For decades sports have been an avenue of entertainment for audiences watching. Whether it is the thrill of witnessing your favorite basketball player dunk the ball or seeing someone on the Philadelphia Phillies hit a home run, watching athletes excel has always been a source of enjoyment.
However, now as viewers tune in to watch their favorite sport, a new observation is starting to be formed — athletes carry an incredible sense of style. These days athletes are not just dominating their sport but fashion too. Turning on ESPN you may catch an athlete during the pregame show walking in with a fashion piece that is guaranteed to turn heads.
The Revival of Suits
Years ago it was common for athletes and coaches to wear professional attire to games. Athletes would walk into their games with a suit jacket, classic white button-down shirt and slacks. Alongside them, their coaches would be dressed to the nines while leading their team to victory. But over time this fashion statement began to go underground as athletes began to transition to streetwear and coaches wore more athleisure.
Recently, athletes have begun to combine the age-old suit with modern trends. Athletes are experimenting with various suit styles. These days athletes can be found wearing perfectly tailored suits or either an oversized piece.
During the 70s and 80s, NBA coaches such as Pat Riley and Satch Sanders were famous for the suits they wore during games. Now, current athletes such as Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton have taken the reins. Haliburton has worn a variety of suits during pregame shows, many of which are tailored to him. Though his suits usually consist of neutral colors, he balances this by adding accessories such as a bag or sunglasses which incorporate more flair to his outfit.
Beyond the NBA, NFL wide receiver Travis Kelce is also making headlines for his suits. At Super Bowl LIX, Kelce’s suit was a throw-back moment for everyone. His 70s inspired Amiri suit had a long loose-fitting jacket with wide pants. In this look he demonstrated just how versatile a suit can really be.
The Bigger the Better
Go big or go home so the age-old saying goes. Well, athletes are taking this phrase literally in regards to their outfits. A signature clothing style adopted by athletes is baggy, oversized streetwear.
Many athletes wear tops and bottoms that are loose and wide. Though form-fitting clothing is polished, it does not offer the same volume and edginess to an outfit. Overall, this style offers more range for clothing options. An athlete may choose to wear both a baggy top and bottom. They also have the choice for contrast by picking a fitted top with loose pants.
Layering is a key component of baggy streetwear style. As athletes include more pieces of clothing into their look, it adds a level of intricacy. When adding an oversized flannel to a baggy shirt, the outfit becomes less one-dimensional. A great outfit is now elevated to new heights.
The Art of Accessorizing
Beyond the clothes, accessories are another element that enhances an outfit’s charm. These days athletes are pushing the envelope with the different accessories they incorporate into their outfits. Whether it is jewelry, bags or hats, athletes are continuing to experiment.
One accessory many athletes often wear is chains. An accessory such as this can be a statement piece to an outfit. The chains decorating athletes’ necks are oftentimes big and flashy. This draws people’s attention to a unique piece of jewelry that an athlete may be wearing.
A popular growing accessory choice among athletes is bags. When walking into the pregame, athletes are less frequently seen empty-handed, rather they are carrying some kind of bag. In terms of style, athletes have gravitated towards duffel bags and satchels. These accessories not only look great but are highly functional.
Oklahoma City Thunder player, Jalen Williams, is a prime example of utilizing bags in his outfits. He is often spotted with a luxury Goyard bag to accompany his look for the day.
For athletes, accessorizing with a hat is an opportunity to try a new everyday look. Hat styles are far from linear and come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. This allows athletes to wear a baseball cap one day and a cozy beanie the next.
What do you think about the evolving style of athletes? Let us know on X @VALLEYMag!
