Victor Cruz Talks The Success Beyond The Game Campaign, Fashion And Football

Dubbed the best-dressed player in the NFL, it makes sense that HUGO BOSS Fragrances and the NFL would select Victor Cruz as the ambassador for their joint “Success Beyond the Game” campaign. The fashion circuit regular is the campaign’s only ambassador, which is meant to celebrate achievement both on and off the football field. The New York Giants wide receiver dishes on being the face of the campaign, what he’s thinking while he’s playing football, and his favorite Hugo Boss scent.
When did you know you wanted to be a professional football player? When I was around 11 years old and my dad first put me in the sport. I was extremely scared, extremely nervous. For my first ever little league game I scored a 60 yard touchdown and that’s when I knew I wanted to be a football player.
What are you thinking about when you are actually playing the game? I’m thinking about how I’m going to beat the defender across from me each and every play. How I’m going to get in his head, so that I can continue to dominate him throughout the game. Figure out the way to beat him, figure out his tactics against me, and try to combat them with what I do.
You’re known as the best-dressed player in the NFL. How has your personal style developed? It just developed naturally as I began to grow more into fashion, be more enthused about it and wanted to know more about it. That’s how my style has evolved and changed and that’s led me to where I am today and what you see today. I’ve always been a lover of fashion as far back as I can remember.
Who would you say your style icon is? My style icons have to be Johnny Depp, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Pharrell, and Kanye West.
You’re on the front row as a regular at fashion shows; what do you like watching about them? I like watching what trends are forming within these brands. I also gain inspiration for how I like to wear some of my pieces and how I’d wear my clothes, judging off what is coming down the runway. Just knowledge, just seeing how they’re curated, seeing how these elaborate setups and elaborate runway shows are curated for months on end, all to go out and show for 10 minutes or 15 minutes. I think that’s one of the biggest things I like to see out of the shows.
How did it feel to be selected to be an ambassador for New York Fashion Week men’s CFDA? It was amazing. To know and to be recognized by your peers as one of the leaders of fashion in your respective sport and to be named as an ambassador for an entire fashion week I think is truly the highest honor you can receive from a fashion perspective individually. I had a lot of fun. It was a really good time and I’d love to do it over and over again. It was definitely a dream come true.
What was it about the Success Beyond the Game campaign that got you interested in joining it? I think it was just the brand. Hugo Boss is one of the brands that has been around for such a long time and have always held themselves in high regards with the masculine look they’ve had over the years and the longevity they’re created for themselves. To still be relevant now after all these years is truly a testament to their brand. I feel like that goes hand in hand with what I do from a masculine standpoint and strength. I think we share many of the same characteristics.
As per the title of it—success—what have you been most proud of? I think just being able to be here and play in the NFL. Coming from a small town in Patterson, New Jersey, a lot of guys don’t even see their neighboring town. For me to not only be in the NFL, but to be playing at a high level and to be on a team that has won a Superbowl, those are the things that are really a testament of what I’ve done. I think those are my biggest achievements thus far.
Regarding the fragrances, which one is your favorite and why? Boss Bottled Intense because the fragrance lasts such a long time and it’s really a nose grabber. When you walk into the room people just want to know what you’re wearing. They can smell it on you and they really like it.
How does Boss fit into your personal style and grooming routine? It goes hand in hand. I have my spray routine. I do it every day. It’s kind of my life. It’s part of my routine and that’s what I do to get myself going.
Do you wear a fragrance when you’re playing? I spray the morning of game day while I’m getting dressed and heading down to the stadium. I put on some cologne, just to make myself feel good. Whenever I smell the scent of that cologne it makes me feel good, it makes me excited to start my day.
What kind of grooming tips have you picked up working with your shoots and Hugo Boss? Some of the grooming tips are continuing to use moisturizer for my face, even as a man. Guys don’t really want hear they need to use face products and clean their face; it doesn’t come naturally. For me applying moisturizer has really made a difference to my skin and made a difference in the way I feel about myself.
Do you have any treatments you prefer? Absolutely, I definitely treat myself to a massage at least once a week. As you know football isn’t the easiest sport to play. It’s not the easiest on your muscles, so you want to continue to stay on top of your body to make sure you’re ready to go week in and week out.