How to Style Your Soccer Jersey, According to Bella Hadid

As the Olympics rapidly approach and we near the finals of the Copa America which will be held on Sunday, July 14 between Argentina and Columbia, everybody is becoming a soccer fan this summer. One problem has remained: it’s still oh so hard to make a women’s football jersey look anything but lazy. Thankfully, on Thursday, June 11, Bella Hadid, and might just have made jerseys the new summer look, or at least offered some hope.

The 27-year-old American fashion model stunned in Times Square with a sporty long-sleeved jersey, jean shorts, and her new line of Adidas original shoes. Known for bold looks like covering her body in spray paint and an unbothered post-breakup y2k fit, this is certainly not as wild as it gets for her, but nevertheless a well-styled statement piece that should excite anyone interested in fashion. The natural next step is discovering how you can emulate this sporty-chic style, and to get you started, L'OFFICIEL presents a collection of tips and inspiration. 

First and foremost, find a color palette that works for you. If you’re not already a soccer fanatic, go with colors that you typically gravitate toward, and then select a football club or soccer team that shares those colors and wear one of their jerseys. If you already have a team, then go with that team's jersey and show your loyalty, of course.

For those who want to play it safe (or who see wearing a jersey as a purely stylistic pursuit) we recommend opting for a simple branded jersey and not a whole sports franchise. This is the philosophy Bella Hadid followed in her latest ultra-chic sporty look, and it certainly gets the job done. Furthermore, make sure to choose a shirt that is a couple of sizes larger than you normally go for—this is a critical first step for achieving Hadid’s unique push-through technique. Also, this choice allows you to join in on several trends at once, as oversized garments are having a moment of their own for Summer 2024.

Hadid’s fit was built around her new collaboration with Adidas, which generated these red Adidas originals, but it’s clear that the rest of her outfit stole the show. Because of this, you can arguably include any pair of trainers/lifestyle shoes in this look, but as Adidas originals come in such a wide variety of colors, it might be wise, and would certainly be easy to go with the Adidas originals of your choosing. 

Go with white socks. White socks are sporty socks, and this is a sporty fit, so they’re the go-to option here. However, you can also match your socks to adhere more to the outfit’s color scheme if need be. 

Last but not least, you will want mini jean shorts, (with emphasis on the mini so that your shirt can pull through) to cinch high at the waist with a chic, black leather belt. To finish out the look, slip your shirt through the bottom of the shorts so that it hangs slightly over your legs and just like that, you’ve got Hadid’s intriguing new look.

Of course, the soccer jersey is far from a new style, and there are plenty of other approaches to styling them that celebrities have been employing for years. For an ultra-minimalist look that brings all the attention to the jersey, go for the pantsless looks seen on Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber. A pair of sunglasses is a must, and you have a little more freedom shoe-wise. 

If the weather’s too cold to go pantsless or wear jean shorts, go all the way and wear jeans like Cara Delevingne or exercise pants like Dua Lipa. Also, don’t be afraid to layer. Considering how baggy most football jerseys for women are, they are very compatible with other garments whether that entails throwing a cozy jacket on top, or a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath. You can throw on a color-matched beanie and scarf if you’re feeling adventurous, and you’re all set to sport your soccer jersey in style.