In the series of computer games for children Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?, where the goal is to track down the standard flying spy, you can always spot Carmen by her fiery red coat and matching wide-brimmed hat. Today, if one applies the same principle to a proverbial game about Where in the world is Steve Harvey?You can spot the longtime TV character — and the new style icon — by any of his numbers. “Fly” ’til I die” population.
Those clothes are the brainchild of stylist Elly Karamoh, who has spent the past few years gently but firmly channeling Harvey’s baggy ’90s wardrobe into the Instagram age. (That helped them meet through Steve’s wife, Marjorie Harvey, with whom Karamoh also occasionally styled.) And in this case, that could mean re-visiting. the revival of the 2020s of the ’90s baggy suit trend in the form of a silk Balenciaga PJs suit, printed with a carefully tailored logo.
“When I style Mr. Harvey,” Karamoh wrote via email, “I am always thinking about scope.” Last month, when Harvey was filming Feudal Family Celebrity, Karamoh dressed him in brightly fitted suits and ties that he was so focused on, so for his trip to Dubai, where he was in town for the postponed World Expo 2020, they wanted to go something a little different. He sported a pair of oversized pajamas that ran from the waist “to appeal to the light bell bottom”, which was featured on a pair of B-pair Balenciaga leather mules.
This is hardly Steve’s first foray into Demnaverse. Last month, he set out for the cover of Paper Journal wears a custom Balenciaga haute couture gown — the size of a duvet cover and in the color one might even call… Carmen Sandiego red. Karamoh styled it as an homage to André Leon Talley, a pioneer of Cheerful Capital Fashion, Men’s clothing is bigger than life. As Harvey told GQ in October, “When you’re a game show host and talk show host, [fashion] limited because you’re only talking to the American middle class. And I’m afraid to shock them too much,” Karamoh said: “Meanwhile, I’m on the other side, ready for shock value. ” Visiting Demna in the house that Cristóbal Balenciaga built is certainly one way to go about that.
“For Dubai, I really wanted to take up a new space for my style,” says Karamoh. “My intention for this ready-to-wear Balenciaga was for Mr. Harvey to evoke this sophisticated yet urban feel.”
Plus, we can’t overlook the key accessory of the look (aside from the busy business phone that reaches Steve’s ears): “ Dior Rimowa Mini suitcase is one of his favorite carry-on accessories now. He doesn’t go anywhere without his cigar.”
So in this week’s game we have: Steve Harvey, of Dubai, wearing a Balenciaga from head to toe. Closed case. (Perhaps unlike Carmen, though, Steve gave himself up by taking notes his Instagram-appropriate photo with “Hello DUBAÏ.” Dressing like an international mystery man doesn’t mean you need to act like an international man.)
