Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi

Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi

• A.P.C. x Supreme Collection gray thermal top, A.P.C. jeans, Vans canvas sneakers, Polo hat, Louis Vuitton belt, Ursus BAPE by Tetsu “Tet” Nishiyama gold-plated watch, American Apparel underwear, BAPE socks. “I always wear hats in the winter,” says Kid Cudi. “I gotta stay healthy—I can’t always worry about looking fresh.”
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• Louis Vuitton belt and Ursus BAPE by Tetsu “Tet” Nishiyama gold-plated watch.kc104.jpg623242
• “I’m like a walking billboard for BAPE, all day, every day,” says Kid Cudi, who used to work at the brand’s New York store and is seen here wearing their socks.kc105.jpg623253
• “These are American Apparel underwear,” says Kid Cudi. “I stole them from a Smurf in my building.”kc106.jpg623264
• Ralph Lauren plaid shirt, American Apparel T-shirt, A.P.C. jeans, Vans canvas sneakers, Retro Future Super sunglasses.kc201.jpg623275
• “I wear the same jeans every day: A.P.C.s,” says Kid Cudi. “Once I find something I like, I stick with it.”
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• Retrosuperfuture sunglasses.kc204.jpg623297
• Levi’s denim shirt, American Apparel T-shirt, A.P.C. corduroy pants, Vans canvas sneakers, Ursus BAPE by Tetsu “Tet” Nishiyama gold-plated watch.kc301.jpg623308
• “I like simple and classic,” says Kid Cudi. “That’s my thing.”kc302.jpg623319
• “I was never the kid who worked a job and every two weeks got a check for $150 and spent it on $135 shoes,” says Kid Cudi. “It’s important to spend within your means.”
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• “In high school, I was Phat Farm–ed out,” says Kid Cudi. “I didn’t start wearing narrow-fitting clothes till after college.”kc305.jpg6233311
• Kid Cudi has held jobs at American Apparel and BAPE; both brands are repped in this outfit (the tee and watch, respectively). The cords are from A.P.C.kc306.jpg6233412
• Says Kid Cudi, “I don’t walk—I glide, like butter. Float like a vampire. I’m like Antonio Banderas, but smoother. He wishes he were like me.”kc307.jpg6233513
• “I don’t ever really explain my tattoos,” says Cudi, who hasn’t gotten one since he was 20 and is even thinking of having a few removed.kc308.jpg6233614
• Nike Sportswear hoodie, American Apparel T-shirt, A.P.C. jeans, Cleveland Indians hat, Vans canvas sneakers.
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• “I don’t do neon, but this was too fresh to pass up,” says Kid Cudi of this neon-accented Nike Sportswear hoodie.
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• “I don’t know high-end designers and shit,” says Kid Cudi. “That’s not my world.”kc406.jpg6233917
• Kid Cudi cover outtake.kc-cover01.jpg6234018
• Kid Cudi cover shot.
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• Kid Cudi opening shot from Time Out New York magazine.kc-cover03.jpg6234220

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A.P.C. x Supreme Collection gray thermal top, A.P.C. jeans, Vans canvas sneakers, Polo hat, Louis Vuitton belt, Ursus BAPE by Tetsu “Tet” Nishiyama gold-plated watch, American Apparel underwear, BAPE socks. “I always wear hats in the winter,” says Kid Cudi. “I gotta stay healthy—I can’t always worry about looking fresh.”

Photographs by Lizz Kuehl

Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, 26, musician, actor and star of HBO’s new fashion-world dramedy How to Make It in America; Tribeca

His style: “Simple and classic.”

His inspirations: “I always took [style tips] from my older brother and sister, who wore simple, classic things. But I still layered a lot, and in high school, I was a young young’un, all Phat Farmed–out, wearing Sean John, Ecko, Rocawear and Akademiks. I felt like I needed to buy what was cool, instead of just wearing comfortable shit. Now I feel like my personality is this character, and when you watch a cartoon show, the characters aren’t changing their outfit every 15 seconds. That’s why I wear the same jeans every day.”

Favorite local stores: “BAPE, A.P.C. and American Apparel, though I think I’m gonna pass on [AA’s meggings]. I never want to be with my girl and have trouble figuring out whose leggings are whose. I like What Goes Around Comes Around for old concert tees. Oh man, I got this Sgt. Pepper cartoon Beatles shirt there; it was, like, $300. I didn’t even know how much it cost—I thought it was gonna be, like, $80 at most—till I got to the register and was like, Oh mah gawd! Good Lord. But it’s classic vintage rock, you know? I also love Opening Ceremony—I bought five adult-sized Max costumes from Where the Wild Things Are there. I’m trying to do a denim collaboration with A.P.C., but I haven’t reached that yet. Hopefully they’ll read this and they’re down. Hint, hint, wink, wink, chop, chop.”

Biggest splurge: “I never look at the price; I just look for comfort. Of course, the more it costs, the more comfortable it gets.”

Favorite designers: “I love what [Tomoaki] ‘Nigo’ [Nagao] does with BAPE (bape.com), and what KAWS is doing for Original Fake (original-fake.com). I hated suits until I wore a Calvin Klein; they just fit me. But I don’t know high-end designers and shit; that’s not my world. I dabble though. I like Louis Vuitton accessories, but I’d never wear their clothes. No offense, it’s just not my steeze.”

On launching his own line: “Never. I’m a fan of fashion; I want to be the consumer. I know it’s cliché for artists to have their own brand and shit, but that’s too much stress. No colognes, no perfumes, and if I did, it’d probably be, like, eau de Egyptian musk.”

On sneakers: “I’m into them, but I don’t collect. Hell no, I’d never sleep outside the Nike store. For some shoes?!? I like to get one pair of shoes and wear them till they’re dirty. Besides, I don’t walk—I glide, like butter. Float like a vampire. I’m like Louis Vuitton, but smoother. He wishes he were like me.”

On his HBO character: “His style is just like mine—very fly-casual, a lot of earth tones, nothing too flashy. I even wear my own jeans the whole season!”

On New York style: “Here, people’s style is expressed more through their personality than what’s in at the time. You see all different styles in New York, and that’s what made me want to stay here. I experienced more in the first six years I was here than I did the whole time I was in Cleveland. It’s cool.”