From David Beckham to Jamie Redknapp to Alex Song, many footballers are known as much for their style off the pitch, as their prowess on the pitch.
But what about the fans? Is it possible to look chic in the stands, when the temperatures hit sub-zero? Following London Fashion Week, League Cup sponsor and credit card company Capital One commissioned research to find out who are football’s most fashionable fans.
The survey revealed Manchester United fans are flying highest in the fashion stakes this season, with Merseyside rivals Liverpool in second place. Fans decided that Jose Mourinho would be equally at home walking the catwalk as prowling the dugout after voting the Chelsea boss as football’s most fashionable manager. They also named Liverpool new-boy Mario Balotelli as the Premier League’s most fashionable footballer.
Bum-bags topped the poll as the biggest football fashion faux pas on match day. The research also found that 57 per cent of the fans surveyed wore their club shirts when they went to watch football matches, showing a high level of unity and support for the clubs.
Capital One understands it can be hard to make a fashion statement at a match, so has teamed up with a panel of fashion gurus to come to the rescue of fans who are prone to scoring a fashion own goal or two. Two deserving fans will win a professional fashion make-over with 10 runners up each receiving £250-worth of Arcadia Group (Topshop, Topman, Burtons, BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit and Wallis) vouchers.
The expert panel, which includes style editor Charlie Parrish, football influencer and director at online youth broadcaster SBTV Liam Tootill, and renowned stylist Gary Moore, have joined forces to help make two lucky fans the talk of the terrace.
Liam said: “Having been to Old Trafford a few times on my travels, there’s no doubt that United fans are a fashionable bunch. However, be it socks and sandals, bum-bags or a high-vis jacket, football fans are guilty of the occasional fashion hiccup. It’s great to team up with Capital One to help fans tackle their wardrobe woes.”
To enter, fans simply need to tweet their football fashion faux pas photos to @CapitalOne_Cup using #FootballFashion #promo between Tuesday, September 23, 2014 – Friday, September 26, 2014. Terms and conditions apply.
Jason Carr, sponsorship manager at Capital One, said: “As an avid football follower myself I completely understand how fans get so caught up with displaying their love for their team through what they wear, that often all sense of fashion flies out of the window. So, hot on the heels of London Fashion Week, we are aiming to give those most in need of style guidance a helping hand in outwardly supporting their club but looking good at the same time.”
For more information about the competition and T&Cs please got to www.capitalonecup.co.uk
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