Team Uniforms – To Wear Or Not To Dare

By:  Janet Thompson Hilliman

Sports teams and their uniforms are like two peas in a pod; they go together.  All sport teams’ uniforms are unique to its team and bears great significance with the colors and the logos.  It’s like a personal ID.  Fans are able to identify their teams by their uniforms. 

Although all team uniforms do have sentimental symbolism thus their significant value, not all uniforms are pleasing to the eyes.  Sports pundits a while back made a worst sports team uniform list and a best sports team uniform list.  Both lists may not have been a surprise because fans alike, that have an eye for fashion, would nod their heads in agreement that they are either right or wrong. 

Now here’s the thing, I am not sure if the players have any say so into what their uniforms do look like but one thing is certain, every team member has to wear the same uniform.  There is a saying I heard that most athletes are not fashion forward.  But that may be so years ago and then again that may also be a myth.

 If we notice that most times the players clean up after their games and go off to their press conferences making their own fashion statement. 

Let’s face it though, almost all pro athletes are millionaires and they can afford to hire fashion stylists to dress them and keep them up to date with the latest trends in the fashion industry.  So therefore they, themselves don’t have to know a peep about what’s hot and what’s not. 

While in their sport of choice, uniforms are a collective effort and not one person can bear the blame whether the uniform becomes a candidate for the worst or best uniform list. 

Take throw back uniforms for example.  From time to time teams, I think wear them to give their fans a nostalgic feel and less for their fashion sense because in some cases they come off as outdated.  Although the intentions, however were to bring back fond memories of “back in the day” I’m sure, they end up being fashion “don’ts.” 

A uniform, say one that was worn back in the 60’s and 70’s were the look of that era and I’m sure went over well with the fans.  But fashion is an industry of change so therefore throw backs may need to have a modern flair to go over well especially with today’s fans. Not saying that some teams are not able to pull them off. 

Why does this matter though? Believe it or not sports and fashion do go together on and off the court, the field, the ice, the track or the dugout.

The significance of a team’s uniforms, color or logo is also like coffee and cream, one needs the other to make a perfect combination.  Our Pro home teams are no different.  What else could the New York Jets be called that is appropriately fitting for them other than Gang Green?  Or what can be said of Big Blue? 

The New York Rangers gives us the banner of the red, white and blue, that ageless patriotic flair.  Not to mention the NY Yankees known for their pinstripes and exquisitely designed logo of the initials of the greatest city in the world.  Their Subway Series rival the New York Mets has the similar NY initials as well.  Although not designed by Tiffany’s as is the Yankees logo, the Mets uniform does stand out with the bright orange lay out that makes them unique. The New York Knicks colors are similar to that of the Mets which may say something about our New York teams. 

They love uniforms that make them stand out and easily identifiable.  This leads me to say that our NY/NJ teams may not make anybody’s worst uniform list not while we are so close to the mecca of fashion.  So no matter what uniforms our teams wear or what gears we choose to wear for the teams we represent as fans, let’s make our own fashion statement.