Steve Jobs and Style
October 9, 2007 by theotherthomasotter
Via this Gismodo post we bring you exactly what Steve Jobs wears: Levi 501’s, St Croix mock turtleneck and New Balance 991s.
(photo Dan Farber’s excellent stream)
There has been a lot written about his outfit, and it does a remarkably good job at keeping him instantly recognisable. As Steve Heller (a well known design historian) notes
How does this pertain to a journal of Design? Steve Jobs is design. When he gets up before the public he is a logo. His uniform is key to this corporate identity. I suppose I could have said as much in an analytical narrative, but I chose to write it as I felt it. There is something comic about it, no?
Frankly, I enjoy how he’s branded himself in relation to his usually wonderful products. Look how different he and Bill Gates are in this regard. Its fascinating.
It has the side effect of making anyone wearing something similar seem like a wannabe. This is an unremarkable outfit, but what is impressive is the consistently with which he maintains the look. (see here for a pic from 1997)
He has made it his own.
From lostinafog…(very funny blog btw) One of the few times he has even mildly deviated from this look was for the launch of the nike-ipod. He wore Nikes.
After that he returned to the New Balance. (picture via cult of mac)
If you are interested in other fashion insights, packed with wit and wisdom, the brilliant Manolo’s Shoe Blog and spinoffs are well worth a regular visit. See his choice of “athletic shoes”
(By the way The New Balance 991’s have been discontinued, replaced by the 992’s.  
I wonder if Steve bought a gross of them before NB discontinued them. Do you think he just has a “presentation” pair of sneakers like real people have running sneakers? I’ve also wondered if he wears this on the streets of Palo Alto, just hanging out near home?
I’ll plug the New Balance–incredibly comfortable pair of shoes. I had two pairs for about 4 years. They really were a wonderful counterpoint to multicolor sneakermania in new york over the past few years.
I think Nike’s are going to the retro look now for the more casual crowd. Their athletic line is ugly, but I like the retro looking ones.
Here is a link to a picture of Steve Jobs last month sitting outside an office building in Palo Alto. Just a normal day.
So the answer to the New Balance question is Mcweeney’s Question above, is yes
http://blog.stadil.com/intalio/2007/09/14/meeting-steve-jobs/