Athlete style has shifted over the past five years as athletes increasingly shape culture beyond sports. Stylists describe the work as demanding yet fulfilling, occurring through brand partnerships and careful sourcing of clothing that fits athletes’ bodies and needs. Size inclusivity is emphasized, especially for women athletes whose sizing can fall outside standard offerings, including larger shoe sizes and longer inseams. Stylists stress that presence can communicate representation when athletes do not speak directly about it. Brands are expected to support athletes’ visibility and stand behind them, aligning fashion choices with broader inclusion goals.
"Size inclusivity is a huge thing. Because, especially when you're talking about the W[NBA], you're talking about women who are sometimes a men's size 13 shoe, who are sometimes a 36-inch inseam. And although we're using this platform to talk about larger issues, sometimes the larger issue is: I'm here and I'm a plus-size woman. Sometimes you have to use your presence to talk about those things, if you're not verbally saying that, [and] you have to get the brands to stand behind you."
"Over the last five years, there has been a significant shift in how fashion and sports intersect, both on and off the court, with athletes' influence extending beyond the court and into culture at large. Why now? And how has athlete style evolved? These were some of the questions that three prominent athlete stylists - Brittany Hampton, Courtney Mays and Dex Robinson - unpacked last week at the panel "Game Changers: Where Sport Meets Style.""
"The evening could've kept going - Hampton, Mays and Robinson had so much to say about an industry that is still widely misunderstood and filled with gatekeeping. The below edited version of the conversation gives you a glimpse into the demanding yet deeply fulfilling world of styling athletes."
Read at Los Angeles Times
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