INTERVIEW WITH @CORYJKING

Learn more about the well-known face on Instagram, Cory King (@coryjking), as we ask him about his style, the Instagram community, the fashion industry, and his favorite brands. Make sure to continue below for the complete interview in its entirety.

TH: First off, can we get a quick introduction for the people who may be unfamiliar? Name, age, occupation & hometown?

Cory: What’s going on everyone, I’m Cory, as you probably already know! I’m a 26-year-old entrepreneur with a passion for the culture. I’ve lived all over the U.S. but I am currently residing on the West Coast.

TH: If you could name or classify your personal style in one word what would that be and why?

Cory: Hmm. I guess if I had to pick one word it would be “diverse.” I choose diverse because my personal style is not one certain genre or trend. I straight up wear what I like, I’m not afraid to mix styles and labels together to create something that I think is dope.

TH: Trends come and go, especially in the fashion/streetwear industry. Can you single out a couple current trends that you see floating around that you wish would die?

Cory: Man there are tons of trends that I wish would die. I think one of my least favorite trends right now are dad hats…you know the ones. Small strap back hats with an over curved brim…I really hate those. Also joggers. Go through my page, I don’t own one pair of joggers. I guess when they are sweats like the John Elliot Escobars that’s okay...but joggers man. Leave those in 2015.

TH: Anyone looking at your Instagram page has to be instantly inspired by the looks and photography that is featured. How has the response been from your followers and comments that are left on a daily basis?

Cory: Thanks I appreciate that. I don’t think of myself as inspiring by any means. If I inspire just one person only one time, then I have a tremendous sense of pride because I’m just a regular dude posting for the hell of it. But my response is generally great. You know how IG is…sometimes you get people with negative going on. But overall I receive a lot of very positive engagement. I work like 75 hours a week so actually my engagement to followers is low…I’m trying to get better at that!

TH: You seem to have met people face-to-face and actually become friends with individuals you met through Instagram. Who are some of these people and what brought you guys together?

Cory: Oh absolutely, I’ve met countless people from IG.  I met up with Alex Corson (@_acorson) from Portland earlier this year, and I’ve seen him a number of times since. It started just with common interests in shoes and clothing, and I’ve forged a pretty good friendship with him. Hell, my girlfriend and I went to Universal Studios with him and his wife…that’s real life friends right there! A few other cool people I’ve met are Davin and Tyler, owners of Premium Co (@premium_co). I met them through John Geiger in Vegas last year, and I’ve definitely appreciated the view they have given me into the world of garment design. I also can’t forget to mention my dudes Landy (@ldn2hk) and Matt (@multimarz), have had a few good times with them too.

TH: The @Outfitgrid movement is constantly growing and you seem to be a huge advocate of this page. Have you been inspired by other outfits that have been featured on their account?

Cory: I forget why I started doing @outfitgrid to be honest. I don’t remember where I saw it first, but I know it was a pretty small page at the time. Now it’s what, over half a million following? That’s crazy. Shouts to Dennis. But I try to do a grid or two a week. I think it’s a good tool to show your creativity in putting together an outfit. But yeah, I draw inspiration from pretty much anywhere. There are tons of good fits in the #outfitgrid community.

TH: What do you think of the new movement @OutfitToss on Instagram? What do you think makes it different than other pages on Instagram?

Cory: @outfittoss is cool man. I like it because it’s a more close up view of the items. You can capture and show detail way better because the picture is more intimate. Trivia fact…I was the first #outfittoss feature ;)

TH: With how great of a medium Instagram has become within the fashion and sneaker culture, can you name your top 5 style/fashion influencers that you personally look to and follow for daily inspiration on Instagram?

Cory: I don’t know if I can name 5 honestly. I don’t really go looking to one specific place or person to find inspiration. Inspiration can come from anywhere. I don’t try to replicate outfits normally…I’ll see an item I like and think “damn, that would look dope with this pair of shoes or that pair of denim” and I put it together. But that being said, I do have to say I peep Jerry from Fear of God (@jerrylorenzo), Mike from Amiri (@mikeamiri_) and Guillermo Andrade from 424 (@guillermoandrade)’s pages pretty often.

TH: We all have our favorite heavyweight brands out there that we love, but what are some more underground or not as well known names out there that you show love to as well?

Cory: Well, when I first started rocking Fear of God it was definitely not well known. But I can’t say them anymore since…well you know. But my favorite lesser known brand that is on the come up is 424 on Fairfax…they have one of the dopest collections I’ve ever seen. I was privileged enough to get some of their stuff pre release… so dope man.

TH: What would you say is the key to having a great personal style?

Cory: I laughed when I read “the key”. Shouts to DJ Khaled and Lion. But I am an advocate of ‘wear what you like’. Don’t be afraid to mix and match, to wear all black, or to mismatch colors. Try different stuff. Don’t let someone tell you what is dope…have your own sense of what’s poppin'.

TH: Besides fashion and sneakers what would you say is your biggest guilty pleasure?

Cory: Easy, In N’ Out Burger. If you follow me, you see that posted periodically. It’s the best. Hands down. No competition. 

TH: There are always staple pieces that are go-to items on the daily, whether it is in fashion or sneakers. What would you say are your personal staple items both clothing and sneaker wise that you always gravitate back to regardless of current trends and looks?

Cory: I rock a lot of very basic, black staple pieces. My black Fear of God bomber is my go to. It’s a good silhouette, just plain black with silver zippers so it’s nothing flashy. But I wear that 80% of the time that I wear a jacket. I also wear a crewneck sweatshirt form 424 on Fairfax a lot…I wore it like 4 straight days over Thanksgiving. On the sneaker side, lately I wear the black Ultra Boost’s as daily’s. But you can also never go wrong with a pair of Jordan 3s.

TH: Any last words of wisdom or advice for the people out there?

Cory: Do your own thing. Find inspiration from anywhere you can. Find what you like, and make that your style. I guess what I’m trying to say is always keep an open mind. That’s the key (Khaled voice).

TH: Where can everyone find and follow you on social media?

Cory: Easy, @coryjking on all platforms. Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.