The style of these sports stars has even seeped into pop culture: Britney Spears is seen emulating the aforementioned stars in her 2004 music video for “Outrage,” complete with basketball jersey, gold jewelry and a cap worn sideways, presaging the future Billie Eilish.
In 2005, David Stern declared a mandatory dress code for the NBA, requiring all players to wear “business or conservative attire” when arriving or leaving an official match. This left no room for jerseys and jeans. The image of the league was officially changed and redefined. This collaboration of the two worlds is thanks to him. Without this call, there would not have been style icons of all disciplines so willing to collaborate with high fashion people as we have today. Of course, the dress code has become more relaxed, especially since 2020, but the individual styles seen off the court are modern and sophisticated. Many eras of the business itself and those who influenced the fashion of the sport are well known.
Now, sports are influencing high fashion, and athletes are stepping up their style, creating a cohesive fusion where the two compete on an equal footing. We can now see football players like Odell Beckham Jr., who also attended the 2019 Met Gala, and Patrick Mahomes, who will attend the 2023 Met Gala, as well as Formula 1 drivers like Lewis Hamilton garnering attention from fashion lovers. Hamilton even bought a table at the 2023 Met Gala and invited black designers like Kenneth Nicholson, Edvin Thompson of Theofilio, and Jason Rembert of Aliette, who previously dressed Kehlani and Shakari Richardson, who will compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris this year.
Additionally, PJ Tucker attended the 2021 Met Gala in a Gucci dress, while Serena Williams wore a gold gown by Balenciaga in 2024. One of tennis’ greatest players, Serena Williams, will receive the Fashion Icon Award in 2023, becoming the first athlete to receive the award.
