The Evolution of Sports and Fashion
Written by: Jordyn Salahiddine-Rose
From football to basketball, from men to women—there have been some iconic tunnel looks from athletes over the years. The tunnel walk for all sports is the pathway connecting arena entrances to locker rooms. This is where athletes can act like they are on a runway or a red carpet. One may not think that fashion and sports could go together so well, but tunnel walks can be used as an outlet for athletes to not only showcase the trends and brands they are interested in, but also their personality and unique style.
Some of the first athletes known for their creative fashion in the tunnel were Wilt Chamberlain and Allen Iverson. Both were NBA athletes, but their dissimilarity in style represents different eras of fashion. For example, Wilt Chamberlain was famously known for this unique style in the 70s, often wearing low-buttoned shirts and bright flares with his signature mustache and shiny jewelry. In the 70s this style was common, but not in the world of sports. His impact on fashion in sports was more than significant, opening up doors for other players to feel confident in their own clothes and style.
Later on in a new era of basketball, Allen Iverson emerged with more of a streetwear style. He wore a variety of jerseys with loose-fitting denim jeans, along with his signature hairstyle, cornrows.
These iconic players paved the road for future generations of players to show off their personalities through their preferred fashion choices in the entry tunnel. Today, NBA athletes like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerami Grant, and Devin Booker are recognized as some of the most stylish basketball players in the league.
Gilgeous-Alexander has tapped into Gen-Z fashion by following the trend of layering different pieces. He layers puffer vests with a lot of his outfits to, in his words, elevate the outfit. He also styles denim in a variety of ways. He picks each part of his outfit deliberately so that the whole outfit blends well together. From his trucker hats to his shoes, each part plays a vital role in adding personal flare to his outfit. What’s unique about him is that he doesn’t have a stylist, but instead pieces his outfits together himself.
In the NFL, tunnel fashion is also very prominent with players like Stefon Diggs, Odell Beckham Jr. and Joe Burrow. Diggs has taken to choosing the most unique and eccentric items for his outfits. He can be seen wearing big bright sweaters and jackets with looser-fit pants, expressing himself and how he prefers looser, casual clothes. Beckham is known for his most iconic outfit—a cow-print fur jacket with leather trousers and black loafers.
However, he usually turns to varsity jackets and neatly cut pants for game-day attire. Joe Burrow can be seen wearing signature suits or big oversized jackets with an assortment of pants including jeans, cargo and leather. His unique style demonstrates his personality and how when one looks, they feel good, and hopefully they play well.
Fashion is just as significant in women's sports. Tennis, for example, is a sport where athletes are known more for showing their personality and individuality on the court, rather than in the tunnel entries. The tennis world has seen a variety of signature styles, but Serena Williams pushed the bar for extravagance style higher than ever before. She has been able to reflect her style with bright colors, patterns, and silhouettes. She has added uniqueness through catsuits, color-block dresses, statement jewelry, and coordinated sneakers. Williams even once wore a corset to a match.
She showed up to the 2004 NASDAQ 100 Open in her first custom outfit by Nike, which included a white dress with a metallic corset belt and a white headband with “Serena” bedazzled across it. Although Williams is wearing these bold outfits on the court, rather than in the entry tunnel, she has still created an opportunity to show off the person she is.
WNBA players have also played into tunnel fashion with their eccentric outfits. A’ja Wilson, Tiffany Hayes, Kahleah Copper and Angel Reese have displayed their individuality and story through each look. A’ja Wilson has recently worn custom outfits that are incredibly unique to her, allowing Wilson to make powerful statements on and off the court through her fashion choices. She showed up to the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in a custom Burberry outfit with a tennis skirt and matching top, while also strutting bright yellow platform heels with white frilly socks—a beautiful outfit that she wore amazingly well.
Furthermore, Kahleah Copper has experimented with different brands, especially Black-owned brands. Copper’s style has evolved from her typical pants and oversized T-shirts to more elevated pieces from brands such as Luar, PH5, Alexander Wang and Alexander McQueen. With the help of her stylists, Marc Desir and VNA Gudino, Copper has learned to confidently wear these designer pieces in her own way.
Women’s sports are in an era of increasing the confidence of players by allowing them to show their individuality before they show up as a unified team on the court.
It is evident that when styled right, sports and fashion can certainly go hand in hand. Players like Wilt Chamberlain and Allen Iverson have made that possible, as they were some of the first and most iconic players to show the world that off the court they can dress however they want and express who they are. Tunnel fashion has evolved so much over time and it is still becoming a huge outlet for athletes to display their favorite pieces and trends. We, as a society, may not know these players personally, but through their fashion choices, we are able to see a glimpse into their personalities and individuality.
Edited by Hana Razvi, Olivia Ruetten & Quinn Deidrich
