With Jamie Vardy inviting everyone to his ongoing party, José Mourinho looking primed for the sack and Louis Van Gaal’s blow dry defying the laws of gravity, the Premier League has every right to brand itself the world’s most exciting domestic football competition. But is it the world’s most stylish? Well, actually, yeah, it probably is.
In the face of stiff competition from La Liga and Serie A, the Premier League consistently raises the style stakes and if you watch it closely enough you can learn a lot from the players, managers and pundits that act out our nation’s favourite melodrama.
These are the top style lessons we’ve gleaned from the 2015/16 season so far.
Put The Bushy Beard On The Bench
Whisper it quietly, if you dare: but there’s talk full-on beards may finally be on the brink. The bushy beard has entangled its way through early adopters, tastemakers, cultural icons and hipsters… but now it’s most commonly found on that dead-behind-the-eyes bloke on your morning commute who wears it as a token reference to the youth that’s tragically, mockingly slipped him by.
Basically, it’s time for a trip to the barbers. We wouldn’t advise going cold turkey and opting for a full-on clean-shave (which, coincidentally, would feel a bit like an actual cold turkey), but it’s worth bringing your facial furniture down a notch. Take inspiration from Liverpool’s lantern-jawed messiah, Jurgen Klopp, and go for something that lies between designer stubble and a short beard.
Stubble & Short Beards Inspiration
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That 1970s Look
The second Topman Design kicked off London Collections: Men SS16 with a show full of spread collars, kick flares and ringer tees, it was clear the 1970s’ current hold over menswear was set to continue.
The heady decade has influenced designers all the way from high-end houses to high street chains… and the same, it seems, could be said for the Premier League, with this season’s best kits all dominated by a distinctly retro feel.
The pick of the bunch has to be Everton’s away shirt – the long sleeved version, of course – which features a skinny white body and grey stripes down its arms. Groovy.
Get A Cut Like Kane’s
Great footballers and great hair don’t often go hand in hand. Just take a look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s; it’s cemented with so much product we’re betting his mere presence in a stadium is a fire hazard.
We ought to be thankful, then, for Harry Kane – the refreshingly old-fashioned number 9 with the refreshingly straightforward hairstyle. Kane’s cut is a great template for anybody looking for a party season tidy-up: it’s unfussy and masculine, and a welcome change from the ubiquitous quiff with shaved back and sides.
You can even move a few style points up on Kane by opting for a less slick, more natural-looking finish that’s trending hard for AW15.
Sweeped And Slicked Back Hairstyles
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The Party Season Icon
We’re approaching that time of year when it’s perfectly acceptable to be nursing midweek hangovers in the office: Christmas party season. What a time to be alive! And if, like most people, your festive social calendar is already looking busier than the Arsenal treatment room, then you really ought to start prepping your outfits.
But where to start? Step forward Mr. Anthony Martial, Manchester United striker and sartorial legend in the making. The understated Frenchman knows what’s up when it comes to formalwear, having stepped out in a masterfully put-together velvet jacket, white shirt and black tie ensemble at November’s UNICEF Gala Dinner.
It’s a no-fail look worth emulating for your smarter festive bashes. Try subbing in a jacket in a different colour like burgundy or deep blue for an extra pop.
Velvet & Tux Jacket Outfit Inspiraiton
Key Pieces
- Zara Velvet Blazer
- Selected Homme Velvet Dinner Blazer In Slim Fit
- Asos Skinny Blazer In Velvet
- Reiss Maximus Velvet Blazer
- John Lewis Velvet Peak Lapel Jacket
- Gieves & Hawkes Midnight-blue Slim-fit Velvet Blazer
- Gieves & Hawkes Black Shawl-collar Wool And Mohair-blend Dinner Jacket
- Classic Fit Peak Lapel Tuxedo
- John Lewis Notch Lapel Dinner Jacket
Time To Relax
While most British football managers dress more like bank managers, Watford’s Quique Sánchez Flores eschews the standard-issue club tie and boxy suit in favour of European-style relaxed tailoring.
The Spaniard, who has previously managed Atlético Madrid and S.L. Benfica, proves that an unstructured blazer – styled tonally with the rest of your outfit – is every bit as smart as a regular suit, and, in many cases, considerably more stylish.
Could you use Quique’s approach to formalwear to inform your working wardrobe? If so, ditch the suit, shirt and tie and upgrade your nine-to-five look with soft-shouldered single- and double-breasted blazers, cashmere crew necks and sharp ankle-grazers. Olé.
Unstructured Tailoring Outfit Inspiration
Key Pieces
- Massimo Dutti Navy Blazer
- He By Mango Textured Unstructured Blazer
- United Colors Of Benetton Knitted Blazer In Slim Fit
- J. Crew Ludlow Blazer In Italian Cotton
- Zara Basic Blazer
- J. Crew Wallace & Barnes Hunting Blazer In English Wool
- Reiss Danger Jersey Blazer
- Casely-hayford Navy Koston Double-breasted Wool-blend Blazer
- Boglioli Navy Double-breasted Wool-hopsack Blazer
White Out(erwear)
If Liverpool and England’s Daniel Sturridge ever gets bored of football, he may have a career in fashion waiting for him. The striker’s Instagram boasts an enviable diversity of looks, from longer-line bombers to athleisure to lots of on-point headwear, but the one thing that really stands out is his knack for styling white outerwear.
It’s a pretty tough look to pull off, but the Liverpool striker plays a blinder by layering white and shades of off-white with pieces in sharply contrasting colours like black and green.
White Outerwear Outfit Inspiration
Key Pieces
- Reclaimed Vintage Leather Biker Jacket
- Clwr Parka With Insulation
- Standard Issue Exclusive Military Parka
- Adidas Originals Ice Windbreaker Jacket
- Zara Velvet Padded Jacket
- Zara Detachable Parka
- Officine Generale Selvedge Denim Jacket
- Alpha Industries White Padded Shell Flight Jacket
- Uniqlo Men Seamless Down Parka
Vintage Motty
Although he may have taken a step back from his commentary career, John Motson, and his shearling car coat, are still a regular fixture at football grounds nationwide. For years, decades even, Motty has proudly sported his sheepskin outerwear, oblivious to menswear’s shifting trends but appreciative of the toasty warmth shearling provides on a blustery match day.
This season, Motty finds himself in possession of one of fashion’s hottest tickets – shearling being a key fabrication for AW15’s colder months.
Stores are full of these types of coats – from Mango Man’s classic double-breasted style to ASOS’ more contemporary takes – but if you want to channel Motty, steer vintage for something truly authentic.
Shearling Coats & Jackets Outfit Inspiration
Key Pieces
- Barneys Faux Shearling Biker Jacket
- He By Mango Faux Shearling-lined Jacket
- He By Mango Shearling-lined Leather Jacket
- Allsaints Pilot Jacket
- Reiss Renoir Shearling Aviator Jacket
- Coach Shearling And Leather Bomber Jacket
- Private White V.c. Shearling-trimmed Cotton-canvas Car Coat
- Schott Shearling-trimmed Leather Bomber Jacket
- Topman Black Faux Shearling Jacket
Final Word
At just under halfway through the season, who knows what more style advice we’ll pick up – both on and off the pitch. Which player do you think will win the best-dressed crown this season? And which managers could moonlight as menswear experts?
Make your bets below. But remember: chat shit get banged.