Look closely at A$AP Rocky’s carefully curated wardrobe during his three-week trial—which ended on Tuesday, when a Los Angeles jury found the rapper-designer not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm—and you’ll notice a thread of brand-loyal continuity. Amid the steady parade of elegant Saint Laurent suits and strong-shouldered Gucci overcoats, Rocky shielded his eyes from paparazzi flashbulbs outside the courthouse in a rotating selection of sunglasses by Ray-Ban.
Today, just three days after his acquittal, the eyewear brand announced A$AP Rocky as its first-ever creative director, with a special focus on its music-centric subdivision, Ray-Ban Studios.
“I’ve always admired Ray-Ban’s ability to stay true to its roots while constantly evolving,” Rocky said in a press release. “I’m excited to be part of the strong heritage and develop the next chapter for an iconic brand like Ray-Ban.”
In the same press release, Ray-Ban included eight paparazzi photos of Rocky arriving at the LA courthouse during this month’s trial. The portfolio showcases a range of their product offerings, from wire-rimmed eyeglasses to their classic Wayfarers.
While Rocky’s court wardrobe appeared to align with a number of his current business dealings—this Ray-Ban partnership included—his longtime stylist Matthew Henson maintained that the gravity of the trial was their primary consideration.
“This was not a stunt, this was not a flex,” Henson told GQ this week. (It’s easy to see why one might assume so; in 2023, Rocky posed for faux-candid paparazzi shoots that became a meta-style ad campaign for the luxury label Bottega Veneta.) “As much as our industry is a huge business and there’s so much planning, this was not one of those moments,” said Henson. “You see Rocky at Fashion Week, it’s a bit different. But this was real life.”
