Athletes Who Upped the Style Game in Sports
Despite fashion being in the eye of the beholder, certain individuals will always be remembered for breaking trends and changing history.
In sports, we've seen on-field and off-field style get taken to the next level thanks to the efforts of various athletes. This explores some of the biggest game-changers in detail. These are individuals who upped the ante by leaning on self-expression.
Understanding all of this, let's now push forward and check out some of the biggest innovators of style in sports history.
Allen Iverson
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The half-sleeve has remained a staple of Allen Iverson's decorated 17-year career in terms of sheer fashion. It's one piece of clothing that can be directly correlated to an athlete.
Iverson is a guy who was generally expressive by nature. His style of play reflected this line of thinking. When it came to fashion, the former Philadelphia 76ers guard never let off the gas.
For all the times he wasn't scoring points, Iverson was decked out in streetwear and loose-fitting cuts. He never let anyone dictate his own sense of vision.
There haven't been many NBA players who have upped style like Iverson. His half-sleeve armband is a perfect example of this. Professional hoops in the late 1990s and early 2000s remains Iverson's kingdom.
Arnold Palmer
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It might not be as flashy as off-court NBA style, but professional golf at its core is a stylish game. The king of links, in terms of style, always has and will be Arnold Palmer.
Palmer revolutionized the sport in a fashionable manner—not to mention his outstanding play. Liza Corsillo at GQ discussed the style movement set forth by Ben Hogan and Palmer, noting their wardrobe choices became a prominent part of the game itself.
Cardigans and khakis were both part of Palmer's allure. He weaved the fabrics together seamlessly, putting his own touch on things.
Today, you can't talk about the progression of golf without looking toward Palmer. He set the bar when it came to fashion and made sure it stayed elevated during his entire tenure.
Deion Sanders
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When you think about style icons, former NFL defensive back Deion Sanders comes to mind. As one of the flashiest athletes on and off the field, Sanders helped revolutionize the way athletes dress.
On the gridiron, his use of bandannas under his helmet went hand-in-hand with his dynamic style of play. He also wore neck-warming bands, Nike gloves and high socks to complete his image.
As a Nike athlete, Sanders was blessed with his own version of a Nike Trainer, dubbed the Air Diamond Turf. The shoe was even worn on the field during his heyday, per Sole Collector, furthering enhancing his legend.
Sanders didn't stop with his fashionable endeavors on the field. When he wasn't playing football, he was out stunting in lavish suits and using jewelry as an eye-catching technique.
No matter where he's been, Sanders has always upped the styles game in sports.
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Dwyane Wade
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Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade has remained a perennial player, despite being 34. He's won three NBA titles, has become the greatest asset in Miami Heat history and was even part of the infamous Big Three in South Beach.
Outside of the hardwood, Wade also established himself as a modern-day fashion pioneer. His style game has traditionally catered more toward suits and premium fits, putting all of his NBA peers on notice.
Wade thanks former NBA Commissioner David Stern for instituting a dress code. It allowed him to show off his expressive style and set the tone for other NBA athletes.
When it's all said and done, Wade will be remembered for his abilities on the court as well as his decisive fashion sense away from the game. It's a combination that has turned him into an all-time great.
Michigan Fab Five
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Black socks, baggy shorts and Nike sneakers. Those three simple ingredients changed the course of basketball and sports fashion in the 1990s.
Michigan's Fab Five was responsible for this wave. Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson went above and beyond, turning the program into a tour de force.
The stylistic journey they embarked forever altered the sport in the collegiate and professional ranks. Without the Fab Five, nothing would be the same. "Has any college team since had the stylistic impact of the T-shirt-wearing Hoyas or the black-socked, baggy-shorted Wolverines?" ESPN's J.A. Adande wrote.
He's right. Michigan's Fab Five will always be remembered for altering the landscape of basketball.
Walt Frazier
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There isn't an athlete who represents an era of style better than Walt Frazier. "If you saw him on Fifth Avenue, you’d have sensed yesteryear’s dapperness strolling in your direction. Frazier is 67 and still dresses like it’s 1976," Wesley Morris wrote in 2013 for Grantland.
The 1970s became Frazier's playground. He set a standard in the NBA that revolved around expression and the use of bell-bottoms, fur coats and pattern-laden dress shirts.
True style in sports today can be traced back to Frazier. He dared to be different and, in the process, became a legend.
Serena Williams
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Serena Williams takes fashion very seriously. The legendary tennis superstar has turned her love for style into a budding empire.
A collection with the Home Shopping Network debuted at New York Fashion Week in September, drawing the attention of publications such as People. Williams took to the runway to showcase her various designs and prove she is more than a tennis player.
Williams deserves to be considered a pioneer in the sport and outside of it. She has immense talent and her drive alone has upped the style game in sports.
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