Editor’s Note: Welcome to In My Cart, a regular series in which we ask some of the coolest guys we know what they’ve recently acquired, are thinking about buying, or need to buy more of — but for whatever reason don’t have in hand just yet. This week, Rodney McLeod, safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and owner of boutique clothing store Back of House.
Rodney McLeod has deep roots in the DMV. Before entering the NFL, McLeod grew up in the DC-metro area and played football at DeMatha High School in Maryland. He went on to play for University of Virginia and the St. Louis Rams before becoming a starting safety for the Philadelphia Eagles. Outside of his NFL career, McLeod owns Back of House, a menswear shop in DC that offers a range of emerging and established streetwear brands.
“My love for fashion began as a teenager growing up in the DMV wearing the latest and most fashionable local brands such as Shooters, All Days and Bonidacci,” he said. “The DMV sense of style is unique yet noticeable — Back of House launched sharing a similar aesthetic.” Founded in November 2017, Back of House opened in the Pentagon City Mall with a fresh range of brands including Saints of Sins, Gentil Bandit, Rip N Repair and Kollar, among others. To better house its wears, the store is moving to a new location in 2019. But during the move, the store is hosting an “Under Construction” Pop Up Tour in a handful of major cities to release new collections and collaborations.
The pop-up events feature installations by streetwear brands like Glaus Angeles, Society Standard Clothing and Hamid Holloman & Dilo, along with live music and art. After a successful DC pop up in May, the next stop on the “Under Construction” Pop Up Tour is Thursday, June 6 in Philadelphia at Arrive University City. There will be a final event in July before NFL preseason games start in August.
And though McLeod has been on injured reserve since Week 3 of the 2018 season after undergoing MCL-repair surgery, he’s looking forward to the start of the 2019 season (in January the Eagles announced that it reworked McLeod’s contract to keep the defensive back in Philly for the year). “The day I run out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field in front of thousands of Philly fans that bleed green will be surreal, but a moment I have dreamt of all year,” he said.
We recently caught up with McLeod before the Back of House Philly pop up to learn what he’s currently got his eye on. The products — vintage sunglasses, stretch denim, a Japanese backpack — reflect his strong personal style and the dynamic range of clothing carried at his store. But he says it best.
Vintage Sunglasses from Vintage Julz on South Street in Philadelphia
“Sunglasses are accessories that make a minimal outfit look wavy. One thing I love about Julz shop is all his glasses are vintage, and the best part is adding color to the lens.”
Clearweather Cloud Sneaker
“Clearweather is a brand not many people know about, but if you wear a pair out, quickly they become noticeable. The color waves they have are amazing, but most importantly, they are cozy. Comfort is key!”
Ksubi Van Winkle Jeans
“Denim is big — I can buy a pair of jeans any time of the year. As an athlete my body is unproportioned, and Ksubi offers stretch denim that is tapered at the bottom to sit right at the top of a sneaker. Not only is the quality outstanding, but the pocket tag staple they formed is dope.”
Rip N Repair Drop Out Hoodie
“Hoodies are my favorite especially during summer nights and mornings as I’m running errands around the city.”
Pleasures Logo Snapback
“Every man should keep a hat in their closet for that moment when you don’t have the freshest haircut, or simply when you want to add on to your outfit. Pleasures brand speaks for itself and demands a lot of attention.”
Gentil Bandit GB1997 Backpack
“Traveling is a hobby in my household; my fiancé and I love to travel the world. We must travel in style, and I must have a bag to store my essentials. Gentil Bandit is a Japanese brand with amazing quality, with plenty of storage space.”
Hugo Boss Watch
“Whether I’m casually going to the facility for work or hosting a fashion event, I always wear a watch. A subtle accessory piece to add the finishing touches to your fit.”