. One individual who played a pivotal role in bringing this profession to the forefront for me was Rachel Johnson. She dressed prominent figures like LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick and was one of the people I knew operating at such a high level in the industry.

In the realm of sports styling, many of the key players can trace their roots back to the Rachel Johnson umbrella. Names like Kesha McLeod, Calyann Barnett, and Courtney Mays stand out. These women work with athletes like Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, and Dwyane Wade – the big names in the sports world. In truth, it’s worth noting that for many male athletes, their first stylist is often their mom. This early influence leads to a preference for having women around them to confirm that they look their best, valuing a woman’s perspective. And then there’s me and a few who offer a male perspective.

The tunnel walk from the car into the stadium is where these men shine in terms of their attire, as we have seen over the past decade. Would you say they take that moment seriously, or would that be more of you?

Teams are also adopting various strategies to capture those moments in the tunnel before the players step onto the field or court. It’s essential to clarify that this isn’t about me; I’m merely a tool to enhance the overall look and presentation.

That specific moment, the photograph you mentioned, has held significance for as long as athletes have existed. What’s different now is the increasing monetization of this aspect. In the past, players didn’t necessarily prioritize their appearance to this extent when heading to work. Let’s remember that there was a time when strict dress codes were in place.

With your number of clients, how do you ensure you don’t mess up, and everyone has what they need?

Fittings! For NFL players, planning is key due to the relatively short 17-game season. We take care of these fittings well in advance. For those players who aren’t necessarily looking to become fashion icons, I sometimes streamline the process by preparing their wardrobe for all 17 weeks in a single fitting session. They might set a budget of around $30,000 for the entire season, and I will provide them with a selection of clothing and gear worth $130,000. We then pre-assemble the outfits, and I allocate them to specific weeks. We sometimes have to pivot if another player wears the item before them.

However, we plan monthly for players like Jalen Hurts or DK Metcalf. This allows us to have a collection of four to ten distinct looks ready for them, especially if they have events on their calendar. It’s worth noting that most players I work with are too big to borrow clothing from showrooms, although there are a few exceptions. Instead, much of their wardrobe comes from the studios at Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Webster, and Dover Street Market.

Footwear privileges for these guys have always intrigued me. Given that it appears as though every exclusive drop is available to every professional athlete, how exactly does this work? Is that the case, and do they typically receive the sneakers as gifts, or is it more of a “hey, we have this” situation? Pull up; this is the price.

It’s a mixed bag, largely depending on the individual player. Let’s take Stefon Diggs, for example, who is not currently under an exclusive contract (he was previously with Jordan Brand but has since moved on). You enjoy certain perks when you’re signed with a powerhouse like Jordan Brand, whether you’re Stefon, Jamal Adams, or Sterling Shepard. They provide you with high-heat footwear even before it hits the shelves. If you’re signed with major brands like Nike, Jordan, or Adidas, they typically grant you a seasonal allowance to purchase directly through a dedicated website tailored for them.

However, there’s another avenue for players who aren’t signed with any brand. They can build relationships with retailers like Champs or Patron of the New, which have access to all the latest drops.

Which one of your clients, in your opinion, is having the most fun with clothes?

The most fun? I would say Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. He doesn’t follow my rules when I’ve created a look for him. When I see him at an event, he’s often added his unique touch to the outfit. While part of me might feel a bit exasperated about it, the other part understands that this is what fashion is all about – self-expression.

My role is to provide the tools and guidance, but ultimately, he and the other athletes are the ones who pay me. So, if he wants to throw on a hat or make a personal tweak, I’m fine with that. There’s never a dull moment between Jaylen and DK Metcalf, who frequently experiments with hair dye and has a passion for jewelry. We even took DK to Tokyo for Marni’s show in January, which was an entirely new experience for him personally.

We’re watching the emergence of athletes at fashion week in real time – what do you think is driving this shift?

Everybody else! Athletes sometimes tend to be followers and aspire to be like rappers, just as rappers aspire to be like athletes. If you see Future at a show and then him becoming a creative director at Lanvin, they recognize these opportunities, and also want to get to a bag themselves. It’s gotten competitive.

Let’s discuss DIALLO. Tell me more about your brand that recently launched.

“Diallo” has its roots in West Africa and translates to “bold.” Our brand’s core concept revolves around the idea that boldness doesn’t necessarily mean vibrant colors; it’s about stepping into the fearless realm of dressing and presenting oneself confidently. After all, your confidence plays a significant role in how your style is perceived, making it a form of boldness in itself. Additionally, “Diallo” holds special significance as it is the middle name of my business partner, Tyrod Taylor, the quarterback for the New York Giants, who also hails from Virginia.

The brand’s aesthetic is a unique blend of workwear and luxury. Other brands, such as Reese Cooper and Rhude, excel in this fusion. Conversely, Diallo resides in the realm where Carhartt meets Bottega Veneta and Wales Bonner. Only a few people can be referenced in American luxury, and when we start talking about African American designers, it’s who Jerry Lorenzo!?

I’m interested to learn why you launched a luxury streetwear brand after BOF and other platforms have conveyed, “Is streetwear dead?” especially considering Virgil’s passing and Supremes decreasing interest.

What those people did or are saying has nothing to do with me. Because an article came out that means you stop what you want to do? If that were the case, I wouldn’t be a stylist or striving to sustain a lifestyle for those who depend on me through my work. I’m forging my own path, and I don’t adopt secondhand information as my own. I launched Diallo because that was what I wanted to do. If I were to face failure and fall flat on my face, it wouldn’t be because someone I don’t personally know told me not to take a chance.

Being from Virginia and witnessing Pharrell take the helm at Louis Vuitton is exciting to see and empowering. Just being able to say I’ve been around this person and for him to be offered an honor like that is insane. If that isn’t a testament to “You can do anything you want to do regardless of who said what,” then I don’t know what is.

Last one, what do you make of your mass communications degree today? How has it served you?

It has undoubtedly served me as an entrepreneur because I have the know-how and experience to take care of things that people would typically outsource. My business partner is a football player; therefore, I take on multiple roles in-house, including administrative tasks, creative direction, and styling. My small team primarily consists of family members. The ability to create press decks, EPKs, and other documents related to our strategies and goals is something I’ve honed through my previous work for other companies.

My degree has proven its worth, especially on the backend of my business. My educational background plays a crucial role in tasks like business development and pitching myself or my company for various opportunities.

di-allo.com