To say Kristine Anigwe’s collegiate basketball career was dominant would be a massive understatement. The 2016 USBWA Student of the Year for the California Golden Bears averaged an astounding 23.1 PPG 16.4 RPG in her senior season. While she reprized the Golden Bears in college, her color palette when styling Skylar Diggins-Smith this past season has been more about infusing neutrals and raw emotion into Skylar’s chic style.
Christine Anigwe was drafted to the Connecticut Sun with the 9th pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, with a reputation for her tenacity on the glass as an elite rebounder on the court and her calm and sophisticated style off the court. Her everyday approach to dressing includes:
- Wide leg pants that are chic enough for fancy events.
- Long coats reminiscent of London.
- Shaped tops that hold their shape against the test of time.
These pieces, as well as her favorite shade of green, are the focus of her first collection from KA Original, which Anigwe launched in March. While the likes of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Arike Ogunbowale, Azurá Stevens and Diamond DeShields have worn her brand on walks in the tunnels, Anigwe has solidified her style influence around the league by styling and creating custom outfits for All-Star Weekend.
Anigwe’s fashion sense also applies to how she navigates the fashion industry as a young business owner and creates eye-catching outfits for Diggins-Smith. “I feel amazing when I wear a bomber jacket,” says Anigwe, “so I want everyone to feel the way I do.” She is more interested in making clothes than being seen in them, and fashion is her key to navigating the world. Earlier this season, Anigwe balanced her time between playing for the Phoenix Mercury, styling herself and her clients, and handling everything from costume design to photoshoots for KA Originals.
Although Anigwe stepped down from Mercury in June, her presence is felt in her client looks and at All-Star Weekend, when she dressed Ogunbowale and Diggins-Smith in custom KA Originals pieces. It’s an impressive feat to style two players for the Orange Carpet, but it matches the elevated look that Anigwe naturally carries. While athletes usually gravitate towards casual wear, Anigwe says her tailored pants are as easy to wear as sweats. “It’s not clothing at all, but to other people, it’s a lot, and I’m learning that as I work,” explains the budding designer.
Styling is a way for Anigwe to stay connected to the WNBA and an opportunity for her to build a legacy of stylish athletes. It is unique for combining its player perspective with its creative work. This all-new designer profile feature explores her continued connection to the league and the new audiences she hopes to reach with KA Originals.
Kirsten Chen: Why did you decide to start styling?
Kristine Anigwe: I honestly do it for fun. It’s kind of how I talk—I talk a lot more when it comes to fashion than basketball. I don’t talk that much. I use fashion as a voice outside of my work. I am going against what is the norm of society. I always want people to feel liberated.
KC: What is a common misconception people have about style in the WNBA?
KA: I feel like we should be in a box; we can only wear certain things. [Players] step outside the box and I feel like people are confused. But fashion is supposed to be confusing. You have to try new things, start trends and see if other people follow. They don’t give us enough room to grow with fashion. I’m not [trying to look] like anything for anyone but myself – I’m seeing what I like, what I don’t like, and then moving on. It’s just an outfit. I’m not just dressing for the game. I’m dressing for myself.
KC: What inspires your elevated approach to athlete styling?
KA: In the NBA, everyone is so street dressed. Why not make it more intimate? Why not make it classier? Why not clean it up a bit? Let’s bring on the scary costumes. Let’s bring more. At W, you don’t really see much European styling. It’s more streetwear. I’m a little bit streetwear, but a lot of Europe. I was born in London. I try to get from those high quality structured pieces. I’m trying to get away from cotton and things that always resurface. I’m trying to get into more lycra or stretch fabrics, silk fabrics and things like that.
KC: Tell me about your process for styling a client.
KA: I ask questions, like how they see themselves in the world and what fashion is to them – I’ll have them explain it to me. Then, I take their skin tone and do all the color matching. Once I know the colors, I make three different PDF files for their body type. Then, they look at it. They say, ‘Chris, I don’t like this.’ I say, “Let’s keep some things that are dangerous, things that people don’t wear.” I do dangerous things. I’ll see a movie and I’m like, “This is so cool.” This should come into real life.’
I worked with people, understanding what they like, how they see themselves, how I see them, and then I come together, build something, showing them why I use the colors I use. Like, the meaning of the color, ‘How did they feel when they wore it? Did you have to change? Were you uncomfortable?’ We solve it. Whatever they’re happy with, I try to get more stuff with that.
KC: You stand out with your styling work for Skylar Diggins-Smith. It’s very different from what people might expect from a player.
KA: When she came to me, I said: ‘What? Me?’ and she said, ‘Girl, yes. I like how you dress. I like the way you represent yourself.’ When she got a lot of attention, we started working more closely. Now, we work together every day. With Skylar, she’s a good client because she trusts my vision. She really respects me. And we are doing something different.
I usually work with people who understand my style. Sky and I have this rule where she has to give 15% to 20% of her contribution. I will do the rest. With Sky, we’ve done a lot of black, and she’s like, “Okay, some color, Kris.” I’m like “Green” because she has really nice olive skin. This is really good for its shades. tally [colors] with people who have basic things. For me, I have anxiety, so I only work with neutral colors.
KC: I love the deeper meanings behind your neutral color palettes.
KA: I grew up like this; color has helped me throughout my life. In fact, this is how I see the world. That’s why I take my work off the field seriously because it helps me analyze life. I have dealt with anxiety all my life. [Fashion] it was an outlet for me, like having a hobby that helped me relax. I said, ‘Okay, I’ll do it. I will not continue to doubt myself.’ And having KA Originals has helped me have the confidence to do that.
KC: When did you decide to start building your brand, KA Originals?
KA: Last summer, when I left LA, I said, “This is the time I’m going to start.” I already had connections within the fashion industry because I was traveling in London before COVID happened. I knew what kind of designer I wanted to be. It has been a growing process. People didn’t know I was into fashion or that I made clothes. I started doing photoshoots with my overseas friends in Turkey, and it went crazy when I got going. I did a photo shoot with my team here. Now, I’m just going with the flow, taking advantage of every opportunity and having fun playing basketball with my friends and styling them. It’s really cool.
KC: Do you think there are types of clothing or styles that help people feel confident?
KA: Yes. The green suit and the black suit. When I made the black suit, I wanted to feel super powerful. I wanted to feel brave. I want people to be like, ‘Oh my God, what is she wearing?’ But I also wanted to be comfortable. My mom used to wear suits when she went to work, and I’m like, ‘I want to look like my mom when she wears a suit, like super cool, sleek, powerful.’ I made a suit that fits my body type and added the front pocket. It’s not a real pocket. There are many different elements to how I grew up. This is the most powerful part in my capsule right now.
KC: Do you have a personal mantra that reminds you to stay safe?
KA: I’ve been much taller than everyone my whole life. No matter what I wore, people stared at me. If you wear something, people will say something. So I’m like, “What’s the problem?” I should wear whatever I want. If I want to wear an ankle-length dress over a big coat, I’ll wear it. Everyone will stare at you regardless. You too can be a goddess and feel like you are special, worthy and powerful. And the days are very short. Life is too short.
KC: The season is short. There are only so many views!
KA: There are just so many views, so many pictures, even overseas. I just want to live my life to the fullest every day.
KC: You wear many different hats at KA Originals – overseeing shoot concepts and creative direction, styling and clothing design. What is your favorite part of the whole process?
KA: Design is my favorite part. I look forward to designing; I like it. I have a concept for each collection, so everything plays into one lens. My mind always goes. Concepts flow naturally. I can’t do things that don’t matter to me. That’s why I have to wear so many hats until I figure things out or tell someone everything in my head, which will never happen. I have to direct the photo shoots because people haven’t worked with them [models] that’s 6′ 4″ before, and I’m 6′ 4″, so I know how to pose, style, all that stuff.
KC: Can you tell us about your team behind the KA originals? Is there someone you want to shout out?
KA: I won’t mention all the names that are involved, but my mother is a drug addict. She helps me with everything. She’s known me my whole life, so she knows how my brain works. Without my family, I wouldn’t have this. And my social media team, they’re great. My assistant is great. My whole team is amazing. I can’t thank them enough for helping me like this point. Everyone who is part of my team has invested so much in this project. Now, we are seeing the success of all our hard work and we are very happy and excited.
KC: Your brand is still in its early stages, but do you have any goals you’d like to share?
KA: Yes. I’m crossing my fingers. Right now, some of the works are going international. So I’m excited about that. This will also help my family because my family is all over the world. I want them to be able to wear and buy the pieces.
KC: Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview or say?
KA: Thanks to my former teammates and everyone I’ve ever worked with. Like DB, Tiffany, Jasmine Thomas, the people here who did my photo shoot, Sky, Diamond, Meg, Sam and both organizations that allow me to express myself, be myself and grow.
WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a lifestyle and fashion column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter via @hotgothwriter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.
