A glimpse at Sam Norris’ TikTok feed shows the wide range of menswear today. Combat, Western and platform boots are styled in equal measure with vintage knits, denim, leather and sheer pieces — and that individuality is intentional.
“One of the big points that I always make is that the allure and the illusion of a trend will never allow you to actually have a personal style,” Norris exclusively tells FN. “It’s important to exist outside of trends, because if you’re just buying what other people are telling you is the next big thing, you will never understand what you actually like.”
On TikTok, the 20-year-old influencer — who counts Rick Owens, Prince and David Bowie as style inspirations — educates 84,400 followers on topics from outfit tutorials to fashion shows and brand histories. A common Norris signature are Owens’ heeled platform boots, which he’s embraced over time.
“I think that fashion becomes so much more fun when you embrace your femininity and you embrace more feminine, traditionally feminine things,” Norris shares of his favorite men’s heels. “[They] make me actually six feet [tall], so that’s awesome. Other than that, it’s a standout…it doesn’t look like anything else.”
As a fashion lover and avid social media user, Norris is aware of how menswear is transforming today. Counting Martine Rose, Our Legacy and Heliot Emil as brands to note, the influencer regularly looks for future trends emerging on the platform.
“We’re leaving 2000’s era and we’re entering that 305, kind of the ’20-year rule,’ so I think we’re going to see even bigger, baggier stuff,” Norris says, counting Timberland boots, Pelle Pelle jackets and sports jerseys as top items. “That’s where I see it heading right now, and I’m not mad about it because it looks good.”
Content creation isn’t something Norris takes lightly, as he’s balancing it with a full-time job and fashion leadership studies at LIM College. Since his platform’s grown, the influencers’ hustle has landed him an Adidas partnership; he also counts Asics, eBay and Ugg as goals for future collaborations. As 2024 begins, Norris hopes for more industry involvement as well, including attending Fashion Week shows in New York City and Paris.
“I work seven days a week; between everything, ‘off days’ don’t really exist for me, but that’s just my work ethic,” Norris divulges. “It goes back to that passion — I love fashion so much.”
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.
