Features
DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN TALKS SUITS, SKINNY JEANS AND SELF-EXPRESSION
“One fashion trend I’d bring back? People wearing suits more. Whenever I see a grandad, you know, sixty-plus in a suit for no reason, I just find it really cool,” says Dominic Calvert-Lewin, football’s flyest grooming advocate.
It’s a surprisingly sunny day in Manchester and the Everton forward is speaking from the comfort of his living room, a stark contrast to the studio settings and bright lights he has become accustomed to since his rise as a pioneer of men’s self-expression. Having laid out the outfits of choice across his bedroom with each created to compliment a different grooming style, the Sheffield-born baller opts for a two-piece cashmere set for his first look, foreshadowing the style evolution he would later detail.
Though not quite touching his sixty-plus grandad era just yet, the 25-year-old has built a strong reputation for his ability to rock a suit, something many footballers are yet to dare explore. “Other players rocking suits? I don’t think I’ve seen it funnily enough,” he says with a wide smile. “But it’s like anything, if you’re going to put something on, you’ve got to feel comfortable otherwise you’re going to look awkward.”
For most players, the new-found freedom gained from their breakthrough into the professional game opens the doorway to an interest in fashion. For Calvert-Lewin, his journey with self-expression began way before that. “I think I’ve always been interested in fashion,” he admits.
“From when I was a kid, I always liked my school bags to be a little bit different from everybody else. I had these bright-coloured trainers and I always used to wear adidas shell-toes actually, which I always took pride in. So yeah, my interest probably started in my school days.”
“My teenage style?” Calvert-Lewin responds with a grin as the forgotten memories come flooding back. “Skinny jeans. Lots and lots and lots of skinny jeans,” he laughs.
“Oversized t-shirts and Vans too. From my mid-teens to late teens, that was my style really. I didn’t really know much else. I played it quite safe. I’ve not put a pair of skinny jeans on for a long, long time. I’m not sure I’d be able to pull them off now, I think I’d look strange.”
Having ditched the skinny jeans, comfort is now at the heart of Calvert-Lewin’s everyday style. Since gaining the label of a boundary-breaker within men’s fashion for his opinion-dividing outfits in previous magazine covers to his Chanel accessories spotted across Instagram, the Toffees number nine admits his style has constantly evolved since breaking onto the scene.
“I think it’s been something that has happened naturally,” Calvert-Lewin tells me. “As you grow and as you get older, any person in any walk of life, you’re constantly evolving and changing so I think my style, my fashion and what I wear now is different to what I wore even two years ago.”
“It’s funny how I see myself from when I first started doing shoots and things like that and what I’m wearing to what I wear now and how that’s evolved, even from then.”
Calvert-Lewin’s style evolution is not limited to just his clothing choices, though. Since his fresh-faced Blues debut back in 2016, ‘DCL’ as many now call him has since become the first-ever UK ambassador for grooming brand Braun with a paired vision of pushing self-expression and individualism amongst men.
“At first it starts off as you want to grow a beard so you look older,” he explains. “And then when you do grow one, you actually are that little bit older so you’ve got to start taking care of it.”
When people talk about style – in particular athlete style – grooming can often find itself as an overlooked trait with many undervaluing its importance and contribution to an outfit. This is something Calvert-Lewin is keen to change alongside Braun. “I believe grooming is an extension of yourself,” he tells me.
“Depending on how you groom yourself, your haircut and how your beard is trimmed, it can dictate how you feel and can really complete your outfit. There’s no better feeling than getting a fresh trim, a beard shape up and putting on a new outfit. For what that can do for your confidence and how it can make you feel, it’s amazing. For me, when I’m thinking of a fit, my grooming is a huge factor in that process and putting everything together is something I really enjoy.”
“Being free, being who you want to be and dressing how you want to dress is a huge thing and I think it comes over time. The more you edge towards who you want to be by experimenting with fashion and grooming, the more it ends up coming naturally to you. Braun are huge on pushing self-expression and individualism as a man and we share the belief that grooming is a vital part of someone’s sense of style, which was a big reason why it made so much sense to work alongside them.”
As someone without the luxury of being able to grow a beard just yet, I ask Calvert-Lewin for his number one grooming tip for both myself and my fellow beard-growing strugglers for when that long-awaited day finally arrives. “Brush your beard,” he says without any hesitation.
“You need to brush your beard from early. That way, when it gets a little bit longer, it’s really healthy. Once you get it healthy, Braun’s all-in-one trimmer is my go-to for a shape up and if I’m going clean-shaven, then it’s the Braun Series-7. I also use natural argan oil on my beard too.”
Notes taken.
One of the most significant elements of fashion and grooming is the art of self-expression and individualism. Yet, the ability to take inspiration from others is a hugely underrated trait in itself. Whilst it’s evident Calvert-Lewin stands in his own unique lane in the football x fashion scene, I ask who he is inspired by when it comes to curating the style he is now renowned for.
“My fashion influences come from all over the place, to be honest, so it’s dependent on what kind of style it is,” admits Calvert-Lewin. “For streetwear, A$AP Rocky is one of the top ones that probably a lot of people say.”
“When it comes to suits, I draw inspiration from the 1970s really. That’s how I like to wear my suits. Grooming-wise, I’d say David Beckham. He’s aged pretty well, I don’t think you can argue with that so yeah, I’d go with Becks.”
At no fault of his own, the striker has struggled to feature on the pitch as regularly as he would have liked in recent times, battling with multiple different injuries out of his control. In sport and football in particular, it’s often forgotten that no one is more affected by an injury than the athlete in question, both mentally and physically, thus making interests away from the game an escape route. For Calvert-Lewin, fashion and grooming is that escape.
“Self-expression can be an outlet,” he explains. “For all the pressure you can feel in your day-to-day job playing football, it’s nice to be able to express yourself in ways that you don’t perhaps feel like a footballer. At least for me anyway.”
“My self-expression has evolved in different ways. I’m still flamboyant at times but I’ve gone from more flamboyant to not-so-flamboyant. Where I’m going now, less is more for me. I like to be comfortable and be simple with my style and I think that self-expression off the pitch can correlate to confidence on the pitch, definitely.”
For a sport that continues to adopt its outdated and traditional mindset, the rise of football x fashion has come as a surprise to many. From the ‘focus on football’ rhetoric to designer brand ambassador deals for some of the game’s biggest stars and luxury fashion labels launching collaborations with football’s European powerhouses, the relationship between the beautiful game and the fashion industry has never been greater.
I ask Calvert-Lewin what he, a player who has himself heavily contributed to the rise, would put the sudden growth of the niche down to. “There’s a platform now for people to express themselves more with social media,” he explains.
“I think it took a few players to break the barrier which has made it a lot easier for everyone else to express themselves freely and wear what they want to wear. It’s great to see. There are a lot of cool players knocking around these days and it creates a lot of conversation and a lot of interest in what the guys are wearing.”
Interested to know who Calvert-Lewin credits specifically for breaking that barrier, I prompt him for a name. “I think one of the first ones was Heccy B,” he responds, referencing Barcelona right-back Héctor Bellerín who, like Calvert-Lewin, has taken his fair share of criticism for daring to have outside interests.
“He was one of the first to start venturing into the fashion scene, from what I saw. He was the first one I saw walk the catwalk and things like that and then you see Eduardo Camavinga walking for Balenciaga, so I definitely feel as though there are two words colliding at the moment with football and fashion.”
As the relationship between football and fashion grows closer and closer and players feel more comfortable expressing themselves, it’s only natural that their competitiveness would shine through with the discussion for football’s best-dressed continually heating up.
“Best-dressed at Everton?” Calvert-Lewin responds before exhaling as though a life-or-death question has arrived at his doorstep. “Excluding me?” he says smiling. “Excluding you,” I fire back. “I’ll go my boy, Davo!” he says, awarding midfielder and close friend Tom Davies with the prize.
I deliver another tough dressing room question to Calvert-Lewin, this time asking for the one player he would give a style makeover to if presented the opportunity. “I’d probably say Jordan Pickford, you know. His fashion sense is quite rascal,” he laughs once more. “He’d probably say the same about me though, he’d probably say mine is rascal, but he’s quite logo heavy.”
It’s almost impossible to have the opportunity to talk to a Premier League footballer and avoid asking the question surrounding pre-game fits, something many have been pushing for in the game. With Barcelona players rocking their best fits at Camp Nou recently and Crystal Palace pushing players’ pre-training outfits across social media, what was once a pipe dream is fast becoming a reality. Like many players, Calvert-Lewin also wants to see its introduction into the game. “I’ve got to say, I’m a big, big fan of it.”
“I saw AC Milan’s Off-White collaboration and I think it’s been going on in the NBA for a long, long time so it’s probably only a matter of time before it happens. It’s already creeping into football.”
I ask whether the introduction of pre-game fits would provide a new platform for both himself and other players to try new styles each night, both grooming and clothing-wise. “One hundred percent,” Calvert-Lewin says confidently without a second thought.
“I think it’s something that suits me, so I’d quite enjoy that.”
Though fearless in his search for self-expression, Calvert-Lewin remains a far cry from the stereotype placed on many of football’s biggest stars. Throughout our conversation, his focus on comfort and simplicity over logo-heavy pieces and modern-day trends is apparent throughout and when it comes to jewellery, he is no different.
Avoiding tennis chain bracelets and in-your-face diamond necklaces, Calvert-Lewin instead opts for the minimal with anything he wears usually having meaning behind it. “I’m not massive on jewellery but I do wear a butterfly necklace most of the time,” he says whilst holding the butterfly pendant between his finger and thumb.
“This is actually a different one, the first one I ever got was in New York which was quite spontaneous. The butterfly represents the transformation of one thing growing into another and that’s quite symbolic of the last three years of my life, evolving from a young man into an adult, so it’s something I’ve continued wearing.”
Just like his taste in fashion, Calvert-Lewin’s taste in music also bares meaning. “Pre-game, I like to rotate but if I listen to a song getting off the bus and I go and have a good game, I’ll listen to the same song again the following week. I’m a little bit superstitious in that way.”
“Music is a big part of my life. I think music and fashion fall into the same bracket so dependent on what mood I’m in and how I’m feeling depends on what kind of music I’m listening to,” he reveals. “I’ve been listening to Kodak Black hard recently but my rotation can range quite far. Arctic Monkeys, I always dip in and out of them every now and again and a guy called Smino, an American rapper.”
Lastly, with the interview drawing to a close and the afternoon light edging closer to the darkness of a November night, I ask one last thing of Calvert-Lewin, to deliver a message to the youth of today who may lack the confidence to express themselves in a similar fashion as he does. “Nothing is ever as bad as what you think it is,” he begins.
“Everyone is in their own world anyway so you always think people are looking at you perhaps more than they are. So just go and be yourself.”
“I think the more you travel and experience different things from outside of where you’re from, the more you realise how different people are and how people express themselves. That’s something that has helped me.”
“It’s just about embracing who you are and accepting that everybody is different in different ways. For me, wearing suits and experimenting with my hair and beard actually gives me more confidence so I would tell young people to use fashion, grooming and whatever interests them as a platform to feel free and express themselves as an individual without fear of what other people think.”
In Partnership With: Braun
Styled By: Dominic Calvert-Lewin Himself
Shot By: Shane Bain
Grooming By: Jake Wanstall
Amadou Onana lives every single day like it’s his last. Why? Because he knows it truly could be. “Tomorrow, everything could end,” he tells me in the aftermath of our first cover shoot of the year.
“It doesn’t matter how far you’ve made it in football or life, or who you are or where you’ve come from. It’s the same for everyone. Tomorrow, anything could end. You have to live life to the fullest and go after all of your goals.”
The Everton midfielder, who has already played professionally in multiple leagues across Europe before his 23rd birthday, speaks with the maturity and humility of a seasoned pro, though not without the enthusiasm for life of a new kid on the block with the world at his feet.
For Onana, every accomplishment in his short career so far has only been possible due to the sacrifices of the two strongest people in his life: his mother and sister.
Photography by Shane Bain.
“They played a crucial role in my journey to making it as a professional,” he says. “My sister was battling cancer at the same time she helped me get a move to Hoffenheim. To this day, she is my agent. She takes care of everything in my life. Literally everything. From a personal trainer to a chef to a mental coach, whatever I need, she takes care of it. A big shoutout to my sis. She is one of the strongest human beings I know.”
“With my Mum, she did a lot,” Onana adds. “She’s my Queen. She gave up on her life and her dreams for me. She had her own business in Senegal as a physio and gave up on all of that to move to Belgium to make her child’s dream a reality. I could never say ‘thank you’ enough to my Mum.”
Born in Colobane of Dakar, Senegal, Onana’s early life – eleven years to be exact – was spent in West Africa under the roof of a 14-member household. Though originally from Cameroon, Onana’s father lived in Belgium, the place he would first meet Onana’s mother, and therefore Brussels provided the pathway to more opportunities to not only play football but to forge a professional career in the sport.
Despite Belgium’s contribution to his journey in football, Onana’s gratitude for his upbringing in Senegal has never wavered. “Growing up in both Senegal and Belgium gave me different views about life,” he says.
“They are two different countries with two very different cultures. Growing up in Senegal gave me the family values I have now. It humbled me. I’ve been around people who didn’t have much but they lived life with happiness and would help the next person, even when their situation wasn’t the best.”
Photography by Shane Bain.
“With Belgium, I moved there when I was eleven as a young kid. I went to school there, I started my football career there and I think I learned the discipline to make it to the top level during my youth there.”
Onana, by his own admission, is a larger-than-life character. If you’re in a room with him, you will know about it. Not because of his 6’4″ frame, footballer fame or distinctive style choices, but the fearlessness he holds in his self-expression. From dancing to afrobeats to belting out Giveon’s ‘Heartbreak Anniversary’ on set, Onana is never afraid to be himself in any environment, something many athletes are progressively becoming more open to than ever before.
The Belgian believes his travels across the globe have helped shape the person and player he is today. “Growing up around the world was great for me,” he says. “It opened my eyes and my vision for life. I picked up something from every single place I’ve been.”
“In Senegal, I learned family values, creativity and the art of being yourself and doing your own thing. In Belgium, I learned about football, how the industry works and the business side of the game. Going to Germany, the German discipline is just different. You really have to follow the advice you’re given and the steps as they are to succeed.”
Now, England is Onana’s new home. Almost two years on from his switch to Everton from Ligue 1 side Lille, he is one of the Premier League’s hottest prospects with the character to match. Last January, he reportedly turned down interest from Chelsea, refusing to leave the Toffees in the midst of a relegation battle, a decision that would later help keep Everton’s Premier League status intact.
Photography by Shane Bain.
Fast forward to January of this year and once again, Onana’s name is attracting suitors. Reports of interest from both Manchester United and Arsenal are rife and Everton’s troubles with the Premier League continue, including a points deduction for allegedly breaching financial regulations. Despite this, Onana remains at Goodison Park, giving his all in every game as each Evertonian – on the pitch and in the stands – continues to do since the ruling.
“I feel very happy living in England, I’ve been accepted as I am,” he says.
“I’m a loud character and I’m quite different from other people. I think that’s normalised here, which is a great thing for me. In England, I feel like people are very open-minded. You’re accepted no matter who you are, what you come from, what religion you follow and you can be yourself.”
The importance of being yourself is something that regularly features in conversation with Onana. Whether it be from his time in Senegal or forging a career as a young player in the social media era, being unique and standing out from the crowd is a vital part of his life.
“To me, it’s very important. I can’t be anything else but myself,” he reveals.
“That’s how I’ve been raised. Being proud of who I am, what I do and where I came from. In the most humble way, there is no other human being on this planet that is exactly like me. Everyone has different characters and different views on life, so just be yourself, express yourself the way you want to and do things that you actually want to do.”
Photography by Shane Bain.
Away from football, fashion and music act as an outlet for Onana in his hunt for self-expression. If you aren’t aware of the rise of football x fashion in recent years, firstly, where have you been? Secondly, things are only getting bigger so you may need to catch up whilst you still can. Long gone are the days of athletes being required to stick to football. The new generation of players are leading a wave in which they have become the new age fashion icons and with the backing of the youth, their influence over football fans and Gen-Z consumers knows no bounds.
“Everything has evolved,” says Onana. “Back in the day, football players were just seen as football players. Now, people understand we can do a lot more than that. Football doesn’t define us. Football is not who I am, but what I do and what I love. I do loads of other stuff, like singing, modelling and fashion,” Onana reveals. “It makes me happy that everyone is opening up and showing a different side to themselves. I think it’s a great thing for the game.”
“I feel like fashion is a way of expressing myself and that’s the magic thing about it,” Onana explains, more than happy to continue diving into his fashion exploits. “You get to decide what you rock today. I express myself through the way I dress and I dress the way I feel.”
“If I wake up happy, you will see it in the way I dress with loads of colour combinations. If I’m a bit moody, I’ll go dark. It really depends on my mood and that’s what is so special about it. If I feel comfortable in it, I don’t mind wearing anything. I’ve done crazy styles before and as long as I find it fire, I’mma rock it.”
Photography by Shane Bain.
One thing about top-level athletes is that they are competitive by nature, in any and every field they play. When it comes to football and fashion, things are no different. As the niche continues to grow (a rise which saw training fits and pre-game looks introduced across club socials in Europe last season), so do the levels being displayed by each elite-level baller with a love of self-expression. Naturally, debates between players now go further than just on-the-pitch performances with wardrobe wars replacing everyday football discussions and players battling it out to be the best-dressed athletes in sport. Barcelona’s Jules Koundé and Aston Villa’s Kenza Dali were most recently crowned Footballer Fits’ 2023 MVPs, a prize given to the flyest footballers of the year.
For both club and country, Onana has shared dressing rooms with some of the waviest names in the football x fashion world, aside from his own of course. One baller in particular stands out when I quiz him on the best-dressed players he’s played alongside.
“Number one, Mr Michy Batshuayi. That guy is fly! That guy is cold!” Onana says without a second of hesitation.
“I like the way he dresses because it’s different from anyone else. He does his own thing and you can really see that. The way he dresses matches his personality, which I love.”
“Timothy Weah is another. I played with him back in Lille. He brings that American style and he’s one of the coldest I know. I also like Dominic Calvert-Lewin a lot too. Again, he expresses himself differently to most people. Jérémy Doku is a fly baller and he’s my guy! I play with him at Belgium and every time we come to meet up, it’s a competition, I’m not going to lie! People are always trying to look the best and I like it. I could name even more, but I feel like these guys are the flyest I’ve played with.”
Photography by Shane Bain.
Whilst the endless supply of inspiration from other players may be of use to many, Onana’s inspiration comes from far greater means than the Instagram feeds of his peers. “I feel like I inspire myself from everything I see. I look at other athletes, artists, models or my experience travelling the world and coming from Senegal, where people dress in a very loud and colourful way,” he says.
“Then I can go across the globe to America and look at the NFL players for example. I feel like I can dress in any kind of way, I can dress young, I can dress classy and elegant, I can dress crazy and colourful and do it all, rock n’ roll. I don’t really focus on brands. For me, as I said, if it looks good, I don’t care about anything else. I really look at everyone around me for inspiration but then try to do my own thing.”
Fashion is no longer the only route of self-expression players are exploring outside of the game, though. The new-found trend of footballers launching music careers is becoming harder to ignore with each passing day. AC Milan’s Rafael Leão goes by the pseudonym ‘Way 45′ to release his music, Juventus’ Moise Kean recently released his debut track under the group ’19F’ and Memphis Depay has been dropping heat across all streaming platforms in recent years.
Onana’s musical ability is no secret either. From singing videos on his own channels – including his viral cover of Summer Walker’s ‘Session 32’ – to his ability to rap in multiple languages on the same track, the midfielder sees music as another form of expressiveness that football nor fashion can offer. “With music, I can put everything into words,” he says.
“I’m expressing myself with my voice and I can shout about how I feel. It’s different and expressing myself in a way that everyone can understand in comparison to football and fashion.”
Photography by Shane Bain.
Onana is not just jumping on a popular trend either, as his family will attest to. Since early, music has been a part of his life.
“My love for music started young, you know. I’ve always loved listening to music, singing in the house and in the shower so loud that my Mum would bang the door! I started writing my own tracks since I was young too,” he reveals.
“Ten, eleven-years-old, writing little rap songs and that. I never released them and never will because those songs were crap! Nah, I’m just joking, but those songs were very different to the ones I create now. I released the track with you guys and my guy #17 (Alex Iwobi), which was a great track too by the way and I’m planning on releasing more in the future. It’s something that’s really fun for me.”
The process of those tracks can start and end anywhere for Onana. Though many musical talents like to lock in during their time at the studio, Onana, like his fashion sense, sources inspiration from all over. “I feel like I could start writing anywhere,” he says, taking me through his creative process.
“I could be on the coach to an away game and a bar will come in my head. Sometimes I see something and I’m able to write about it there and then. There’s no special place or routine. I just need a beat, my creativity and inspiration and that’s it. I can write from anywhere at any time.”
As things stand, the footballer music scene is yet to have as many participants as the fashion wave, but it continues to grow. Draping yourself in designer clothes and the latest fashion trends across social media is a little easier than being born with musical ability, it must be said. Despite the vast improvement of criticism against players for their outside interests, making and releasing music still has some way to go before it’s fully accepted in the sport. Because of this, some players with genuine talent have kept it far from the eyes and ears of football folklore and traditional media, something Onana wants to change.
“There are some very talented ballers out there who are probably scared to release something because of those who say ‘focus on football’. Of course, football is the main part of my life but it’s what I do, it’s not what I am,” Onana says passionately.
Photography by Shane Bain.
“Football is the most important thing so I’m focused on it but I need other interests and to think about different things when I’m away from the pitch. I think that’s more healthy. The ballers out there with talent, go out there and do your thing. Believe in yourself and just drop it, man. If you enjoy it, do it. We have to thank the likes of Memphis Depay who started the wave, so a big shout out to him and the other players that created a pathway for us to express ourselves.”
Spending time with Onana, it is incredibly hard to believe he is still just 22-years-old. From his understanding of life to his humble nature with everything he says and does, you would be forgiven for thinking he had already been there and done it all. A born leader who is focused on using his voice and his platform to inspire those around him and help those who need it most, Onana strays far from the stereotypes given to footballers.
Whilst becoming the best player he can be is a huge ambition and one he will give everything to reach, he understands life does not revolve around eleven people kicking a ball every Saturday, even when we football supporters feel that it does. Instead, leaving a legacy beyond the walls of a football stadium is at the forefront of his mind.
“I want to break records, I want to win as many trophies as I can, I want to push the barriers and play as many games as I can. I want people to remember me as the football player I am.”
“But more importantly, I want people to remember the person I am. To remember the people I inspired and the charity work I’ve done. I want to help as many people as I can, donate as much as I can and do as much as I can for my people.”
“At the end of the day, that’s what really matters to me, man. Football is great, but there’s a life after it. I want to be remembered for way, way more than just football.”
Producer: Jordan Clarke
Executive Producer: Kieran Clarke
Photography: Shane Bain
Video: Cory Shillingford-Cox
BTS Video: Ellie Wickes
Styling/Creative Direction: Marcus Pancho
Make-up: Corrine Gibbons
Lighting: Aaron Price
Retouching: Adam Lupton
Cover Design: Scott Mcroy
Jewellery: Local Kettle Brothers
Without a doubt, it was an eventful off-season for football. Our favorite ballers have gone from movie-level holiday scenes, all the way into the recent round of international friendlies stateside and beyond. A hectic way to introduce this weekend’s all-new league title race, to say the least, but we’re here for it.
From the Bundesliga to La Liga, the Premier League & Serie A, the top style prospects – some new like the youngbloods on Chelsea’s roster, some veterans – have used this downtime wisely & carried the fashion game on their backs, using any opportunity to showcase their individual styles and character through clothing.
We’ve seen an impressive variety of fits and dress codes, with players cooling off – and loading up – as far as hillside & courtside L.A. to NYC, beachside in Mexico, yacht settings in French Riviera spots, Mykonos & Ibiza, to kicking ball in Asia. There’s no telling how many beige private jet interiors and clearport content we’ve seen from this season…and we’re not mad at it.
Take AC Milan star forward Rafael Leão for example. Just like his on-pitch play – the smooth stepovers, risktaking strikes – he’s recently come into his own style-wise too, developing much more confidence in his creative flair and how he pulls his fits together. He’s already been coming different with the flat caps, jorts and penny loafers. Tuff.
In anticipation of the new pre-game looks this season, we peeped the braziest fits of the past few months to bring you a round-up of the current fashion trends that are here to stay. Fellow ballers, stylists, personal shoppers, boys and girls of the FF community – take notes (or screenshots).
LV To Kenzo: Luxury Brands Still Have Motion
Clearly, Louis Vuitton’s streetwear-luxury reign has been extended with Pharrell’s takeover. More than ever, the brand has a growing pull that keeps players loyal to their designs – even without sponsorship deals. The likes of Jude and Jobe Bellingham, Sancho & Marcus Thuram pulled up kitted out in LV to Skateboy P’s opening SS24 Paris Fashion Week show and did numbers on the ‘Gram and TikTok.
Just like Pharrell, O.G designer and BAPE founder Nigo has brought new eyes to legendary brand Kenzo. The vibrant blend of preppy Parisian vibes with real Japanese formalwear is slowly picking up momentum & motion and saw shots & footage of Leroy Sané and girlfriend Candice Brook in full Kenzo drip at June’s show went viral across socials. It’s no wonder why given the traditional Japanese wrap shirt and wide-leg pleated pants the Bayern Munich winger rocked brought a whole new level of drip to the table, It’s time to see more players taking a chance on Kenzo’s graphic tees, kimono wrap-style blazer jackets and their cold denim pieces going forward.
Now take this in… Jules Koundé’s appearance at both Kenzo & Louis Vuitton’s shows alone made him the third most influential athlete – behind Lebron James and Lewis Hamilton – stacking up almost $1 million in media value* for brands just from online engagement, per lefty.io. Footballers as a whole made up 14% of Fashion Week’s media value. Stats that prove ballers aren’t ditching pieces from the world’s biggest brands just yet.
This season, we’re hoping to see for ballers rock the new camo, “Minecraft style” Damier LV print pieces introduced by Pharrell. Don’t be surprised to see the new “buttery” leather monogram speedy bags and the latest selection of solid leather jackets either, which have already been seen on Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram.
The LV x Kid Super Autumn / Winter ‘24 collection is one to watch too, most notably the easily identifiable patchwork-face outerwear, donned by Chelsea’s Diego Moreira and renowned baller fashion-head Jesse Lingard.
Classy And Elegant Flex
Over the summer, we’ve seen luxurious vacation views and even more luxurious drip from the game’s biggest players. There’s been a clear shift, where ballers are wearing much more formal, understated, and classic fits. Take the classic tailored pants, the linen shirts and even the suede Loro Piana summer walks rocked by Juventus’ Moise Kean for example.
They’ve all been keeping to the unspoken yet strict color scheme too: cool beiges and browns, calm blues and crisp whites. The unshakeable Ousmane Dembélé – now at PSG – and Atlético Madrid’s Memphis Depay are just two ballers doing just that.
This classy theme is heavily inspired by the sweet, city life of fashion hotspots like Milan, Monaco, London and Paris. A life that calls for quality and coolness in all areas. Don’t get it twisted though – there’s no age limit on this trend. Young players like Liverpool’s Stefan Bajčetić have stepped up and made this their own. Check his ‘Gram for proof. At only 18, he’s yet to miss with once in the fashion regard. Designer Martine Rose also had the USWNT looking dapper & chic in their custom pre-game suits at the Women’s World Cup.
The cooler months will call for high thread count cashmere sweaters, flawless blazers, bespoke shirts and trousers with premium leather kicks. Look no further than brands like Prada, Loewe, Ami and JW Anderson for inspiration via their latest collections. Loewe’s introduction of high-waisted, straight and ever-so-slightly flared pants are 10/10. Affordable options in Cos and Massimo Dutti could also do the trick too.
This is definitely the vibe we’re looking for this season. Plus, with players like Jude Bellingham getting the call-up at Real Madrid and Timothy Weah linking up with the impeccably dressed Juventus guys, it’s no time before they see the vision & catch the Mediterranean wave.
Right (And Left) Wrist Van Cleef
Drake was spot on when he sealed this trend into current culture with the above lyrics from “BackOutsideBoyz”. The luxury jewelry brand – Van Cleef & Arpels – famed for their neat and lightweight four-leaf clover style “Alhambra” bracelets – have got players like Jadon Sancho spinning the block back to the store and doubling up the amount they wear on one wrist.
The brand has really caught on due to its “lucky charm” look, which means each link gives off a personal feel to its owner. Now this may not be everyone’s vibe (nor everyone’s price bracket) and that’s cool. More than anything this season we’re looking out for similar jewelry that has a sentimental feel to it. Chains and bracelets that are delicate in weight, but valuable in their meaning fit this criteria. This new trend of jewelry with sentimental value also explains why stars like Drizzy recently grabbed Tupac’s ring (before Karim Benzema got a chance) and Pharrell’s chains at auction. Expensive or cheap – we’re ready for ballers to follow suit.
Heavy On The Denim
If you haven’t been under a rock these past few months, you’ll agree that the jorts – or jeans shorts – trend has been going crazy amongst players. From LV print carpenter shorts to knee length and baggier three-quarter styles, the variety made it an easy summer staple for the likes of Leão and style heavyweight Trevoh Chalobah.
Looking ahead to the 23/24 season, it’s time to turn the denim trend up a notch. After all, jorts can’t be the move in the upcoming colder weather. Brands like Givenchy, Gucci, Loewe, Diesel, Y-Project and JW Anderson are dropping so many denim options back to back that we’re now spoilt for choice. But these aren’t the overly ripped, super bleached or distressed types we’ve been used to.
These are jeans in their purest form, with a heavy-weight look to them: a sign of quality. Whether that be 90s-looking light blues, mildly stonewashed grays or darker-dyed options, good denim is a vibe right now. Jeans that look sturdy & hefty, straight fit and slightly wide (but not ridiculous). We’ve had promising glimpses of this already, but we’re definitely praying to see more across the league. Less of the overdone & typical flashy jeans, more of the traditional, tastefully finished stuff. Alright, the Denim Tears and Chrome Hearts jeans can stay too…
Tales From The Far East
South Asia has recently provided top-notch hospitality within football over the summer. Hosting the Barcelona boys in Tokyo and welcoming Manchester City in South Korea on their pre-season tours. But it’s Asia’s contribution to fashion that ballers and fashion fanatics should be most grateful for.
We know the Japanese don’t play when it comes to quality design and individualistic 1-of-1 drip that’s made to last a lifetime. Their creation & use of materials is globally respected, as their dyeing & “boro boro” reuse/upcycling process is one that’s been perfected for generations. For those looking to bring different vibes and have a fashion advantage, we recommend locking in & seeking out the rising fashion brands & trends coming out of Asia this season. You’re bound to find unseen archive pieces, crazy silhouettes (again, like Kenzo) and second-to-none textiles & detailing. This is the boundless creativity and freedom football has been needing; Asian fashion and excellent craftsmanship overseas will play a big part.
Brands like Thug Club out of South Korea – already supported by the likes of ASAP Rocky, SZA and Central Cee – are bringing new interpretations of streetwear with fire designs. Their double denim sets are embroidered with their futuristic-looking star & moon “TC” logo are too hard to pass up. And the caps, tees and hoodies? A must-cop!
Standout designers like Seoul-based Andersson Bell & LVMH prize nominee Juntae Kim are ones we hope to see featured amongst Barca’s tunnel fits & rocked well at the Netherlands’ national team camp. Bell knows ball, since recently the brand hosted Trevoh Chalobah front row at their Milan SS24 show. The new collection features crazy style linkups like doubled-up hoodies & leather pants patched with cargo pockets. The latter brand Juntae goes equally as hard with cropped bomber jackets and immaculately creased denim that give a two-tone effect. Phenomenal.
Of course, long-standing luxury Asian brands like WooyoungMi & Japanese brand Sacai – most known over here for the Nike Vaporwaffle – could do with some more love in the league. Sacai’s on a different level since their recent collaborations with Carhartt, which is all about upgraded workwear and fits inspired by the great outdoors. Their multi-functional dungarees and pocketed puffers, bombers, long length parka jackets with asymmetric openings would be a perfect fit for a style maverick like Michy Batshuayi.
This one ain’t just a trend, it’s a movement. Get tapping into the endless brands coming out of Asia!
Belt Buckle-Mania
The bigger the buckle, the better! Musicians like Travis Scott & Kendrick Lamar have been rocking custom belts the size of WWE titles and we’re feeling it. Seeing the strong connection between sport and music, it won’t be long before we see ballers tighten up and catch onto the bucklemania effect. You won’t have trouble finding your own, since Gucci has brought back the legendary double G buckle and Loewe have released belts big enough for Wild West cowboys.
Let us know which trends you’re looking out for ahead of another wavey year in the football x fashion space.