How to Wear a Football Jersey
Watch the World Cup in your favorite soccer kit without looking like every single other shmuck in the crowd.
Hey all! I’m so sorry for the delayed post—I finally found a day job (not an ideal situation at all, but who can ask for that in the big 2026, I suppose) and I’ve been transitioning into that while trying to keep my mind and body from disintegrating and, truthfully, watching days and days’ worth of hours of Love Island and the World Cup. I hope this post, a trove of ideas as to how to style a football/futbol/soccer kit in a fresh, interesting, but still comfortable and pragmatic way was worth the wait, coming just in time for the second half of the Copa. Please, oh PLEASE send pics to emseely@gmail.com or my Instagram if you end up using any of the tricks or inspirations below.
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My dear friend Eleonor Botoman picked me up one of the coveted NYC World Cup ‘26 jerseys that the GOAT Mamdani commissioned from artist Arsh Raziuddin, created by local manufacturers Mazzi Sports. We got the same black-and-white colorway in size L, which on me as on Ellie above lands the sleeves around my elbows and the hem around the bottom of my butt. I really like the way the kit drapes (one of the biggest differences I’ve noticed between higher-quality jerseys and cheaper dupes is the fabric’s weight and resulting drape), and its fairly neutral color scheme inspires me to combine it with unhinged patterns, though as per Ellie, it looks just as good with black and white. Check out the insane borough “patch” details on both sleeves here.
I haven’t had the energy or money to style this how I would want to in 95 degree heat yet, but I will update you once I do!
Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean is inspired by global style, creating looks that balance sportiness with dramatic femininity using the colors, shapes, and textures of countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Ghana, and of course, Haiti as seen above. The bubble peplum over a narrow skirt is REALLY speaking to me, especially the one in the middle with its graphic lace paneling. I’m also obsessed with these effervescent, easy color and pattern combos.
I think when buying a jersey, you should either aim to get one pretty precisely tailored to your proportions, as seen above, or go 2-3 sizes up for the fit I mentioned in regard to the first photo. Anything in between and you might start getting weird-looking shoulder draping. I think because the peplum adds so much volume here, sticking with a more fitted jersey makes sure elements aren’t competing too much shape-wise, as they’re already duking it out on the color front.
Masculine people have it easy when it comes to athletic wear: slap on some more feminine accessories like the chunky pearl hair clips above, or even just a demure pearl necklace, and everyone will be gagged over your androgynous effervescence. The model above, however, takes this from level one to level one million with the addition of a button-up and tie underneath the jersey a la Zohran’s Knicks win speech look:
While Zohran’s bling is impressive, the chained collar pins on the model’s shirt take the look from level one million to supernatural. The armband I actually haven't seen a ton in sporty looks (is it an actual athletic tool? Let me know) and that feels honestly too advanced for me to recommend—upper-arm bands can be a liiiiittle bit loaded as a political visual, though I appreciate the added dimension it gives the sleeve. I will not be copying that, but I would jump over a flaming chasm at the chance to copy the rest of that look.
Another more masculine styling option, this one for a short-sleeved jersey: a simple, skinny-tied vintage bandana in a slightly clashing color around the neck. The slightly-clashing color is important because if you match the color to the jersey too precisely, it’ll get lost in the visual fray, but if you pick a drastically contrasting color, it will look a little cartoonish and immature. Ask me how I know.
The big “cheat code” for striped kits is to pick one of the two colors in the stripes and wear something solid in that color as the look’s bottom. This works especially well, and most easily, with white. A brown belt would work too, but since the logo on the kit is black, choosing a black belt was the exact right thing to do here. The above pants are an extremely advanced style choice with their short fly and looooong crotch (which, if you read Esque, you know I usually abhor) but in monochrome with a slightly flared leg, it works, somehow.
Throwback to my last post! Camo is a great clashing print to pair in any form (a just-past-knee-length skirt is just the most unexpected and fresh) with virtually any kit—stick with minimal accessories and solid-colored shoes and you virtually cannot mess this up.
A good way to make an oversize jersey look intentional and give it interesting shape is to have something tied around your waist, pushing it half up into an asymmetrical hem—I can’t tell exactly what is being used in the above photo, but a plaid button-up, a wide scarf, a sarong, or a skirt/belt could all work for this purpose. Flats are the no-brainer shoe choice to diffuse the athleticism of an outfit and make it feel a bit more considered without feeling a bit caricatureish, as heels can sometimes look when juxtaposed against athletic garb.
The outfit is simple enough, but each component is so special: the Henley-necked jersey is a unique touch, I believe the origami-like skirt is Issey Miyake, and the Martine Rose x Nike Shox mules add a jolt of electric color and height that makes the whole look feel like it’s levitating. The one super-advanced style move made here is the choice to layer a belt OVER the hem of the jersey—I have never thought to do this, but I suppose it has the same effect as a low-slung belt over a drop-waist dress.
One of the simplest ways to make a maxi skirt jersey-pairing appropriate is to pin it up at random points to give it some dimension, volume, and movement. It almost makes it look like you’re hitching up your skirt to kick the ball your damn self!
You can also pin a jersey itself, perhaps with an exquisite brooch, up at a single point to add these same dynamisms while also creating a more feminine/tighter fit and asymmetrical hem as mentioned before. Okay, armbands here too—someone please explain to me their use/significance in soccer!
The shirred futbol kit is a liiiiittle bit played out, sorry, but if I were gonna do it, I’d layer it over a tight turtleneck and the shortest skirt I could muster with socks pulled high and matching the color of a subtle detail in the jersey, like in the photo above.
A starchy, stiff pleated skirt is a weirdly perfect compliment to a looser, flowing jersey—the way the stripes continue from the jersey onto the skirt like a drawing that extends onto two pages of a book is so sick.
One of the most feminine styling options for a kit is to layer it over a frilly, eyeleted lace long-sleeve top with a high neck so more of it shows. This works especially well with V-neck jerseys and, as above, pairs perfectly with a matching hair ribbon. I would wear this look with jeans or trousers to offset its preciousness for actual game attendance.
A straight-cut, NOT flared (looks too much like the WOMAN sign on a bathroom door) denim skirt reaching just past the knees is an easy grab to pair with a kit of virtually any color and pattern. It would look so cool in a clashing shade of blue. What is going ON with the sneakers above, are they zip tied??? Inquiring minds want to know!!
Another simple styling where the skirt speaks for itself—anything pleated, shiny, or both will perfectly contrast with and complement your kit.
I like lighter-wash jeans in super-baggy fits with jerseys—the scarf/skirt over this one provides a seamless transition from the (importantly untucked) jersey to the bottoms. This is one of the rare occasions I think cuffing actually adds to a look.
Lastly, pairing opaque tights/stockings with a kit + skirt combo can play up the festiveness of the top while countering its sportiness with a bit of prim femininity that isn’t TOO serious, as they can’t escape their jester vibes. A long, double-looped ribbon choker is an easy and extremely affordable DIY accessory that furthers all of those agendas, too.
Thank you so much for being here and I hope your summer has been revelatory so far!
<3 ESK