I remember sitting in my living room during the 2019 NBA season, not just watching the games but being completely captivated by what was happening off the court. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've never seen a season where fashion became such an integral part of the NBA narrative. The tunnel walks transformed into runways, and players' personal style became as discussed as their three-point percentages. What struck me most was how these fashion moments weren't just about looking good—they represented a cultural shift in how athletes express themselves and build their personal brands.

The evolution of NBA fashion reminds me of how other sports are embracing individual expression. Take golf, for instance—while researching for this piece, I came across Malixi's journey. The 18-year-old phenom, who earned her invitation after winning last year's US Women's Amateur Open and the US Girls' Junior, demonstrated incredible resilience during her recent tournament. Despite bogeying holes four, six, eight, and the tenth, she mounted an impressive comeback with three consecutive birdies from the 14th hole, capping her performance with another on the 18th, though she did sandwich a bogey on the 17th hole in between. This kind of comeback story mirrors what we saw in NBA fashion—players turning what might have been fashion risks into triumphant style statements. Both scenarios show modern athletes embracing their entire journey, the struggles and triumphs alike.

Russell Westbrook's fashion choices during that season were nothing short of revolutionary. I still vividly recall his patchwork pants and bold patterns that would make any fashion editor either cringe or applaud—there was no middle ground. Personally, I loved his fearlessness. He treated the tunnel walk like his personal Paris Fashion Week, and statistics showed his jersey sales increased by approximately 23% during peak fashion discussion periods. The data might not be perfect, but the correlation between his style statements and commercial success was undeniable. His outfits generated over 150,000 social media mentions during key game days, proving that fashion could directly impact a player's marketability.

Then there was LeBron James, whose style evolution throughout the season reflected his growing influence beyond basketball. His tailored suits and sophisticated looks before crucial games weren't just clothing—they were strategic statements. I noticed how his fashion choices seemed to correlate with his performance mindset. Before his 51-point game against Miami, he wore a custom navy suit that screamed business elegance. The attention to detail in his accessories—from his watch collection to his shoe game—showed a level of intentionality that went beyond mere fashion. It was personal branding at its finest, and as someone who studies athlete marketing, I found this fascinating to observe.

The international players brought their unique flair too. I particularly enjoyed watching Giannis Antetokounmpo's style journey that season. His outfits blended European sophistication with Milwaukee practicality, creating a distinctive look that felt authentic to his story. His fashion choices seemed to mirror his on-court development—starting somewhat conservative but gradually becoming more experimental as his confidence grew. This parallel between athletic development and personal style evolution was something I hadn't seen discussed much, but it felt significant.

What made the 2019 season particularly special was how team fashion became a thing. The Philadelphia 76ers' arrival outfits became must-watch content, with players coordinating colors and styles while maintaining individual expression. I remember tracking how these fashion moments created team bonding opportunities and translated into on-court chemistry. The data—though somewhat speculative—suggested that teams with strong off-court style cohesion tended to perform better in clutch situations, with an estimated 15% improvement in close-game outcomes. Whether this was correlation or causation, it made for compelling analysis.

The women in the NBA ecosystem also made significant fashion statements that season. From team executives to broadcasters, female professionals brought fresh perspectives to NBA fashion that challenged traditional boundaries. Their influence extended beyond the arena, with fashion blogs dedicating entire sections to decoding their style choices. This diversification of fashion influence created a more inclusive style conversation that enriched the entire league's aesthetic landscape.

Reflecting on that season's fashion legacy, I believe we witnessed a fundamental shift in how athletes approach personal branding. The best fashion moments weren't just about expensive clothes or designer labels—they were authentic expressions of personality that resonated with fans globally. The commercial impact was substantial too, with fashion-related sponsorship deals increasing by approximately 40% compared to previous seasons. As we move forward, I'm convinced the 2019 season will be remembered as the turning point where NBA fashion became inseparable from the game itself, creating a new dimension of athlete-fan connection that continues to evolve today.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.