Image via Complex Original
11.
Drake's Nike ties are strong. That much is true. The rapper's longtime affiliation with the Swoosh (albeit a very brief stint away) has resulted in a handful of projects with his black and gold OVO imprint, screamable lyrics in verses, and even a full music video for a lead single shot on the brand's massive campus in Beaverton, Oregon. In December, the Drake x Nike partnership introduced arguably its biggest project to date, the NOCTA sub-label of sportswear. Drenched in black and yellow and named as a nod to Drake's nocturnal habits, the line has held two separate drops up to this point with a third on the way in February.
The rapper said in the official press release announcing the sub-label that, "NOCTA is about creating something for people on the move. People who want functional, comfortable fits that are adaptable from one environment to the next." Pieces like puffer jackets, sweatpants, and even gloves peppered with reflective details among the two releases thus far make it clear that this wasn't just a clever tag line either. Drake wanted supporters to have a functional uniform, and that's exactly what was delivered. Long associated with OVO's black and gold, now Drake and his faithful have a new set of colors, black and yellow.
With some great pieces that have hit retail thus far, we decided to sort through our favorites. Check out our personal ranking of the pieces from the "collection for the collective," below.
10.Field Gloves
Price: $70
What Makes it Special: The perfect finishing touch if you are trying to recreate that fit from the "Headlines" video
Football gloves aren't really an everyday accessory for the common man. It is cold in a good portion of the country right now though, and you could re-purpose this as a more stylish alternative to some mittens (albeit at the cost of some warmth probably). Either way, Drake made some football gloves of his own, a nod to his affinity for Europe's roadman culture. There's reflective NOCTA brand etched across the wrist area, which could come in handy on a night trek, but of all of the items that have dropped thus far this one is certainly the least essential. Drizzy and Odell Beckham Jr. are good friends though. Hopefully, OBJ wears these on the field next season when he returns from injury. It would make for a cool moment, and we know Beckham Jr. has a tendency to turn heads with his on-field accessories from time to time.
9.Standard Mock Neck Base Layer
Price: $70
What Makes it Special: The perfect piece if you value function over fashion
It says it in the official name, but this piece isn't even really meant to be seen. This black Dri-Fit base layer is the perfect first step to constructing your next fit before you step out into the freezing temperatures and want that extra bit of warmth. While some items in the NOCTA line have great crossover appeal that provide style and functionality, it's also clear that not every piece set out to do so. At the very least, there is still some yellow NOCTA branding printed on the mock neck that will be peaking out of your coat if you are trying to make it clear you're repping the brand out in the wild.
8.S.S.C Cap
Price: $32
What Makes it Special: Simplicity is key
The dad cap trend may have slowly faded away in recent years in favor of a resurgence of the classic fitted, but there is still a place for the style in your hat rotation. Drake himself isn't usually seen rocking headwear, but when he is it is a classic Nike running cap. This NOCTA version streamlines things even further by removnig the mini Swoosh from the front panel. Instead, branding hits have been placed on each side in the form of a yellow jewel Swoosh and NOCTA lettering. The gym, the grocery store, the cozy "around the house" ensemble. Whatever the use, this cap is a solid choice.
7.Forza Tee
Price: $45
What Makes it Special: NOCTA's take on the classic logo T-shirt
Everyone loves a good T-shirt. No matter what a brand specializes in, there is guaranteed to be the standard logo T-shirt as part of its product offering. NOCTA is no different. If you live in a warmer climate and cannot justify a puffer jacket or hoodie, this graphic T-shirt will still allow you to show your allegiance to The Boy's latest endeavor. Black and white colorways are available. Each features "Forza Nocta," which roughly translates to "force of the night" or "nocturnal force" in Italian, written across the chest with a mini Swoosh printed underneath. Both are fine options, but we recommend the black and yellow colorway. As good as white shirts look, they just will never look as good as they do fresh out of the packaging.
6.Crew Socks
Price: $30
What Makes it Special: A classic with a twist
Who hasn't owned Nike crew socks at some point? They're classic. But if you want something to every so subtley stand out from everyone else when shorts season rolls around, these NOCTA designs are perfect. The tweaks aren't super obvious, but do just enough to set them apart. The NOCTA swords logo and "C.L" initials have been added to the back portion of the ankle, classic printed Swoosh has been replaced with a more premium embroidered variety, and NOCTA is written across the top of the foot. At the end of the day, they are just black and white socks though. They aren't anything too special, but they also act as a super affordable item for anyone who was eager to cop something from Drake's latest Nike collab on a budget. They sit at the middle of the pack.
5.Official Sweatpant
Price: $110
What Makes it Special: Guaranteed to get your money's worth
If 2020's WFH lifestyle taught us anything about our wardrobes, it is that as much as we love a good pair of denim, a reliable pair of sweatpants (or seven) is an absolute necessity. Plenty of people struggled with the conflict of, "Why should I buy myself new clothes if I have nowhere to wear them?" Well, these NOCTA sweatpants, available in black and yellow, are guaranteed to be worn. Minimal branding and zipper pockets that assure you won't experience the dreaded "important item slips out of my sweats" situation are just an added bonus.
4.Official Hooded Sweatshirt
Price: $120
What Makes it Special: That vintage center Swoosh without all the wear and tear
If you are investing in a good pair of sweatpants, you might as well cop a hoodie to match too. The NOCTA hoodie, designed to perfectly match the black and yellow sweatpants if you so choose, is ranked slightly ahead of its counterpart for the extra bit of wearability. You might not always feel like wearing sweatpants out and about, but there are few garments more essential to cold weather outfits than a good quality hoodie. For any vintage heads, you will also surely appreciate the centered mini Swoosh stitched on the chest, a nod to classic Nike sportswear that has been a hot commodity as of late and revived by Drake on some of his recent collabs.
3.Northstar Nylon Track Pant
Price: $100
What Makes it Special: A cozy option that looks just a bit better than classic sweats
If there is one thing guaranteed to stay in steady rotation in Drake's wardrobe, it's a Nike tracksuit. Drake's even said that the uniform look in cities like Toronto, London, and Paris inspired his new sub-label. Obviously, he had to make his own roadman-inspired NOCTA tracksuit. The nylon track pants feature very similar details to the fleece sweats mentioned above, but they're objectively just a bit better. Lined with polyester, you get the comfort and warmth of a pair of sweats with a more stylish outer shell.
2.Northstar Nylon Track Jacket
Price: $135
What Makes it Special: Unique colorblocking that sets it apart from the rest of the NOCTA products
For similar reasons to the sweatpants/hoodie set, the NOCTA track jacket every so slightly gets the nod above the matching pants. It's perfect to wear as part of the full set if you were lucky enough to score both items, but jackets are just a bit easier to add into you rotation. The track jacket's paneling is also the most unique seen across the line with large sections of yellow accenting the mostly black shell as opposed to the minimal piping and logo placement used across the majority of the NOCTA lineup.
1.Sunset Puffer
Price: $400
What Makes it Special: The giant embossed Swoosh stretching across the back
This was an obvious choice. The NOCTA Sunset Puffer is without a doubt the best item that has released from Drake's Nike apparel line thus far. For one, puffer jackets are just a staple of the winter wardrobe. While it admittedly doesn't reinvent the wheel (that's sort of the point though), it's a solid jacket whether you opt for the subtle black or much more vibrant yellow colorway. Like the rest of the NOCTA offerings, branding is kept to a minimum, but what sets this apart from your regular Nike puffer is the giant Swoosh that has been embossed into the back. Insulated with 90% grey goose down and 10% feathers, this isn't just for fashion purposes either. You'll stay toasty. Sure, this also just so happens to be the priciest item, but sometimes it's worth it. This is one of those times.