Blokcore: Vintage Jerseys Still in the Starting XI
Just a few years ago, seeing favourite club kits in the streets of fashion capitals felt like a cheeky flash-mob; by the Spring–Summer 2026 season blokcore has firmly secured its place in the top tier of street style. Across Paris locations, Hypebeast photographers captured guests in Mexico’s retro adidas shirt, the Palace × Umbro collab, and even a bespoke Real jersey teamed with cargo trousers and loafers. Against a backdrop of classic trench coats and Italian suits, the vivid kits looked like a screamer into the top corner: vintage added historical weight, while the everyday pairing underlined roots in the 1970s English fan culture. Once again the street dictates to the runway, and football keeps firm control of the ball.
Dior and Mbappé: A Tie as a Midfield Interception
The first whistle of Fashion Week sounded at Dior headquarters. New creative director Jonathan Anderson warmed up the crowd with a short clip: Kylian Mbappé, like a captain in the tunnel, knots a red-and-blue club tie over a sky-blue striped shirt and a grey herringbone jacket. A single word — “Dior” — and the fashion world knows the new face of the Maison. At the Les Invalides show, stern tweed coats paired with cargo shorts, and pastel cardigans with neon boxing trainers; it was as if Anderson were mixing formations in a live match. The tactical plan was clear: reverence for Christian Dior’s heritage plus the high-press of modern sports chic.
Jules Koundé: Barça Defender Ran a Five-Day Fashion Marathon
When it comes to stamina, Koundé proved he can not only lock down the flank but also keep up a rapid outfit tempo. Over five days he attended shows by Louis Vuitton, Willy Chavarria, Kenzo, KidSuper and Jacquemus — each time in new gear. At the LV pre-party the defender stuck to Acne “box-to-box” jeans and a white basic tee, but spiced up the simplicity with accessories worth a Barcelona season ticket. After that, nothing but shots on target: an oversize suit with signature key charms for Chavarria, and a monumental sand-coloured suit at Jacquemus that felt like a tactical vest scaled up. Five shows, five styles, zero mis-hits.
Louis Vuitton United: Alli Took the Highlights, Iwobi and Smith Rowe Held the Line
Pharrell Williams’s Louis Vuitton show gathered a full Premier League bench. The boldest, as always, was Dele Alli: wide shorts, a leather biker jacket, long socks and classic shoes created the image of a futuristic playmaker. On his bag hung the popular Labubu toys — a must-have for style-savvy fans. Alex Iwobi played the reliable anchor in an all-black set, while Emile Smith Rowe added pace with a graffiti-print LV jacket. The result looked like an elite dressing room where the boots cost a thousand euros.
FIFA 1904: The Federation’s Invisible Debut in the Luxury League
The week’s most mysterious story was the possible show by FIFA 1904. Announced in October as a future Prada rival and slated by The Athletic in June for a Paris debut, it then fell silent. Not a post on social media, not a single runway image. The label’s site offers only basic merch reading “Paris” and “1904”, priced from $55 for a cap to $1,000 for a cashmere coat nobody has seen in person. In partnership with VFiles, the founders promise a billion-dollar brand by the 2030 World Cup; for now it feels more like an offside call: the move looks promising, but no flag has been raised.
Super Mario on the KidSuper Runway: When a Striker Hits the Moon’s Crossbar
Mario Balotelli has yet to find a new club, but he already has a fashion contract. KidSuper sent the Italian forward down the catwalk as the hero of the children’s book “The Boy Who Reached the Moon”. A jacket sketched with constellations, wide trousers and 1990s-style boot-inspired sneakers turned the player into a piece of art. For Colm Dillane this is not the first “transfer”: in January the designer persuaded lifelong idol Ronaldinho to stride the runway in a fur coat. KidSuper is clearly building a dream team of legends; Balotelli took centre-forward in a static match — came on, scored, walked off.
New Runway Talents: Lewis-Skelly and Willock Rise High
Arsenal’s young midfielder Miles Lewis-Skelly staked a claim for “best rookie” with Wales Bonner. His milk-chocolate wool shirt and track-stripe trousers struck a perfect balance between academic tailoring and football-gear dynamism. Newcastle’s Joe Willock responded for 424 with a sharp dark blazer, loose trousers and minimalist loafers. Both players show that young pros no longer divide wardrobes into “basics” and “special occasion”; they curate their image as seriously as a box-to-box run in the 120th minute.
Y-3, Bellingham and Zidane’s Ghost: A Pass from Past to Future
In the shadow of loud premieres, Y-3’s subtle nods slipped through: trench coats with the number 5 in honour of Zinedine Zidane and lightweight sweatshirts featuring Jude Bellingham graphics. Yohji Yamamoto and adidas continue to play on the “football × high fashion” pitch where vintage archives meet the image of the new generation. It is a classic pass back to open up space ahead — a textbook lesson in positional football.
Post-Match Review: Fashion and Football — A Partnership without a Final Whistle
Paris showed that the lines between dribbling and catwalk have completely blurred. Jerseys now stride confidently into wardrobes once ruled by three-piece suits, and footballers swap boots for loafers without hesitation. Fashion Week 2025/26 turned into an exhibition match: designers, clubs and players executed combos where every pass was a new look and every goal a burst of flashbulbs. The impact rivals a derby with five goals in stoppage time. Expecting a final whistle seems odd: once football steps on the runway, it never returns to the bench.
