Dylan Harper Plays With Texture in Spiked Louboutin Loafers and Jacquard Suit at NBA Draft 2025

Dylan Harper arrived at Barclays Center on Wednesday for Day One of the 2025 NBA Draft in a look steeped in black-on-black texture and sharp, formal codes.

The Rutgers combo guard wore Christian Louboutin’s Dandelion Spikes loafers in black veau velours, a slip-on lined with tonal studs across the exterior. The silhouette featured an almond toe, grosgrain trim and a low vamp, all anchored by the house’s signature lacquered red outsole, which peeked from beneath tailored hems.

The 19-year-old matched the statement loafers with Versace’s single-breasted blazer and trousers in Barocco jacquard — a dense, raised paisley woven into a structured black base. A flash of red satin lining was visible as Harper opened the jacket on the carpet, grounding the tonal look with a black dress shirt and slim black tie.

Though formal in structure, the look leaned tactile, part of a growing red carpet shift toward menswear with edge. Fellow prospect Tre Johnson also bypassed sneakers, pairing Dr. Martens loafers with a tailored shorts suit and stacked socks — a prep-coded silhouette filtered through directional footwear.

Louboutin’s Dandelion Spikes, a longtime fixture in the brand’s men’s collection, continue to find red carpet traction for their mix of sleekness and attitude. Originally launched in the early 2010s, the slip-on has seen seasonal updates in velvet, patent and suede — though this classic black version remains a favorite for statement dressing.

Harper’s choice aligns with a broader shift toward slim, sculptural loafers on red carpets this week. A day earlier, Victor Wembanyama paired black patent Louis Vuitton loafers with cargos at the brand’s menswear show in Paris. Elsewhere, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali have leaned into minimalist styles, from Margiela Tabis to low-profile tassel loafers — signaling a move away from bulky footwear in favor of sharper, more tailored shoe silhouettes.

The 2025 NBA Draft, held June 25–26 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, marks the league’s 79th edition and second year in a split-format layout. Harper, projected to go second overall to the San Antonio Spurs, joins a high-visibility prospect class that includes Tre Johnson, Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey, among others.