A vintage year for football shirts
Who doesn’t enjoy a vintage football top? This one is no Gazza ‘96 but football and fashion can go hand in hand.
Outfit pictured above: by LEICESTER SHIRT ‘92-94 SHIRT, PADSTOW WOOL TROUSERS [similar] by JOSEPH FASHION and PEMBREY LOAFERS by CHURCHS
While it may not have come home this summer, we sure had a lot to enjoy. Foden’s ‘Gazza’ cut causing ripples through barbers and bathroom sinks all across England, Grealish and his infallible calves and not forgetting being able to go to the pub and momentarily, for ninety joyous minutes, being able to forget about everything but twenty-two guys kicking a ball to the nation’s constant hum of Three Lions.
This summer in particular is the year I feel there was a resurgence for the retro football kit. The England Euro ‘96 shirt, both home and away, became impossible to get your hands on just as much as match tickets themselves. There’s something about the shape and design which is less about being aerodynamic and more about looking good on the eye. Every time I felt I had seen every kit I needed to see this summer, Mundial would be on hand to bring to attention another jersey from the past. The increased clamour has caused clubs to tap into the archive for this season. While it’s easy to think kits are just a copy and paste task where only the badge changes, there are exceptions. Blackpool’s Netherlands inspired kit that Van Basten would not look out of place in and Manchester’s away kit is reminiscent of their ‘92 season.
Perhaps it’s something to do with the modern day sponsor which ruins kits of today and maybe in 50 years time the DHL logo will age gracefully on Manchester United tops, the same way the Sharp era of kits look right now. (read: or maybe Cantona just makes it look the part?)
Tomorrow I’ll be putting on my Leicester shirt from the ‘92-94 seasons for the first game of the new season as I head down to Wembley with my dad. An opportune time to share these photos and show how a retro kit does not necessarily mean football diehard or being the friend that comes alive in the trivial pursuit sports related questions. I’m just a guy that can appreciate a good shirt that coincides with being a football shirt.
Large ribbed neckline, ripple pattern and a raised Walkers Crisps logo that is much better than the screen printed types we have now. There might be a few retros on display, along with your fair share of bucket hats and Burberry and Stone Island casuals, but for now I might have to stick to an oversized football top and trousers. Now, hand me the bleach.jbicon
Could 2023 be the ultimate year of sustainability for fashion? Probably not, but there are some positive things happening if you look for them.