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Footballers’ fashion hits ... and own goals

Fashion faux pas aren’t just committed by Hollywood’s hottest; on and off the field, star footballers are often guilty of them, too. Even the seemingly impeccable David Beckham, widely regarded as an international style icon, has days that were sarong, ahem, so wrong. As the saying goes, money can’t buy style. And with all eyes on the World Cup these days, we take a quick breather to ponder some of the best and worst of footballers’ tastes in fashion.

Fashion faux pas aren’t just committed by Hollywood’s hottest; on and off the field, star footballers are often guilty of them, too. Even the seemingly impeccable David Beckham, widely regarded as an international style icon, has days that were sarong, ahem, so wrong. As the saying goes, money can’t buy style. And with all eyes on the World Cup these days, we take a quick breather to ponder some of the best and worst of footballers’ tastes in fashion.

HITS

Cristiano Ronaldo

Girls go gaga over Cristiano Ronaldo, though not necessarily for his fast feet and ball control. Sure, his confidence may be construed as cockiness, but what he lacks in modesty, he makes up for with a nifty sense of style. Cristiano cuts a fine figure in his choice of suits and stands out as one of the better-dressed footballers off the pitch. Sorry, can’t say the same about girlfriend Irina Shayk — her fashion picks aren’t as spot-on as her squeeze’s rather impeccable taste.

Joachim Loew

Minimalist cool is the word that best describes Team Germany’s coach Joachim Loew, who turned up looking suave in a simple black shirt and slate grey pants at the football match between Germany and Portugal. Loew’s restrained approach is a fine example of how to work casual cool into your daily outfit, starting with something as simple as taking note of where your cuffed sleeves end (we like it just below the elbow) and the fit of your shirt and pants — not too baggy, not too tight, and hugging your curves at the right places.

Italian national football team

With a team that looks this dapper, it’s really hard to fault anyone at all. Nicely decked out in Dolce & Gabbana, this is the way every man should look in a suit. We can, however, single out a few outstanding lookers, namely Claudio Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo and Federico Balzaretti.

MISSES

Joe Hart

No one can deny the good-looker that is England goalkeeper Joe Hart. After all, the man is the face of HUGO BOSS’ fragrance, BOSS BOTTLED, and Head & Shoulders. And he almost landed himself a spot in our Hits section. But all thanks to a pair of white socks, Hart has earned a place in our squad of fashion boo-boos. No man should be seen flaunting that much white as Hart did when he landed in Rio de Janeiro for the World Cup. Sure, he’s travelling in comfort, but he could have picked out a nice pair of black socks and matched it with a less chunky pair of white trainers. (It’s not Wimbledon, for goodness’ sake.) A sleek pair of Nike Flyknits would have done the trick.

Ronaldo

Dear Ronaldo, you were once a football god of sorts, but that does not mean you can dress up as a statue like you did at a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo. Lose that metallic gaudiness, please. You’d do well in a dark silver/gold shirt and a black or navy-coloured suit to complete the look — and festivities.

Mario Balotelli

That popped collar made famous by football legend Eric Cantona lives on by way of Mario Balotelli, and it has got some fashion-conscious fans a little pale around the gills. Fact: The upturned collar is horrendous, obnoxious and just plain ugly. Why? It makes you look like you are missing a neck and adds a whiff of arrogance to your demeanour. Why must you continue that horrible non-trend, which has even made its way into the Singaporean guy’s dress sense? If you are one of the guilty ones still emulating that awful ’90s gaffe, please turn-down your collar and act like the decent man — and footballer — you are.

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