Like many people around the world this week, Sam Kerr has been watching Beckham.
In the new Netflix documentary series, David Beckham’s love of fashion is a driving narrative. But as Kerr points out, over Zoom from her home in London, the former Manchester United player’s personal style was somewhat controversial at the time. Today, however, Kerr believes fashion has found its rightful place at the heart of international soccer.
Australian soccer player and Matildas captain Sam Kerr says comfort is key when getting dressed.Credit: Nathan Perri/Supplied
“Fashion is always going to be important in every sport,” she says. “People loved what he [Beckham] did as a footballer, but everyone loved him off the pitch for his hair, all of that. I mean, I had the blonde tips back in the day.”
For the Matildas captain, who says soccer only makes up about five per cent of her life, the clothes that define both her style and sense of self go far beyond the green and gold of her Matildas kit. Off the pitch, Kerr’s style is what her long-term partner, US soccer player Kristie Mewis, defines as “sporty tomboy”.
In her own words, Kerr’s personal style has come full circle. When the Chelsea FC player, now 30, was in her late teenage years, she dressed much like she does today, prioritising comfort above all else. But during her mid-20s, Kerr felt pressure to fit in, dressing in what she thought was expected of female athletes at the time.
“I’ll look at photos of myself, when I’m at awards or something, and kind of cringe because I can see myself trying to do what other people wanted me to,” says Kerr.
Today, she only has four or five pieces from the women’s section in her closet, and she’s not afraid to tell stylists on photoshoots what she won’t wear.
“People expect that of me now,” she says. “If I were to go and wear a dress, people would be a bit like, ‘Woah, what’s going on here?’ I’ve made it my normal.”
Growing up with male athletes as her sporting and style inspiration, Kerr understands and appreciates the role model she is to young people – particularly young queer women – whether they play soccer or not.
“When I see young girls and boys who say they wore this, or cut their hair like this because I did, it’s an amazing feeling. Young girls look up to me and see that they can be themselves,” says Kerr. “That’s probably more special to me than someone saying they want to be like me on the football pitch.”
But a deep appreciation for Kerr’s personal style isn’t only coming from fans, it also comes directly from Mewis.
Despite having different approaches to getting dressed – Mewis would prefer to look good, even if it means being uncomfortable, while Kerr is the opposite – they still manage to cash in on a perk of many queer relationships: sharing clothes.
However, Kerr admits Mewis is more likely to borrow from her wardrobe than she is from her partner’s. “She’ll probably kill me for saying this, but she borrows my clothes, and steals them,” says Kerr. “The biggest thing we share is sneakers. We’re the same size, which is amazing.”
Kerr features in the campaign for the Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive – a free clothing donation pick-up happening across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney on Saturday, October 21, in partnership with Uber. As anyone who has tasked themselves with sorting their wardrobe into “keep” and “donate” piles will relate to, the toughest part of wardrobe clean-outs is deciding whether to part with items that hold sentimental value. It’s a dilemma not even Kerr is exempt from.
But what about on the pitch? During the World Cup, Kerr made headlines after giving her jersey to young Matildas fan Zara Borcak, who was in the crowd as Australia took on France. How does a player decide when to throw a jersey into a crowd and when to keep it?
According to Kerr, the decision is always an impulsive one. “It’s a moment you have with the kid,” she says. “Other times, it’s an important jersey to me, and I’d never give it away. The jersey going out to the crowd is never something I think of before the game, it’s always in the moment.”
But Kerr’s approach to sustainability in fashion isn’t just about donating, it’s also about re-wearing the items she loves most. In her thoughts around outfit-repeating, Kerr is relatable as ever.
“I wore the same outfit yesterday that I did the day before because no one saw me,” she says. “I love when people wear the same outfit – it shows a confidence in yourself that not many people have.“
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