Fashion and sport have been closely intertwined for nearly a hundred years. Top athletes have always been known for wearing stylish and trendy clothing when competing in their respective sports, but today's sports stars have taken it to a new level in recent years.
There's a huge sportswear market for sports fans who like to dress like their heroes, but it's not just sportswear fashion that's important.
Major sports stars today also like to set trends outside of their respective sports, wearing clothing and accessories from some of today's leading fashion brands when going out for meals etc.
Take a closer look right here at why sports stars have become global fashion icons.
Why are sports stars today also fashion icons?
Almost every top athlete in every major sport from around the world is, in one way or another, a fashion icon, but more so in certain major sports than others. The main reason for this is money!
For example, you don't see as many fashion icons from sports that generate less money, such as darts, chess, snooker, bowling, cycling, netball, or water polo.
When it comes to sports that generate billions of dollars each year, such as NBA basketball, formula 1 motor racing, soccer/football, golf, tennis, MMA/UFC, and American football, to name just a few, there are many fashion icons. Some people also refer to these people as 'influencers.'
The major fashion labels understand the importance of brand recognition all too well, and what better way to advertise their brands than to pay the top sports stars to wear their clothing?
Perhaps your favourite sports star is LeBron James. If you see him wearing Nike-branded shorts or accessories on or off the court, you will more than likely purchase similar clothing when you next go shopping for clothes.
Similarly, if you're a fan of Lewis Hamilton and see him wearing a Rolex watch the next time he's on the red carpet, those with money looking for a new watch will be more inclined to purchase a Rolex when they next go shopping for one.
Do you still have to dress fashionably to walk into a casino?
While there are still dress codes at land-based casinos, they are nowhere near as strict as they used to be. That doesn't mean to say that it's ok to walk into a casino with holes in your shoes or loose-fitting clothing covered in dirt and stains.
You also don't need to dress like James Bond unless you are visiting a swanky casino, which only high rollers generally frequent.
The good news is that you don't need to dress sharp to bet online at an online casino or sports betting site because nobody will ever see you.
Some sites today have poker, sports betting, casino games and bingo all under one roof. They are known as sports betting casinos, and there are lots to choose from. For the ultimate list of sports betting casinos, one of the best sites you can turn to is the official Ask Gamblers website.
Which top sports stars are recognised as fashion icons?
Some of the biggest sports stars in the world (both past and present) that are recognised as fashion icons are the following people:
●NBA – LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Allen Iverson, Russel Westbrook, Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, Jalen Green, Jordan Clarkson, Ben Simmons, D'Angelo Russel, Myles Turner, and Tyler Herro, to name just a few
● Football/Soccer – Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Neymar Jr, Hector Bellerin, and Marcus Rashford
● Formula 1 – Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris
● NFL/American Football – Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown, Cam Newton, DeMarco Murray, Reggie Bush, Von Miller, Eric Decker, Victor Cruz, and Tom Brady
● Tennis – Fred Perry, Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Emma Raducanu
● Golf – Tiger Woods, Payne Stewart, Sam Ryder, Billy Horschel
●UFC/MMA – Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, Sean O'Malley, Max Holloway, Yoshihiro' Sexyama' Akiyama, and Kamaru Usman
●Boxing – Floyd Mayweather Jr, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson, 'Prince' Naseem Hamed, Jack Dempsey
● Major League Baseball – Ryan Braun, David Ortiz, Evan Longoria, Cole Hamels, Justin Verlander
There are also many other sports personalities currently at the top of their game who make just as much money from wearing fashionable clothing.
These stars often sign multi-million-dollar contracts to wear clothing and accessories outside of the sports they compete in. Some of the biggest fashion brands that pay these celebrities to wear and promote their creations are the following:
● OG Yeezy
● Nike
● Adidas
● Moschino
● Gucci
● Dolce & Gabbana
● Yves Saint Laurent
● Ralph Lauren
● Versace
● Tiffany
● Prada
● Chanel
● Dior
● Giorgio Armani
You can also see stars wearing the latest outfits, watches, jewellery, and other items from various other major brands, such as Givenchy, Balenciaga, Hermes, Cartier, Alexander McQueen, and Fendi, to name just a few.
The bigger the sports star, the bigger the contract, and it's a win-win situation for both the fashion house and the athletes.
Final note
If you're looking to sign up to any of the fully licensed sports betting casinos that have been reviewed for you on the official Ask Gamblers website, you must be at least 18 years old.
When you register a free account at top-rated sites, such as Mr. Green, bet365, TonyBet, Mr. Play Casino, Rizk Casino, Dr. Bet, or BetVictor, to name just a few top sites, remember to claim your guaranteed new player welcome bonus.
The sign-up bonus often includes either a free bet, a matching deposit bonus, or free spins to try out a selection of online slot machines.
These fully licensed sports betting casinos are controlled by reputable operators with sound reputations. Renowned authorities license them in multiple top-tier online gambling jurisdictions, and they all welcome a variety of today's most trusted online payment solutions for secure deposits and withdrawals.
