Sage Elsesser's "Simple, Not Easy" Approach to Style

Sage Elsesser often feels like that one no one knows that I’m wearing… meme, in that he’s always sneaking comfort into his daily outfits. Whether it's a secretly silk-lined hoodie or a pair of shearling-lined UGG Tasman slip-ons, comfort catalyzes his current wardrobe.

“I think my style has simplified a lot,” Elsesser says, sticking to a low-profile “uniform” most days: a monochrome hoodie or T-shirt (he’s not big on loud graphics these days), a wide-legged pant, and something calm and clean on the feet. “It’s all about ease and comfort — ease not in the sense that it’s easy, but in that there’s a certain energy that comes with feeling like it's not too laborious to find inspiration. Simple, but not easy is the best way to put it.”

This effortless ethos is what bridges the gap between Sage Elsesser, the skateboarder, and Navy Blue, the musician. “Dressing to skate and dressing to perform are both all about how the clothing fits and feels,” he continues. “I love when people are willing to wear something less because of function, but more because of comfort. To me, the greatest luxury is comfort.”

In true Sage Elsesser fashion, the multihyphenate finds himself fronting another key lookbook, this time around for a silhouette that actually remains in his uniform’s footwear rotation: UGG’s Chestnut Tasman. Dubbing the shoe a “classic,” Elsesser’s affinity for the silhouette stems from its ability to maintain cultural relevance while staying true to its low-profile persona — something he knows very well.

“When I saw some of the selects for the UGG Tasman shoot, I could tell I'm definitely smiling more in these pictures,” he laughs of the Chris Black-lensed visuals. It’s likely because he was comfortable.

Fresh off the new campaign, Elsesser sat down with Hypebeast to share more about his stripped-back approach to personal style, and how comfort is the connective tissue through it all.

How would you describe your personal style?

Sage Elsesser: Not only did my parents have great style, but they also gave me a lot of freedom as a child to experiment with whatever styles I was into. When I was three, I was obsessed with Bruce Wayne. Then Bruce Lee. I’d wear silk sets from Chinatown, full kung fu outfits with slippers. I say all that to say that I've always been very obsessive about whatever I'm into and get fully into it.

What have you been into lately?

I've been really into royal blue recently, which isn’t something I’ve been drawn to in a while. When I think about my connection to the color, it’s ultimately rooted in nostalgia. The Brazil soccer team I grew up watching wore a royal blue away kit, so that color has always stayed in my subconscious.

My personal style is full of nostalgia, too. I love vintage things because I like knowing that something lived for a while, and maybe with other people, before I took it on. You get a feeling from a worn T-shirt that you can't get anywhere else.

On that note, I feel like your style today has a more lowkey energy than it did a decade ago. Would you agree?

I think my style has simplified a lot. I’ve developed somewhat of a uniform in what I wear. I don't wear graphics all too much. On shoots, I don't know if it comes with age, but I’ve been really just letting the stylist do their thing. The way that I perceive myself is not how I'm being seen. I’ve become a lot less precious about things. I care a little less about the small details. I'm still precious about stains [laughs] but other than that, I’m pretty chill about things when it comes to fashion these days.

Across fashion, music and skateboarding, where are you finding creative inspiration these days?

I can find inspiration anywhere. A pair of socks could inspire me. Speaking of socks, I like when socks don't have a seam on the toe. It’s subtle details like that that can act as the connective tissue between mediums. It’s all about ease and comfort — ease not in the sense that it’s easy, but in that there’s a certain energy that comes with feeling like it's not too laborious to find inspiration. Simple, but not easy is the best way to put it. With skateboarding and fashion, all the ingredients are going into the same soup.

Comparing Sage Elsesser the skateboarder to Navy Blue the musician: how does an outfit materialize? What factors are you prioritizing when getting dressed to go skating?

Both are all about how the clothing fits and feels, but they are different. With skating, the core of it all is comfort. I need enough leg room to skate, and I need a light-feeling shirt. I like white T-shirts. I stick to a uniform when I'm skating, too. I love to be comfortable. I get that from my mom; she’s someone who exudes that comfort. Everything she wears is so flowy and beautiful.

"I love when people are willing to wear something less because of function, but more because of comfort. To me, the greatest luxury is comfort."

Speaking of comfort, and as such a purveyor of fashion trends, what is your take on the UGG Tasman? Why has it remained in the rotation?

I've always seen UGG as a perfect slipper. It’s such a classic shoe. You can't duplicate comfort. You can't really find that everywhere. For me, the Tasman is the most classic model. The lining is what makes the shoe, for sure. When it’s hot outside, I can't do shoes that go over the ankle, so this is perfect. It’s usually always UGG inside the house, but it’s also for going to get coffee, going to the corner store.

I saw an older man wearing these with really short running shorts, and I was like, "That looks so cool." I like that idea of those two things kind of clashing. I love when people are willing to wear something less because of function, but more because of comfort. To me, the greatest luxury is comfort.

With a musical alias named after a color, I have to ask, what are your thoughts on the Chestnut color?

It's become a classic. Every brand has its brand identity. You think Supreme, you think red. You think of Burberry, you think tartan. You think UGG, you think the chestnut brown. It’s a certain shade of brown that I'm into because it's not quite a khaki or a beige, but it’s a little richer. I also love chestnuts in general.

You got your start modelling in skate lookbooks, and now you’re leading an UGG campaign. What would you tell the Sage back then?

To just be grateful for all of these opportunities, and that it doesn't last forever, so try to enjoy it. Don't take anything too seriously. It's not so serious. When I saw some of the selects for this shoot, I could tell I'm definitely smiling more in these pictures, which is nice.

Which of the 10K rappers would rock the Tasman the best?

I could definitely see MIKE wearing the Tasman, for sure. I might need to get him some.

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