Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. As the star player for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, Jordan led the team to six NBA championships. But Jordan wasn’t just known for his incredible talent and competitive drive on the court – he also became a global fashion and style icon. While Jordan set trends both on and off the court, one of his signature looks from his playing days was his oversized, baggy suits. But there was more to Jordan’s baggy suits than simply following the trends of the time. The story behind MJ’s baggy suits provides insight into his fierce competitive nature and his approach to using any possible mental edge.
The Rise of Jordan’s Fame
In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Michael Jordan was transcending the sport of basketball and becoming a true global celebrity and cultural icon. As the superstar of the NBA-leading Chicago Bulls dynasty, Jordan’s fame grew exponentially with each championship win. His signature “Air Jordan” shoe line with Nike was exploding in popularity worldwide. Jordan also appeared in famous “I’m Back” and “Nothing but Net” commercials for Hanes underwear. At the peak of his playing career and popularity in the 1990s, Jordan had become one of the most recognizable faces on the planet.
With Jordan’s skyrocketing fame and omnipresent cultural influence came intense media scrutiny and public curiosity about everything in his life – including his personal style and fashion choices. Photographers and television cameras followed Jordan’s every move, both on and off the basketball court. The world wanted to know not only about Jordan’s talent, work ethic and competitive drive, but also his lifestyle away from the game. This included examining Jordan’s clothing selections and evolving fashion sense over the years.
One aspect of Jordan’s unique style that drew constant attention and comment was his penchant for wearing extremely large, baggy suits during his playing days with the Bulls in the 1990s. While oversized suits had begun emerging as a trend in the late 1980s hip hop scene, Jordan took it to an entirely new level with his uniquely voluminous suit selections. But there was much more going on with MJ’s baggy suits than simply following surface-level trends or being flashy for flashiness’ sake. Jordan’s excessively oversized suits were actually a strategic psychological ploy centered around cultivating any possible mental edge.
Using Intimidation to His Advantage
From the start of his NBA career in 1984, Michael Jordan was notorious for his intensely competitive nature and relentless will to win. He left nothing to chance and sought out any potential advantage, no matter how small, that could help propel the Bulls to victory on a given night. This included utilizing psychological tactics and attempting to gain confidence boosts or throw off opponents with intimidation. It was in this strategic mindset that Jordan’s uniquely baggy suits originated and took on special meaning.
Some key aspects of Jordan’s motivations and objectives with his outrageously oversized suits included:
Intimidation. Jordan wanted opposing players to literally feel dwarfed and overwhelmed by his physical presence whenever they matched up against him on the court. The excessively billowing suit fabric added several visual inches to his already imposing stature and frame.
Confidence Boost. For Jordan personally, the larger-than-life suits provided a subtle confidence boost knowing he appeared larger than life to his competition. This translated to an edge on the court.
Throwing Off Opponents. The dramatic size difference was a potential means of throwing off opposing players’ perceptions of Jordan’s speed, quickness and ability to change direction on a dime. It hid his natural athletic gifts and talent.
Gamesmanship. At the highest level of competition, Jordan viewed any potential mental edge as fair game. His suits were another element of psychological one-upmanship over opponents.
Attention and Intimidation Factor. With his rising celebrity, Jordan understood the suits drew extra eyes on him and furthered his intimidating aura as the game’s most feared competitor.
So while oversized suits rose to prominence in hip hop fashion during the late 80s, for Jordan it was primarily a clever psychological ploy rooted in his tireless competitive fire and pursuit of any advantage, however subtle. His strategy was leaving nothing to chance when battling opponents on basketball’s biggest stages. The suits became another weapon in his psychological arsenal.
Evolution of the “Baggy Suit” Look
While Michael Jordan had begun experimenting with loose, roomy suit styles as early as his 1984 rookie NBA season, it was over the course of the late 1980s and into the 1990s that his signature “baggy suit” look truly evolved and took iconic form. Here’s a brief timeline tracing the maturation of Jordan’s excessively oversized suit selections during his playing career:
1988-1989 – Jordan’s suits were loose and flowy but not yet reaching peak excess size. Fabric was billowing but cuts were still relatively structured.
1990-1991 – Suit lengths began extending well past wrists and ankle lengths. Jackets featured dramatic double-breasted styles swollen with extra fabric. Pants took on fully baggy wide leg and straight cut silhouettes.
1992-1993 – Peak evolution of the signature over-the-top volume. Jackets reached below crotch level with triple-breasted exaggerated forms. Pant legs were stuffed with extra yards of fabric billowing over shoes.
1994-1995 – Suits maintained comedic levels of swelling but occasional trimmed-down cuts also appeared. Silhouettes focused more on boxy/blocky shapes than billowing drape.
1996-1998 – Jordan retired briefly but kept style evolution going post-NBA. Suits slimmed down from insane peaks but baggier cuts endured. Flashier fabrics, patterns and colors emerged.
So while loose suiting started in the 80s, Jordan systematically dialed up the ultra-baggy factor year after year to reinforce his intimidating image. Silhouettes progressed from loose to clownishly inflated. A pattern had emerged that stayed with Jordan beyond his illustrious basketball career.
Criticism and Defending the Style
Not surprisingly, Michael Jordan’s outrageously oversized suits drew no shortage of criticism and commentary over the years – often in a mocking or derisive tone. Major concerns cited included:
- The suits looked ridiculous, comical or simply didn’t fit properly. Critics saw them as an unfortunate fashion faux pas.
- Wearing such bloated styles hurt his image and credibility off the court. It distracted from his athletic image and didn’t portray a slick dresser.
- The suits were a ridiculous and vain attempt at flashiness simply for the sake of standing out and drawing eyeballs.
- However, Jordan fiercely defended his dramatic suit selections when critics challenged him. Some of his retorts included:
- The suits were stylish in their own right and started major 1990s hip hop fashion trends. Critics just didn’t understand the aesthetic.
- Nothing mattered but winning on the court. If distracting suits helped provide mental edges over opponents, that’s all that mattered to him.
- Increasing his intimidation factor and perceived size against competition through suits was justified gamesmanship. It had tangible benefits, not vanity.
- Major brands like Nike and his signature line were benefiting greatly from the attention his unique suits attracted. It boosted sales and his brand.
So while mockery flowed freely toward Jordan’s excessive suiting, he refused to abandon the style and psychological ploy. The competitive motivations behind it far outweighed superficial perceptions of how it affected his look off the court. For Jordan, winning was everything – even if through means like intimidating baggy suits.
Enduring Cultural Impact
Though criticized in his era, Michael Jordan’s signature exaggeratedly oversized suits came to leave an undeniable cultural impact and legacy that has endured long after his playing days. Some key ways his baggy suit style continues resonating include:
Origins of Modern Hip Hop Fashion – Along with early MC Hammer styles, Jordan popularized the oversized shapewear looks that defined 90s hip hop fashion worn by icons like Biggie and Jay-Z.
Inspiration for Contemporary Streetwear – Brands like Bape, Supreme and Kanye-era collections drew direct inspiration from Jordan’s fearless volume-first silhouettes of the 90s.
Still Worn by NBA Stars Today – Players like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid still frequently sport modern loose suiting drawing from Jordan’s intimidating blueprint.
Remains Iconic Jordan Brand Image – His signature suits are synonymous with his iconic 90s Bulls playing tenure. They reinforce his legend status and sell retro merchandise to this day.
Psychological Gamesmanship Legacy – Athletes in many sports now understand subtle psychological edging like suits can provide competitive advantages at pro levels.
So while Jordan endured fashion criticism in real time, his wildly oversized suit selections have endured as a hallmark stylistic symbol of his playing dominance and cultural influence. They represent the fearless innovation that characterized his competitive approach both on and off the court during his Chicago Bulls dynasty era. Whether appreciated stylishly or not, his suits cemented Jordan as the ultimate defiant rulebreaker in pursuit of any mental edge.
Legacy and Influence
Nearly 20 years after retiring, Jordan’s baggy suits from the 90s Bulls dynasty remain some of the most iconic NBA fashions ever. Numerous athletes since have taken cues from Jordan’s original vision, showing fashion can be a powerful asset when wedded to elite performance.
Players like Allen Iverson, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook have all embraced loose, hybrid athletic wear/streetwear looks drawing on Jordan’s blueprint. More broadly, oversized suits became de rigueur for hip hop stars and remain a mainstay in urban subcultures globally.
Jordan proved that self-expression through bold sartorial choices could supercharge an endorsement brand while resonating culturally. Even today, his Air Jordans and oversized suits are emulated worldwide as aspirational streetwear staples. Jordan’s baggy suits took his legend to greater heights and exemplified how challenging norms through distinctive personal style can create a whole new dimension to an athlete’s influence and appeal.
Conclusion
Michael Jordan’s famously baggy suits were far more than just an eccentric wardrobe choice – they became a vital part of his iconic image and cultural significance in the 1990s. By pushing fashion boundaries with oversized pinstripes and plaids, Jordan connected with urban fans, expanded the NBA’s audience, and set a precedent for how athletes can use attire to boost their brands. Nearly 30 years later, his baggy suits from the Bulls titles live on as some of sports’ most memorable, iconic, and trendsetting fashions of all time. Through self-expression, Jordan took his style – and his legendary status – to the next level.
