By Nicole Horton
Without a doubt, social media has enabled athletes to share their lives with fans outside of their respective sports, showing off their personalities and senses of humor. Prior to this, sports stars were only known outside of their sports if they made forays into movies and music (Shaquille O’Neal’s ill-fated rap career), or dated a celebrity. Nowadays, your favorite athletes can Instagram a photo of a new outfit or you can see them show off their style in post-game interviews. Here are some of sport’s most fashionable athletes, who bring their A-game to the red carpet and have gained respect in the fashion industry.
Tom Brady — As a New York Jets fan, this is painful to write but it is undeniable that Brady is considered one of the best dressed athletes. Brady has mastered a classic black tux, but can also switch it up with a bright blue or velvet tuxedo jacket. Having a supermodel wife certainly amps up his red carpet appearances, along with the fact that he is very comfortable around cameras (obligatory Spygate reference).
Cristiano Ronaldo — This year the Real Madrid player was named one of GQ Magazine’s Top 20 most stylish men. In 2006, he opened his own fashion boutique named CR7. Ronaldo is known for wearing impeccably tailored suits and tuxedos. Also, not many athletes would walk the red carpet with crutches like Ronaldo did at the 2008 ESPY Awards.
Dwayne Wade — The Miami Heat star and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, were one of the most fashionable couples at the first ever New York Men’s Fashion Week 2015. Wade played a substantial role, partnering with the Naked Brand to aid the launch of new campaigns, along with presenting his bowtie collection. Union told E! News, “[His closet] kills my closet. His closet looks like Esquire and GQ.” She went on to say that he had a shoe vault built in their home.
Russell Westbrook — While there is a debate about who is the best dressed NBA player, with some saying Wade deserves the accolade, it is undeniable that Westbrook has the boldest style. “If CenturyLink Field was any louder, Russell Westbrook would be wearing it,” Drake said at the 2014 ESPYs. The Oklahoma City Thunder star does not shy away from patterns, like cheetah print and florals, as well as with bright colors.
Henrik Lundqvist — The New York Rangers goaltender is frequently seen at fashion shows in NYC. He has modeled Crown Collection, his clothing line that supports the Garden of Dreams Foundation. He provided a simple explanation to Forbes for his popularity in fashion. “When you’re a hockey player, if you make any effort to dress nicely, you, um, stand out a bit.”
Lindsey Vonn — Like Ronaldo, the American alpine skier showed how important fashion was to her by taking on the runway with crutches following a knee injury. Vonn has an ally in one of fashion’s most important figures, Anna Wintour, who dressed her for the Met Gala in 2013. Most recently, Vonn attended the 2015 ESPYs wearing a red dress with a daring high slit.
Danica Patrick — The NASCAR star routinely stuns on the ESPY red carpet, competing with the female actresses and singers in attendance for the coveted best dress award. Patrick favors short dresses and bright colors, either wearing a colorful dress or a black dress with bright accessories. Patrick’s fashion statements have made her a known name in both fashion and entertainment.
Serena Williams — As one of the most recognizable names in tennis, Williams is known for her daring fashion choices on and off the court. At the U.S. Open, she has sported fashion choices such as denim skirts, knee-high boots and a white trench coat. Throughout her career, the singles player has extended her fashion influence. She has had her own lines with Puma and Nike, and in 2004 she took the next step by starting her own fashion line. This past April, Williams became the first black female athlete to have a picture by herself on the cover of Vogue. Also, now she has Drake cheering for her at New York Fashion Week 2015, so that’s a major fashion win.
Caroline Wozniacki — The Danish tennis player can certainly talk fashion with fellow player Serena Williams, who she has called one of her best friends. This year, Wozniacki graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. She also recently stunned at Michael Kors Spring 2015, wearing a black vintage pleated dress and neon orange shoes. Although Wozniacki does not have her own fashion line, she has an array of endorsement deals, including Stella McCartney for Adidas and Rolex.
