FNAA Style Influencer of the Year Storm Reid Talks Fashion, Her Extensive Shoe Collection & What’s Next After the Actor’s Strike
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On Nov. 29, Storm Reid will be honored with the Style Influencer of the Year award at the 37th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Nov. 27 print issue on the rising Hollywood star’s impact on fashion.
Actress Storm Reid is undoubtedly one of Gen Z’s best trendsetters.
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The 20-year-old star of “Euphoria” and “Missing,” who was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the HBO series “The Last of Us,” has created countless noteworthy red-carpet moments, all while serving as a New Balance brand ambassador since October 2021.
In August, the athletic brand and “The Nun II” star took their relationship to the next level with the launch of her first signature shoe: the New Balance x Storm Reid CT302. The unisex sneaker, which featured a mixed-material upper and custom branded details, was inspired by the actress’s hometown of Atlanta and fashion trends that were popular there in the early 2000s.
Reid, who happens to be an avid sneaker fan, told FN in an exclusive interview earlier this year that the process of creating her first shoe with New Balance was “surreal” and she feels “blessed” to be a part of the company’s family.
Jordan Johnson, product manager of energy and collaborations manager at New Balance, called Reid a “voice” of a new generation. “She helps to lead the charge of individual style, from her streetwear to glam looks,” said Johnson, who was a lead on Reid’s shoe collab. “With her billowing confidence, Storm is sure to be a style icon for years to come.”
Though she has been acting for more than a decade, Reid’s breakout moment came in 2018 with her star turn in “A Wrinkle in Time.” She has since become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young talents, while also pursuing a degree in the dramatic arts at the University of Southern California.
Reid, who often works with stylist Jason Bolden, is known for her unique fashion sense. She’s often seen gracing red carpets in statement-making looks from designers like Jonathan Simkhai, Prada, Moschino and Acne Studios, with shoes from Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Schutz and Coach.
Earlier this month, FN caught up with Reid to talk about her approach to fashion, including some of her favorite looks, how many shoes she owns and the future of her New Balance partnership.
What have been some of your favorite looks this past year?
“One of my favorite looks this year was a yellow dress I wore on the ‘Today’ show earlier this year while on the ‘Missing’ press tour. I felt like a bright ray of sunshine. I also love the Prada look I wore to ‘The Last of Us’ premiere.”
Do you have anyone you consider to be a fashion icon — or someone you draw inspiration from when it comes to your personal style?
“I would definitely say Zendaya is my fashion icon, for sure.”
What’s your process like while working with your stylist, Jason Bolden?
“I love Jason. I’ve been working with him since I was 13 years old. I’m 20 now, so he is one person who has been on my team the longest. He has a good sense of what I’m comfortable in, what I like, what I don’t like. Sometimes I send him pictures or he’ll send me pictures of a mood or vibe, but sometimes we go into it not having any expectations and we just play around with different styles. So, it is very collaborative, and we always make sure we’re having a great time.”
Which one of the character’s you’ve played had the best style?
“I haven’t had a role thus far where my character has been a ‘fashionista.’ But I do appreciate the artistry that went into my look on ‘The Last of Us.’ The attention to detail of my character’s outfit, even though she only wears one outfit in the episode, was amazing. You could see the comparisons of what I wore to what Riley wore in the video game. I really appreciated that.”
What trend would you want to bring back?
“We are in a space right now where people are repurposing a lot of old fashion trends and I love that. I love all the Y2K fashion and I’ve been behind baggy denim. I think people are bringing that trend back really well.”
What’s your go-to look when you’re off duty?
“Being a college student, I always like to wear something comfortable, but still try to be cute. I will grab some sweats or throw on a pair of jeans and a graphic T-shirt along with some cool sneakers and call it day. As long as my shoes look good, that’s all I care about.”
Speaking of shoes, you’ve previously mentioned your extensive sneaker collection. How many do you think you have?
“I just love shoes, especially sneakers. Before I became a New Balance partner, I had about 60 pairs of shoes. But now that I’m with the brand, I have added over 100 pairs of New Balances. Overall, I’d say I have about 170 pairs of shoes, give or take.”
What’s it been like collaborating with the brand?
“I love being a part of New Balance because they are always so many new ideas that they are bringing to the table in terms of projects or collabs. And I love wearing items that they’ve made with my peers, like Jaden Smith, Salehe Bembury, Coco Gauff and everyone that’s a part of the brand.
Anything new in the works together?
“We do have some exciting plans to continue designing another shoe in the future and maybe some apparel. I can’t give too much away, but there are some exciting things in the pipeline.”
Other than New Balance, what are your favorite shoes to wear?
“When I’m on my own time, I like to wear Uggs or Crocs, because comfort is key for me. I also love to experiment with new heels. Prada has a great pair of heels that are my staple. They’re just a simple pair of 6-inch black heels with an ankle strap. I also love wearing chunky or smaller heels and shoes with pops of color. I like to experiment when it comes to dressier shoes.”
How do you juggle your career in entertainment with college?
“Furthering my education and my career are equally as important to me so I make both a priority. it really all comes down to scheduling and making sure I am in constant communication with my support system. it does get challenging at times, but I have to remember to give myself grace because I am doing a lot.”
What has been your experience with blending and managing the two worlds?
“I say all the time attending USC was probably the best decision I could’ve made for myself it has allowed me to connect with so many amazing people and experience things. I will never forget it is important to me to have a work life balance, and I think both inform each other so I suck up all my time on campus as well as when I’m on set.”
How are you feeling now that the actor’s strike is over?
“I’m excited about getting back to work. Of course, a lot of people were affected by the strike, so I’m excited for everyone to continue to do what they love while also being compensated and treated correctly. I’m also looking forward to seeing what the first quarter of 2024 has in store because I think a lot of people have spent this time coming up with new ideas and trying to stay productive. Now that we can get back into our creative processes, I can’t wait to see what everybody has in store for the industry.”
What was it like seeing “The Nun II” released in September without being about to promote it? And what has been the reaction from fans?
“Obviously, it was really hard not to talk about my projects during the strike. I would go live on social media and people would ask about it and I couldn’t say much. But people have enjoyed the movie, from the feedback I’ve gotten. And now that it’s coming to streaming services, I’ve been getting more good sentiments every day.”
Any film or TV projects coming up that you can tease?
“I have some producing projects coming up and I’ve sold some projects with a lot of things in development that I’m very excited about. But it’s too soon to share.”
For 37 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2023 event is supported by sponsors Authentic Brands Group, Birdies, Caleres, Crocs, FDRA, Nordstrom, Saucony and Vibram.
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