Teddy Swims Reaches ‘Icon’ Status in New Timberland Campaign: ‘That’s All I Ever Wanted to Be’

Teddy Swims can still remember being 12 years old when he got his first pair of Timberland boots. While the outerwear brand’s Yellow Boot has continued to top style charts for fashion-forward utility wear, for the 31-year-old singer, the shoes were simply a sturdy pair of work boots that helped him score some extra cash as a kid.

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“My stepdad at the time was like, ‘Well, if you’re going to get some money, I’ll give you $10 an hour, you’re going to work 10 hours every day, and then you can go spend your own money,'” Swims recalls in an interview with Billboard . “He bought me a pair of boots, and I was out there rolling sod on a football field.”

In a full-circle moment, “The Door” singer now joins Timberland’s Iconic campaign , which launched Thursday (Sept. 12) and continues celebrating the classic Yellow Boot while spotlighting a mix of original and authentic creatives, including Naomi Campbell, Slawn and Kai-Isaiah Jamal.

Timberland Premium Waterproof Boot

Made from premium leather, Timberland’s boots will help carry your feet in comfort throughout the day using a rubber sole and waterproof material. The lace-up design makes it easy to adjust to your preferences while the anti-fatigue insole can easily be removed to customize the shoes to your liking.

You can still find Swims wearing a pair of Yellow Boots, which he finds look best with a “pair of daisy dukes” (otherwise known as jean shorts ).

Men's Denim Short

Score these luxurious denim shorts from Timberland for just $40 and enjoy the feel of 98% organically grown cotton in addition to a five-pocket construction to help carry your wallet, keys and other small essentials. It’s also made with a longer length that’ll hit just below the knee.

Levi's Men's 405 Standard Fit Shorts

Combine classics in a pair of bestselling Levi’s denim shorts that come with a soft cotton mix material that has a hint of shoppers. Some Amazon shoppers love the style so much that they’ve been “wearing this style for years” — and as an added bonus, the shorts are 60% off.

2024 has been an ultra-successful year for the R&B singer, who scored his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his soulful single “Lose Control,” which has managed to remain on the chart for 56 weeks. The artist keeps winning , being labeled by Timberland as “Iconic,” which he says is “all I ever wanted to be.”

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How does one know they’re an icon? Besides being the face of a major campaign, Swims believes you have to reach Halloween costume status.

“I have a dear friend of mine that I went to middle school with and he said the definition of Iconic is when somebody can dress as you for Halloween and you could be noticeable,” he says. “For my entire life then on, I was like, ‘How can I be somebody that somebody could dress as for Halloween?’ They’ll know, ‘Oh, sh–, that’s Teddy Swims!'”

And according to the artist, it finally happened to him a few years ago when his tour manager’s little cousin dressed as him for Halloween.

“I was like, ‘I’m officially an icon, I did it,'” he adds.

And if you’re wondering how you can pull off a recognizable Teddy Swims costume, he says you simply need a fake beard, fake tattoos and jokes, “Maybe tuck a pillow under your shirt, get a little gut going.”

Keep reading to shop some of our costume picks.

10-Piece Fake Beards

Bring a touch of facial hair to your face in an instant with this 10-pack of fake beards . You’ll receive a mix of beard styles attached to an elastic band in red, black and gray shades.

Yazhiji 36 Sheets Temporary Tattoos Stickers

Complete your Swims costume by decorating your face, arms and legs with temporary tattoos . This pack comes with 36 sheets featuring a range of symbols and pictures you can apply. Each tattoo is waterproof, non-toxic and hypoallergenic and just need to be applied to clean skin for the best results.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard ‘s roundups of the best platform boots , musician cookbooks and music posters .

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