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Despite currently working as the fashion editor at the National Football League (NFL), Kyle Smith grew up “knowing nothing about sports and not loving it,” as he shared in the latest instalment of the BoF Careers webinar series, Building a Career in Fashion.
After studying a degree in Art History at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, he landed an internship with LA-based celebrity stylist Karla Welch before he went on to work at fashion brand Amiri. He also worked freelance for a time, styling the likes of Billie Eilish and Halle and Chloe Bailey, as well as for businesses like Amazon and J.C. Penney.
Then, in 2019, Smith landed a role at the NFL as a wardrobe assistant — styling its TV hosts and managing the visual communication strategy. There, he spotted the growing potential at the intersection of sports stars and fashion brands — working with the athletes off the pitch to “tell the story of the players”.
After a brief stint out of work during the pandemic, Smith returned to the NFL where he eventually became the league’s first-ever fashion editor.
He now works with high-profile players like Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson on events like Super Bowl’s first red-carpet on Tubi, and on their presence at Paris Fashion Week and Vogue World.
Indeed, Smith’s role spotlights the growing intersection of fashion and sports and the career opportunities emerging in this space. Now, Smith details more about this burgeoning field, working with NFL players — and his key learnings and advice from his time in the industry.
For the full interview, watch our LinkedIn Live, Building a Career in Fashion with Kyle Smith.
What drew you to working in fashion?
Fashion is a mirror of culture and a mirror of the world and it felt like a way I could pursue all my interests together. It has brought me to crazy heights.
I specifically remember one moment in 2007 when I was reading Teen Vogue. There was a Burberry Prorsum ad with Eddie Redmayne and [I thought], “Oh my god, I need this coat! This ad is so cool.” I remember my dad looking over my shoulder and going, “Oh, I used to wear Burberry before you were born […].”
It was one of the first times I connected with my dad on something and thought maybe it was a career that wouldn’t make me a family outcast. Maybe my family would be proud of me if I worked in fashion. I knew at that moment I was going to work in the industry.
How did your degree in Art History set you up for your career?
I studied Art History for the same reason I love fashion: art reflects culture and fashion is art. If you look at Art History, you can dissect culture and through it, determine trends. At school, I looked at how politics affects fashion — specifically how the revolutions in the Middle East during the Arab Spring affected fashion trends.
[…] How do you prove something is meaningful when it’s just about the impact of a vibe and something that is going on in culture? Spoiler alert: this skill is a huge part of how I got my current job.
Your network is a big part of landing any job.
Finding those skills — be it at school or outside — is what matters most. I found I was able to challenge myself and learn skills at school I could take elsewhere. If you’re not studying, you need to ask yourself how you are learning skills. Going to school can compact skill-building into a few years.
How did you land your internships with Karla Welch and Amiri?
I saw on Instagram that Karla was looking for interns and really put myself out there when applying. I had a portfolio and resumé prepared to send to her and knew I had to stay on top of it.
Your network is a big part of landing any job and I reached out to anybody who could get a word in for me. I wasn’t looking for someone in her network to give me the job, I just wanted to get in front of her.
[…] [At Amiri,] I got insight into what it’s like to work on the other side of [press] requests. Understanding the impact of fulfilling requests for clients is key for a brand. It was also the beginning of me seeing that people other than the Beyoncés of the world were getting sent products — including athletes.
What do you believe made you stand out from other applicants?
Attention to detail is super important. I now get tonnes of applications for interns and assistants. […] If I see a misspelt word, I immediately toss the application out. If you can’t take the time to spell something correctly while emailing me, what other mistakes will you make?
To stand out, try to have good work. It need not be the best — particularly when you’re starting out — but find a way to show that you really care. Especially in the world of styling, where everything is about intention and showing that you are ready to work.
What were some of your key learnings when you started out?
[Notice] everything and make sure you’re doing it right the first time. It sounds hard and daunting, but so is styling.
Be prepared. Unless you feel like you’re being extra, you’re not doing enough. Whether on set at a shoot, or at a fitting, one day the client will ask you something a less-prepared stylist wouldn’t be able to do. Because you’re prepared, you’ll pull it off and will be asked to come back — something [which is] so key.
Write everything down. And I mean physically write it down. You won’t forget it.
Be kind to everyone. Be a good person, ask questions and be somebody others want to be around. People will remember you are a genuine person which will take you very far in the industry.
What creative career opportunities do you see emerging in the evolving intersection of fashion and sport?
These worlds are merging now more than ever. These two huge industries are giving way to hybrid roles — and career opportunities will keep on growing. It’s like the Wild West!
Be kind to everyone. Be a good person, ask questions and be somebody others want to be around.
At the NFL, I’m there to tell the story of the players. Fashion is a great way to highlight the wonderful stories each of the players has. I think about the opportunities to highlight the players outside of the field — and really shine a light on what’s important to them and the journey they’ve been on.
I’m really excited about the increased attention on this space. I do think the stories of the athletes are very important and uplifting and inspiring. […] I think it allows an athlete to break out of the box we all put them in of being just athletes. It’s interesting to see what they do with their extra time.
How do you maintain your network and manage your relationships with press or PR agencies?
It’s important to maintain relationships and to strengthen them — because it pays off. Relationships allow you to become closer to a brand — and in those moments when you need 20 leather jackets sent to LA overnight, you won’t be stuck. Always make the effort to get drinks or get dinner with your connections — even if you may be a little tired.
[…] Be kind and maintain both your professional and personal relationships. If you’re not actively checking in, be sure that everyone you know thinks of you fondly. If we just worked on a fun project, you’re getting flowers or chocolates from me.
What are you excited about for the growing intersection of fashion and sports?
Athletes are the real influencers in 2025. The influencer bubble is bursting, but with athletes there is so much authenticity. They are who they are and are not willing to compromise on that. Fashion can tap into that authenticity.
I hope within the coming years that athletes are given all the opportunities celebrities have with red carpets and seating and gifting. Finding stories that align these large and small brands with the players in the league will give lots of collaboration — and I’m so happy to be a small vehicle for it.
Disclaimer: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
