Travis Kelce’s stylist reveals why Chiefs star performs specific red carpet hand trick
Travis Kelce’s costume stylist Tom Marchitelli revealed the reason behind the tight end’s signature pose in an interview with PEOPLE.
Known for his bold outfit choices and football prowess, Kelce has been a fixture at red carpet events as his popularity extends beyond the walls of the NFL.
From prestigious athletic ceremonies like the ESPYs and NFL Honors to Vanity Fair’s Oscar afterparty and movie premieres, Kelce is known for gracing the red carpet with the same pose.
“When Travis is on the red carpet, he always has his hands centered and he’s rubbing them,” Marchitelli noted. ‘I asked him one day. I’m like, ‘Why are you doing that?’
‘And [Kelce is] like, ‘Well, guys don’t know what to do with their hands. And if you put your hands in the middle like that, it accentuates the cut of the suit,” he recalled the athlete explaining the “ingenious” strategy.
“And now I do it all the time in my fit check videos,” Marchitell continued.
Travis Kelce’s stylist Tom Marchitelli revealed the reason for the tight end’s signature pose
Kelce routinely rubs his hands together when posing for photos on a red carpet
Marchitelli also noted his favorite photo of Kelce wearing one of his pieces.
‘It’s royal blue [suit]. It’s actually my favorite photo I’ve ever seen of him on a red carpet,” he told PEOPLE.
The two first met in 2016 and Marchitelli has since styled Kelce for numerous red carpet events. In the same interview, the designer revealed how their collaboration came about.
“I’m so proud to say Travis slid into my DMs,” Marchitelli stated.
He also recalled how Travis reached out to him after seeing an article of clothing worn by an MLB friend.
“Travis had a very good relationship with one of my baseball clients, Eric Hosmer, who won the World Series that year with the Kansas City Royals. So they were tight,” he recalled.
‘[Hosmer] gave [Kelce] my Instagram and Kelce DMed me,” Marchitelli continued. “I said, ‘Oh, you in KC?’ And he said, ‘No, I’ll be in New York tomorrow. Does that work for you?’ ‘
Coincidentally, Marchitelli was on his way to New Jersey – despite having more than 500 clients in various leagues – when Kelce called.
“So I just went to his hotel the next day. The rest is history,” he says.