The Matildas swap footy shorts for high fashion

AS the W-League season kicks off, three soccer superstars swap their uniforms for floor-length gowns.

From left: Matildas players Stephanie Catley, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord. Picture: Tāne Coffin

THIS isn’t an average day in the office for Stephanie Catley, Caitlin Foord and Ellie Carpenter.

The three Westfield Matildas players are more comfortable on a soccer field than in front of a camera, but at the Stellar fashion shoot, you wouldn’t know it.

Catley, 22, sits in front of a mirror as a make-up artist retouches her face; Foord, 21, stretches out a leg so the stylist can smooth cream into her skin.

Carpenter, 16, lifts her chin for the camera, as directed by the photographer. For footballers, they make convincing models.

Catley, who made her senior debut at the age of 15, remembers her first ever photo shoot. “All I wanted to do was be in shorts and a T-shirt,” says the Melbourne City FC player.

“I remember thinking, ‘I will never be nervous for a soccer game again.’ Soccer is so much more natural to me.”

Ellie wears Levi’s jacket, $120, Ae’lkemi dress, $1198, and pants, $798, Sandro Paris jacket (worn around waist), $750, Converse shoes, $100, Domayne chair, $399. Picture: Tāne Coffin.

Catley started playing in the front yard with her brother and the boys on the street when she was just five years old.

Now, the defender, who was one of the first women to be on the cover of a FIFA video game, represents Australia on our national team and also plays for the Orlando Pride in the US.

Since starting out, she has seen more support for women in sport develop.

“It’s definitely something that hasn’t been around, so it’s about time,” she says.

“We train just as hard and just as much [as the men], so to get recognition and support from Australians has been amazing for our national team and great for the league as well.”

That support will hopefully translate to better pay and conditions for the players.

Caitlin wears Kenzo x H&M coat, $299, Ae’lkemi dress, $1198, Lucilla Gray earrings, $89, Senso shoes, 239. Picture: Tāne Coffin

Stephanie wears Sonia Rykiel jacket, $1337, Iris & Ink bandeau top, $285, ASOS shirt (worn underneath), $78, Country Road pants, $180, Sarina Suriano earrings, $385. Picture: Tāne Coffin

This season, Football Federation Australia is expected to bring in a new base standard to increase the minimum-pay rate.

Sydney FC right-winger Foord is happy to see the change.

“In past years there have been some girls on contracts who were probably losing more money than gaining [it],” she says.

“Hopefully this does help, so people don’t have to have a second job.”

Unlike some of her fellow players who do supplement soccer careers with second jobs, Foord plays full-time. In 2011, at the age of 16, she was the youngest ever Australian to play at a World Cup. This year she played for the Matildas at the Rio Olympics.

Ellie wears Rebecca Vallance dress, $879, TOME shirt (worn underneath), $625, and jeans, $665. Stephanie wears Ae’lkemi dress, POA, Bonds tank top (worn underneath), $27, Witchery pants, $140, Natalie Marie x Daniel Avakian earrings, $230. Picture: Tāne Coffin.

“Coming off the Olympics, this W-League is the biggest one yet; it’s exciting,” she says.

Just as excited for this season is Western Sydney Wanderers player Carpenter.

“I’m really grateful to the older girls for doing everything they have and helping us young ones out.”

In March, the teenager made her debut for the Matildas and became the first player – male or female – born in the 21st century to represent the Australian senior national team.

“I think a fair amount of people underestimated me because of how young I am, but you’ve just got to prove them wrong,” says Carpenter.

(From left) Stephanie wears ASOS top, $57, Maje skirt, $420. Ellie wears Off-White jacket, $1427, Michael Lo Sordo top, $550, Rebecca Vallance skirt, $689. Caitlin wears Michael Lo Sordo trench coat (shown on arms), $750; Sandro Paris jacket (worn around waist), $920, Witchery top, $150, and pants, $170, Maje skirt, $390, Senso shoes, $249. Picture: Tāne Coffin

And she’s doing just that, waking up at 4am to train with the team before sitting down to study for six hours at high school.

Carpenter credits her Matildas teammates, including Catley and Foord, for paving the way for the next generation of female footballers.

“I’m really grateful to the older girls for doing everything they have and helping us young ones out,” she says.

The Westfield W-League season runs until February. w-league.com.au

Originally published as The Matildas swap footy shorts for high fashion