Over the last few years, Jonah Hill has become streetwearās (and to a certain extent, the skate world’s) undisputed celebrity sweetheart. With the release of Mid-90āsĀ last year and Jonah’s subsequent press run, his style and influence have even gained traction outside the subculture he’s been so popular in over the last few years. GQ Style’s heralded him as a āFashion Saviorā, Esquire called his approach to street style “perfect”, and Garage Magazine’s mentioned him as a part of streetwear’s “Pussy Posse” (shout out Leonardo DiCaprio, let StockX get you outta those Allbirds). Jonah’s journey to becoming a streetwear sweetheart started with a single tweet by popular fashion twitter account Four Pins back in 2015. The tweet featured a picture of Jonah wearing a Carhartt Jacket over a hoodie. And so started the fit watch to end all fit watches.
Like anyone, Jonah’s style has evolved since 2015, but one thing that’s stayed relatively constant is the influence skateboarding has had on his style. Jonah is well documented as a fan of skateboarding, even though he himself maintains that he’s not very good. His love for the style often exhibited by skateboarders shines brightest through his wearing of popular London skate brand, Palace. First photographed wearing the brand in 2015, Jonah would soon come to represent the brand in numerous settings as he developed a relationship with brand owner and founder Lev Tanju. Below is a (relatively) brief timeline of Jonah Hill’s documented history with the brand.
Jonah Hill hangs with Elton John while wearing Palace
The oldest photos on the internet of Jonah Hill wearing Palace are presented via a screenshot of his appearance in an OG Palace P hat. In March of 2015, Hill shared a picture of him and Elton John on his twitter with the caption “#breaktheinternet” in reference to Kim Kardashian’s Paper Magazine cover. Jonah must have been really been feeling this hat because he would be photographed in it again later that week, walking down the street with his then girlfriend.
Jonah wears Palace on SNL
Jonah’s first broadcasted endorsement of the brand came during his appearance on Saturday Night Live in March of 2016. He can be seen wearing a red, blue, and yellow P-3 Tee as he makes a transition to the musical guest of the night, Future. Throughout the night and in the picture, Hill can be seen carrying and sipping on a doubled up styrofoam cup, a fitting accessory considering the night’s musical guest. While Jonah’s style and support of the skate community was being consistently documented by niche fashion and skateboarding communities, this was the first time that Jonah’s new interests would be declared to a larger, broader audience. Peep the video above to check out Jonah’s Palace shirt as well as Future performing what is arguably one of the greatest songs of all time.
Jonah appears in Palace x Reebok Collaboration Infomercial
Shortly after his appearance on SNL, Jonah would not only endorse Palace, but actually star in one of their comical adverts.Ā On June 30th, 2016, Jonah was featured in Palace’s summer teaser promo for their Palace Reebok Collaboration. The teaser features Jonah literally endorsing the store, but in an awkward fashion that looks like heās on a green screen. Itās a clear parody of direct celebrity endorsement that many (especially in the streetwear space) see as corny. While the brand had been worn and recognized by others at this point, this teaser marked a level of legitimacy not often achieved in the streetwear space. The ad does an excellent job playing to both Hill and Palace’s strengths, coming off as both funny and just the right amount of edgy.
Jonah Appears in Palace’s New York Store Teaser Trailer
On May 5th, 2017, Palace crossed the pond and opened their first US storefront in NYC. In similar fashion to the above Reebok video, Palace rolled out a promotional spoof that featured streetwearās golden boy yet again.Ā āWe wanted to make something really stupid,ā founder Lev Tanju told Dazed. The spot opens to a chihuahua wearing a Palace collar following what appears to be a gigantic metal snake that seems to have invaded New York. Attention shifts from the chihuahua to the snake as it wanders the city and happens upon a disgruntled Jonah Hill as he yells into his phone. Playing once again on the idea of fake influencers, Jonah is speaking to what is likely his agent about how he doesn’t want to do any more āstupid little skateboard advertisements for fucking stickersā. Ā As Jonah comes face to face with the snake, he drops his phone in fear. Luckily for all the Jonah-heads out there, the snake flies off once it realizes itās been spotted. As itās flying through the city, it morphs into the shape of a Tri-Ferg and eventually starts dancing as the store is announced.Ā
Jonah Appears in Palace Tokyo Teaser Trailer
Jonahās participation in new store launches may become a staple in Palaceās launch process as he appeared in last year’s Tokyo Store ad spot as well. Equally as ridiculous as the other two ads, Jonah can be found in this spot looking for the rest of his body as a severed head. Jonahās involvement in the spoof is not as integral as the previous two but he does relay the final announcement, āCitizens of Tokyo, Palace is here for you.ā In this ad, though you can only see his head, Jonah gives off a much different vibe than in the previous two spoofs. One canāt help but ask if the difference in tone and image delivered in this spot can be attributed to his recent directorial debut. If you were to guess what his dismembered body is wearing somewhere, you canāt help but think itās a full fit of The Row menswear (shout out to Mary Kate and Ashley); a black sweater and black trousers. With the release of Mid-90ās coming only a week before the Palace Tokyo announcement, his participation in an ad for the cult skate brand makes too much sense.
Jonah’s Relationship With The Brand
Beyond what heās done for the brand in terms of promotion, Jonah is a gigantic fan of Palace and good friends with founder, Lev Tanju. Over the last two years, Jonahās been working on his directorial debut, Mid-90ās, an ode to skate culture and growing up in the (you guessed it) Mid-90ās. Jonah loves skateboarding and for someone as funny as he is, it only makes sense that he identifies so closely with a brand like Palace. Recently, Hill was a guest on Failing Upwards, a Barstool fashion podcast (I know, wtf right), where he briefly discussed his relationship with Tanju and went on to explain how he feels about seeing his friends do well.Ā āFor me, if thereās a personal connection to great artists then like, what luck. I know Iām a lucky dude. I am a lucky motherfucker. To me, the best part is like, Iām in school. I get to like, be educated by all these creative people and if I wear them on my body it inspires me to bring that so I can hopefully inspire them.ā
For Jonah, his endorsement and promotion of the brand clearly goes deeper than that of most surface level influencer relationships. Jonah wants to create and he wants to celebrate those who create and do so with authenticity. He truly is the model of what it looks like to āsupport the homiesā.
