In the modern era of sports, an athlete’s greatness is measured in both trophies and trends, the most popular of them all is surprisingly not determined simply by their performance on the court or field, but the way they present themselves outside of the game. Some of the biggest fashion icons come from the sports world, purely based on what they wear and how they look; Unlike tennis and ice skating, many athletes can’t fully express themselves while playing, rather taking the opportunity to pop outside of the game in the media.
Joe Namath is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the NFL for 13 seasons, primarily with the New York Jets. Namath, aside from being a record breaking rookie when he first joined his team, he also rose to fame for his signature fur jacket. Beyond his stats on the field, Namath became the first true “celebrity quarterback,” bridging the gap between professional sports and the high-fashion world of 1960s-70s Manhattan.
Katarina Witt, a legendary German figureskater, sparked controversy and inspiration with her extravagant skating outfits. Witt’s impact was so significant, that she is one of the few athletes to have an international governing rule named after her. Katarina gained attention with her flamboyant feathery outfits and bright colors, but was also a two-time Olympic winning skater. Her legacy remained in the form of the “Katarina Rule”, requiring female skaters to wear a skirt that fully covered their hips. This rule remained in place for 16 years, until it was finally overturned in 2004, allowing for the modern era of unitards and leggings.
The widely known GOAT of basketball Michael Jordan, who has a whole Nike line of athletic shoes named after him , makes him significant within the athletes fashion hall of fame. In the 90s, Jordan would be seen rocking a single gold hoop earring and oversized suits, while drawing inspiration from women’s magazines and occasionally using fabrics from women’s lines. Being extremely inventive and original, fashion inspiration is still drawn from many of these 90s-fits.
Serena Williams transformed the tennis court into a high-stakes runway for self-expression, cultural identity, and body positivity. Serena used her wardrobe and platform to push back against the “country club” dress codes that had dominated tennis for decades. The idea of femininity in women’s sports wardrobes were redefined when Williams would show up to matches with tutus, denim with boots, and even a black catsuit in 2018.

Next time you’re watching your favorite athlete, keep in mind their expressions of personality they portray in the game and outside of it, it can tell you a lot about their character and what they stand for!