Penrith star Nathan Cleary’s seamless conversion from footy star to man of style

Known for his incredible feats on the field NRL star Nathan Cleary also knows what he’s doing when it comes to style.

He’s the king on the field, and now Nathan Cleary is establishing himself as a man of style off it.

Fresh from an 18-hour-flight from Vegas, and impressive season opener, the reigning four time premiership winner proved his fashion sense is comparable to his on-field prowess.

Donning his sponsored Adidas gear on arrival in Sydney, Cleary took his look to another level

with a Versace Barocco-print messenger bag.

NRL players wearing bags and designer clothing, while rare, is not necessarily a new thing, but Cleary’s fashion choices may have taken some inspiration from similar American sporting superstars in both the NBA and NFL.

The bag in which Cleary was wearing was from a diffusion brand aligned to the more affordable Versace Jeans line.

Nathan Cleary spotted in top-end Adidas gear and a Versace bag. Picture: Jeremy Piper

According to fashion experts at Vogue magazine Cleary’s bag is a piece of affordable luxury and appeals to those who want to dip their toe in the fashion world. They’re interested in the image they’re projecting to the world and gaining a bit of fashion confidence.

Versace and this bag is definitely in keeping with being mainstream – it’s not a niche insider-only sort of brand that is elitist.

A similar style of bag to Cleary’s was found on fashion retail site Far Fetch for $238 (on sale down from $340), however bags from their other collection retail into the several thousand dollars.

Nathan Cleary in action in Vegas

Could this be the start of a fashion journey for the NRL superstar?

Some brands could only hope.

Pop culture’s biggest names have been spotted wearing the timeless pieces, making some of their looks iconic.

Even when looking at the Cleary’s Adidas gear, it was on the higher end of the market for the sports retailer.

Wearing a shirt from the Y-3 collection, a piece similar to the one the Panthers No.7 wore is valued at $250.

Cleary has been held in a similar regard to some of the game’s greats, now with his newly acquired fashion taste, he could become recognisable world wide.

Originally published as Penrith star Nathan Cleary’s seamless conversion from footy star to man of style