Jay Ellis Reveals the '90s Trend He'd Love to See Come Back — and the Emotional Connection He Has to It

The 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor released his nostalgia-filled memoir 'Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)?' on July 30

With so many '90s trends resurfacing, Jay Ellis, 42, has a specific one he wishes would make a comeback: "Graffiti denim on denim."

The actor opened up about his much-missed fashion look during a conversation with former costar and friend Issa Rae presented by Malik Books. All was in celebration of Ellis' new memoir, Did Everybody Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)?, out now.

PEOPLE attended the event, which was held at the Miracle Theater in Inglewood, Calif. on Aug. 13.

Speaking about the trend, Ellis shared a sweet memory that explained why he was feeling so nostalgic. "I [can] never forget my aunt — being in Sacramento, California spending the summer with my grandparents — and my aunt got me this matching jacket and pants and she graffitied it for me and I wore it until it was so tight because it was just the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life," he recalled. "So I will say that's [what I'd bring back]."

Related: Insecure's Jay Ellis Stapled His Hand to ‘Profess My Love’ to Third Grade Teacher: ‘My First Heartbreak’ (Exclusive)

Also on the roster of things to bring? '80s and '90s R&B.

Sure, Ellis conceded that "there's some amazing music out there." But he admits to missing songs such as Mint Condition's "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)," Tevin Campbell's "Can We Talk", New Edition's "If It Isn't Love," and more — all of which played a huge role in his life, as chronicled in his memoir.

Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me?) is a lighthearted, albeit poignant trip down memory lane in which Ellis opens up about his childhood imaginary friend Mikey — whom he joked looked like a cross between Dwayne Wayne from A Different World and Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

"[This] is my story, the story I’ve been wanting to tell for a long time without even knowing it," Ellis previously told PEOPLE. "I hope it finds readers who can relate, whether their guiding inner voice was an imaginary friend or not."

And while there is freedom in telling his story, the notion of having an imaginary friend can be quite peculiar to some. Asked by Rae on Tuesday how he knew he wasn't "crazy," Ellis rationalized by explaining that as kids, we don't have a limited way of thinking as we sometimes do as adults.

"You have to think of it in the context of a kid, right? Because anything is possible in the child's mind," he said, during their conversation.

Related: Insecure's Jay Ellis Is Both ‘Terrified’ and 'Excited’ About Baby No. 2: 'Chaos All Over Again’ (Exclusive)

"That's the thing, I talk about this in the book, we don't understand the normalities of the world or the world that we live in, we are experiencing it all brand new for the first time," he added. "And so I think that my childhood mind was allowed to wander and kind of create whatever it wanted."

He continued, "It was called out, at a certain point, but I don't think it's until it was called out — but then I was also starting to grow up a little bit or the world started to become more real — where I realized, 'Oh, it's just me.' "

Still, having his imaginary friend Mikey has made Ellis a more thoughtful parent. Now a father of two, the actor — who shares Nora Grace, 4, and Noa Gray, 1 month, with wife Nina Senicar — revealed he's passed on his overactive imagination to his toddler daughter.

"My daughter actually has an imaginary friend named Jack, and she has 20 imaginary cousins," he joked. "She does not know all of their names, but if you ask her how many, she's like, 'Oh, 20.' "

As for how they're managing their "full house," Ellis said they've embraced their daughter's pal. "We just lean into it and let her have her imaginary friend."

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Ellis first came scene playing Bryce "Blue" Westbrook on the BET show The Game. In 2022, he starred in the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick alongside Tom Cruise.

Fans would also recognize him as Lawrence, the boyfriend to Rae's character on HBO’s Insecure. Ellis was awarded the NAACP Image Award for that role.

His 2024 projects include the thriller and comedy film Freaky Tales, which also stars Pedro Pascal.

Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? was released on July 30 and is available for purchase now.

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