Image credit: Getty Images

Buzz in fashion circles has long centred—and justifiably so—around the kits worn during the match. How one country’s national colours are best represented on a jersey worn under lights for the world to see. So, understandably, there’s a lot of pressure around their design. Cult-favourite designer Grace Wales Bonner stepped up to the challenge with the Jamaican national team, and the ‘Reggae Girlz’ as they are better known, are easily one of the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s most stylish squads.

With all the pressure that goes into styling the Women’s World Cup jerseys, where is the thought for the looks off the pitch? There’s still eyes on the team as they make their way from the bus to the changeroom, or during press conferences and official engagements. The stylish game that soccer has become has seen the star athletes take on entirely new personas in the fashion world when not in the team uniform. While many take to tracksuits in the colours of the team, more teams are inking partnerships with fashion houses to create more sartorially-driven options for the women's teams.

On the men’s side of the game, players like Hector Bellerin and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have become heavily involved in fashion projects outside of soccer, an interest that has fed reciprocally back into the game. And it’s starting to be taken more seriously on the women’s side too. Megan Rapinoe, captain of the United States Women’s National Team, on receiving her Presidential Medal of Freedom, was dressed in an all-white suit from Bode, embroidered with special messages of her chosen causes.

On the biggest stage in women’s sport, some of the largest fashion houses are getting involved. And where some err more towards the more formal looks worn between matches, other designers are tapping into the sportswear side, blending athletic inspiration with more contemporary suiting touches.

Take a look at some of the best off-pitch uniforms from the Women’s World Cup.

Image credit: Prada

China (Prada)

The ‘Steel Roses’ will be dressed in the minimal flair but maximum style of the Italian fashion house Prada for the Women’s World Cup. The simple look is made up of a neat black blazer with matching trousers, a white shirt and branded loafers. The Milanese label announced that the new partnerships would extend well beyond the Women’s World Cup—right through to at least the Paris 2024 Olympics. Fostering the high fashion connection with sport, while not revolutionary, is seeing rewarding diversity beyond solely male brand ambassadors, and represents another foray into the Chinese sporting world from the brand.

Image credit: Getty Images

United States (Martine Rose x Nike)

Easily one of the most talked-about looks of the Women’s World Cup so far, when the USWNT stepped out before their opening match against Vietnam, they cut a fearsome sight. Dressing in ‘genderless’ bespoke tailored suits designed in collaboration between British designer Martine Rose and American sportswear giant Nike. A subtle jacquard print, co-branded with the US National team logo on one chest and ‘MR’ on the other, when styled with the tinted-lens visor-style glasses a la Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, it will be a tough off-pitch look to beat.

Image credit: Beare Park

Matildas (Beare Park)

While it is hard to beat the iconic green and gold worn by the Matilda’s on the pitch, local label Beare Park has risen to the task of dressing our national team for off-pitch activities. The specially designed uniform will feature each player’s name as well as their Matildas’ cap number embroidered into the yet-to-be revealed uniform. In what is indisputably the most exciting period in women’s soccer, to have the moment cemented in the luxury of Australian Merino wool, is a look worth celebrating.

Image credit: Marks and Spencer

England (Marks and Spencer)

Marks and Spencer was named the Official Tailor of the England Senior Women’s Team in July this year, cementing the partnership the iconic English label has had with English football since 2007.

Image credit: Marks and Spencer

Challenging the uniformity of off-pitch dressing, instead Marks and Spencer has encouraged a more individual approach to styling, with the team kitted out in everything from satin shirts, to sportier tops and waistcoats.

Image credit: Instagram/azzurrefigc

Italy (Emporio Armani)

The legendary Italian fashion label would be the least surprising option to dress the Italian Women’s national team. Having created a partnership with the men’s team back in 2019, the women’s team will be suited in classic looks of the brand, from a signature lighter grey to a stylish black suit.

Image credit: Instagram/emporioarmani

Both looks feature a neat one-button jacket that comes cut in a more athletic fit. Woven in ultra-light wool, the look blends the comfort of a pre-match kid with the added contemporary edge of Armani’s sartorial touch.

Image credit: Animale

Brazil (Animale)

The Brazilian Women’s National team—otherwise known as the ‘Seleção Feminina’ have their official uniforms designed by Animale, a female-operated Brazilian brand. The sky-blue suits feature an internal button that holds the suit louchely open, with the look rounded out with cropped tailored pants, and a coloured silk scarf. As reported by Brazilian outlet Sporto the uniform is one of the few developed by local brands to have drawn on the direct input from the players selected, who took a role in helping achieve the right cut, fit, and colour of the uniforms.

Image credit: Getty Images

Spain 

Scrapping the bright red uniforms Spain traditionally play in, off-pitch, the team’s look is more neutral and pared-back. In a dark navy suit matched with a white shirt, the subtle team logo is embroidered on the chest. Without straying overly formal, the comfortable look swaps out more formal shoes for a clean pair of white sneakers.

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