Hello there 🙂
I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say this Wisdom kaye is one of the The most influential fashion boys on the internet right now. If you don't believe me, take two seconds to scroll through his Social media accounts Here you can see prestigious partnerships and recognition from some of the biggest names in the business including Dior, Fendi, Coach, and more. Despite the well-deserved hype from luxury brands, Kaye's most reputable platform, Tick ​​tock, actually focuses a lot more on accessibility than designer labels (that's just a plus). From how to make an outfit with only $ 24 to how to style high heeled boots, Wisdom Kaye has proven that it is literally a one stop shop for all of your fashion needs and wants.
The 19 year old Texan quickly managed to make dressing one of the most fun topics on the app, which in turn resulted in a 5.2 million follower count. Believe it or not, Kaye only joined TikTok a year ago. His first video was a quick compilation of some of his favorite seizuresand it wasn't long before he plunged straight into the app's "how-to" page, where he began to inform, inspire, and entertain his followers. His overall aesthetic in both fashion and creativity has also earned him a modeling contract with IMG Multiple Mentions on Fashionand his most recent partnership with american eagle.
Aside from the awards, the main attraction of Wisdom Kaye is his relatable and transparent personality. He Doing business with Target;; when he receives a present from Dior, he freaks out (because who wouldn't ?!); and when his followers speak, he is listening. While Kaye's popularity almost feels like it happened overnight, there's no denying that it's no longer on the rise – it's officially arrived. Read our exclusive interview with each favorite fashion boy below as we talk about his or her personal style development, thoughts on diversity in the fashion industry, and more.
Can you tell us about your relationship with fashion? When did it really become a big part of your life and social media presence?
Fashion became a part of my life and my social media almost exactly a year ago. It was January 2020 when I was in college and finding out more about my style. It was my first time being independent and in a new place and there were different types of business around me. It was especially vintage stores that made me feel most comfortable – stores that focus on vintage '70s pieces, bell bottoms, and cowboy boots – all of which really inspired me.
Were you a stylish kid in school / raised?
I can't really say that I grew up. I was just the opposite. I mean, like most people, I liked to wear certain colors with others, but it wasn't fashionable. [For the]Most of my life fashion was never really an interest. It only became of interest towards the end of middle school / beginning of high school. I wanted to match everyone else at the time, so I tried to dress like other people. However, in my search for acceptance from others, I learned to accept myself and place less emphasis on what the next person might think.
I know I discovered you personally through TikTok, as I am sure many others have. At what moment did you realize that you really "made it" on the platform?
I think it was the moment I started being contacted by well-known brands like American Eagle, who are like family to me now, and agencies who made it clear to me that my TikTok presence was actually beyond what i expected. The day IMG contacted me, I knew that all of my work on TikTok had definitely paid off.
Your fans are so good at giving you ideas for your videos. I love how much you've inspired her to think outside the box when it comes to fashion. What are some of your favorite videos that you created from their comments?
I think my favorite videos have to be the emoji outfit videos. This trend was actually started from @ the.navarose on TikTok and my fans wanted me to do it too, and it was surprisingly fun making outfits out of random emojis.
Men in heels. Let us talk about it. And then tell me some of your favorite ways to style your favorite couples?
They were literally made for us. Historically, men first wore heels to make riding easier and have symbolized many different things since then. Today, with the majority of the population not riding horses, a heel is literally just an extra height – that's all. Whether it's an inch or five inches, it makes you look taller. I think the argument that wearing heels says something about your sexuality is ridiculous. It is literally shoes. Shoes don't change the type of person you like.
With that said, I'll wear any size heel boot (as long as I like the boot as a whole, of course) and honestly, I'll wear it with any type of pants – especially my AE jeans, which seem to go with pretty much anything . I have these 5 inch Rick Owens Kiss boots that I wear with a variety of pants – slim or loose – that fit too much.
Men in jewelry. Let's talk about it too. What are some of your favorite jewelry pieces or trends right now?
Accessorizing is very important in my opinion as it can really improve the look! If you're the type who doesn't like to dress up too much, the accessory can help make your outfit look better than it really is. I think pearl necklaces look great on men. I'm also a fan of wearing two to three necklaces that work well together.
What advice would you give to men who are a little shy about showing their personality through their clothes?
I would say I understand you completely. It's not easy to carry who you are and let everyone see it. Walking around in mundane clothes is much more comfortable – nobody asks any questions. But I say if it's something you really want, then you just have to do it. No matter what someone does, there will be people who have something to say. You could save three cats from a tree and someone will ask why you didn't save four!
As daunting as it is, I find comfort in understanding that not everyone will understand me or what I'm wearing, and that's fine. So I beg my boys, who are too shy to wear what they want – to dress how they feel for fear of outside control – to only wear what makes you happy. Someone somewhere is probably already saying something about the outfit you are wearing that is not really you, so just wear yourself!
What spring trends are you looking forward to this season?
I look forward to wearing lots of color and lots of patterns. Menswear is more colorful and detailed than ever and I'm a huge fan of it, so I definitely want to experience it myself. I love the Super Soft Icon T-Shirt from American Eagle, which comes in almost every color imaginable, and this AirFlex + Temper Tech Athletic Skinny, because you can't go wrong with tried and tested jeans.
I know you love designers like Hedi Slimane and Rick Owens, but what smaller brands do you love and support right now?
These brands are by no means necessarily small, but when compared to the Rick Owens and Saint Laurents of the world, I feel like they're not discussed as much. I really like AMI Paris, Heliot Emil and Bethany Williams.
What are three items in your closet that you really couldn't live without?
It is so difficult! But I think the best way to answer this is to look at the items I wear the most. I have a pair of black Guidi zippers in the front that I wear more than any other boot. I wear them for pictures or just for errands – they're comfortable and stylish and easy to wear. I also have those big '70s frames that I wear a lot. I like having something on my face and I'm a huge fan of oversized things, especially glasses, so I wear them quite a lot.
It is also very important to me that I feel good. Some of the most comfortable jeans I've found are from AE. Really in their AirFlex + collection. Last should be my hats and / or bandanas. Sometimes, honestly, I just don't feel like doing anything with my hair, so I just pound a cap on it or tie a headscarf around my head. With hats in particular, they can add a splash of color and really transform an outfit so I really appreciate this one.
What would you like to change when it comes to talking about diversity in the fashion industry?
I think diversity should start from within. However, in my opinion, both are important. I think it's more important than those who pull the strings we want to represent as opposed to those we see represented. If you have a creative team in-house who are naturally great and passionate about their diverse craft, then your results will really and naturally show this. You will see the variety of results, be it a campaign like my last campaigns with AE, Runway, an editorial, a film or whatever the medium may be. If the controls are not a diverse group, inclusion efforts will be poorly carried out due to a lack of understanding or worse, disinterest. No one can understand a group better than a member of that group. I think it's best if whoever is represented is responsible for providing the representation and that everything starts internally, which means more diversity in staff, creative teams, meetings and directors and I think that will work out in the Knock down work.
What other black fashion artists are on your radar right now?
From the brand and designer side, I was also a huge fan of Heron Preston, Kerby Jean-Raymond and Telfar Clemens. I own a few things from each of their respective labels and I enjoy the creativity they show in their work. From the perspective of the model and photographer, I love the work of people like Deon Hinton, Alton Mason, and Nicholas Wolf. Deon is a huge inspiration as he is someone who is also in front of the camera. Alton is of course the undisputed best male model in the world and his work amazes me every time. I love Nicholas Wolf's work ethic and what he does with his own label. Can't wait for him to take over for a day.
