In recent years, college and professional athletes have stepped off the field and into the spotlight to showcase their fashion taste. From Olympians like Noah Lyles starring in fashion shows to professional athletes like Angel Reese on the cover of Vogue, one thing is made clear: athletes are bringing their A-game and doing it in style.
As a previous high school athlete who did four sports, (yes, four!) I know all too well the excitement of game day outfits. Planning out your hairstyle, laying out your best pieces from your closet onto your bed, and picking out your shoes the night before was practically a daily ritual for me, and there was nothing better than getting up the next morning and everything looking exactly as planned.
Even though the thrill of game day is a thing of the past for me, seeing athletes in-tune with expressing themselves while simultaneously breaking records is awe-inspiring.
This transition to explore outside of just their uniform is not only a reflection of pushing boundaries, but also redefining how fashion can be more than just modeling and photoshoots.
“There’s more of a focus than just trying to look more presentable,” said Christian Williams, textiles and apparel junior at UT. “There’s a focus on the fit, performance and how good it looks. (Athletes) want to put out a better image because people care about what they look like.”
Social media pages like Texas Football have highlighted the game-day attire of their players just about every game, including detailed shots of their suit patterns and jewelry. With more coverage, it’s now easier to stay up-to-date with what college and professional athletes are wearing.
“Russell Westbrook started that in the mid 2010s,” Williams said. “On ESPN, people caught onto his outfits. Now since it’s more widespread, it’s more common to see them on social media so that’s the main reason I’m able to see what people are wearing.”
Especially in light of the 2023 NIL rule change that allowed college athletes to make profits from brand name deals, it’s no surprise that athletic apparel companies like Nike and Lululemon have been at the forefront, sponsoring athletes like 2023 NCAA outdoor 5000 champ Parker Valby and Olympic champion and Longhorn legend Tara Davis. As more and more athletes are being signed on to be brand ambassadors, it’s clear that this collaboration between athletics and fashion will continue to expand.
“You’ll see high fashion brands sponsor these athletes because they like to dress,” Williams said. “People are looking at how they dress. They might want to get their pieces on these athletes. It’s just becoming the culture.”
However, this bond between fashion and sports culture is not only limited to the athletes.
University coaches like Kim Mukly of LSU women’s basketball and Dawn Staley of South Carolina women’s basketball have made headlines for their sideline style. With a mix of blazers, sequins and colorful jackets, these women have shown it is possible to get the job done while also looking fabulous.
Another fashion figure who has become well known for their style choices includes our very own Sydney Carter, who is the director of player development for Texas Women’s Basketball.
After going viral for wearing a pair of bright pink leather pants during a game in 2022, Carter soon found herself included in the fashion scene for her vibrant and chic outfits on the sidelines.
In an interview in January of this year with Sunday Sports Club Podcast, Carter shared the decisions behind her eye-catching style, and how it has transformed her personal expression as a coach.
“Fashion is so much more than just the clothes,” Carter said in the interview. “It’s my nails. It’s my hair. There’s so many different elements to fashion and I’m just owning it. Women are owning it and they are showing up authentically.”
Reflecting on her time as a college player at Texas A&M and the WNBA, Carter said basketball has taught her that confidence goes far beyond the court. In turn, creating outfits that made her feel good was the perfect outlet to do so.
“What I took from basketball is I was a confident player,” Carter said. “So why not be a confident person in my real life?”
For many athletes, bringing fashion into the picture helps them get ready to perform before even stepping onto the court– transforming their “tunnel” walks into a fashion show. Carter said this moment for athletes to step into the spotlight is key to getting into that competitive mindset.
“You’ve heard it –- when you look good, you feel good and then you play good,” Carter said. “When I see somebody confidently posing in front of the camera, they know they are ready to put that jersey on and it’s go time. That’s the first step to an athlete really getting their mind right.”
Hoping to reflect her confidence in her job while continuing to develop her fashion sense, Carter said she wants to set an example to help her players do the same.
“As a player, if you are not confident you can’t perform your best,” Carter said. “As a coach now, I try to focus on showing up confidently. My players see that and so I want them to know representation matters. If they see it, they know it’s possible.”
