Remember that Bulls jersey I own that’s so faded and beaten up that Emma jokes about using it to wipe down kitchen counters? Yeah, she’s basically right and I can’t blame her. It’s hard to get that jersey clean when it barely resembles a piece of clothing at this point, which is totally apropos considering how the Bulls have looked in game after game this season.
Speaking of team apparel woes, team jerseys and shirts straight from the official store are almost universally garbage. I hate wearing them because they’re usually poorly made, have terrible fits and wash them and they get stained within the first wash. Every time I wear one of those jerseys I feel like I’m wearing a billboard that says “yes I like this team, but please don’t look too deeply at my fashion sense.”
Back in my hypebeast-y hypebeast years circa 2016 I was no stranger to dropping $400 on a Supreme box logo hoodie but couldn’t tell you why I felt embarrassed wearing my officially licensed NBA jersey that cost me $60. The jersey always felt off — the jersey didn’t fit well and honestly made me look stupid.
Let me introduce you to my college buddy Jake. He literally lives and breathes the Lakers. Lakers jersey on, Lakers snapback hat, even wore Lakers slides on his wedding day (no joke, his wife brings that shit up to this day). As you can imagine, walking around Portland in full purple and gold is jarring, especially when Portland fashion pretty much consists of neutral colors and Japanese denim.
Men can be so territorial when it comes to sports and fashion. I’ll never forget when I told Jake that he should wear something sans Lakers for his interview at a tech startup. He blew up, saying “Wear something without Lakers?!? Are you kidding me?! ?” Dude got passed over for the job, but I’m pretty sure his Shaq-era Lakers jersey during his interview didn’t help.
What are your team colors really saying about you? Wearing official jerseys as part of your every day uniform screams “high school.” Just because you rock a color doesn’t mean you have to look like a participating student. There’s nothing wrong with staying in your comfort zone but everything about those jerseys screams lazy. I’ll never forget walking around San Fran and seeing guys wearing Seahawks jerseys with cargo shorts and New Balances.
Vintage team apparel shirts guys are on to something. Vintage Lakers jerseys, Bulls snapbacks from the MJ era – I love everything about it. The logos way back then were clean, unlike today where they think every single logo needs gradients, extra swooshes and chrome plating that’ll look outdated within weeks of dropping. Last year I splurged on eBay and bought vintage Bulls merch from the 90’s. I found this sweet Bulls crewneck from 1991 that was $180 but worth every penny because of how timeless it looks compared to current Bulls merch.
And then there are the guys that think staying subtle with team colors is working, but it’s not. My neighbor Dan loves to drop any and all Blazers references when talking about clothing he owns but I’ll be damned if everything he owns isn’t red and black. Red flannel plaid shirt, black jeans, red shoes, black snapback. Dude basically is sponsored by the Blazers but you’d never know because there aren’t any logos on his clothes. His girlfriend literally caught him in the act last summer. He spent the next hour telling her how it was “completely coincidental” while rocking a red t-shirt with black shorts. Deny all you want, Dan but I call bullshit.
Last but not least, we have the Supreme x Nike NBA throwback jersey type of guys. Guys that spend thousands of dollars on designer leather goods just because the team colors are red, black and white. I get it and appreciate the loyalty but c’mom dudes… $800 for a LV wallet because it’s Lakers blue? Please don’t be that guy.
So what *does* work when it comes to subtly wearing your favorite team colors? Vintage. Everything about vintage jerseys and shirts were just cleaner. Marketing departments these days think every logo needs to look like Optimus Prime crashed into it. I own this lightly worn Bulls tee from late ’80s that I scored from Seattle Goodwill for $6. The logo is simply a red C on white background with no added flair. Gets me more compliments than my Supreme clothes that were 10 times the price.
Quality collaborations with your favorite team are pretty dope too. Brands like Carhartt and Levi’s have done team collections where the products are usually superior. The Bulls did a collaboration with Carhartt a few seasons back and I purchased the jacket as soon as I saw it. The trucker jacket has a clean cut to it and being Carhartt, the jacket is well made. The Bulls logo is on the front sleeve which is subtle enough for others to take notice but not over the top.
For work apparel? Accessories, my friend. Team colored pocket squares, cufflinks, even socks. I have a friend who owns his own consulting business and gets his dress shirts customized to have his team colors as the button thread. It’s a little extra but no one really notices unless he tells them. And when he does tell them, everyone loses their shit.
If you’re willing to drop some coin on custom made team apparel, check out shops like Ebbets Field Flannels. Yes, it costs more than buying your Bulls jersey from the NBA store but the craftsmanship and quality of the apparel blows theofficial stuff out of the water. Not to mention you’re not wearing the same exact jersey as the next 20,000 Bulls fans. I purchased a custom wool baseball hat and it’s great for dressy occasions and baseball games.
Fit is important when it comes to official apparel as well. Wearing an XL jersey when you’re a medium at every other clothing item is a quick way to look like you gave up. If you’re going to wear team jerseys, at least wear the right size. The NBA has made some improvements to their jerseys with their “fashion fit” selections. The cuts are slimmer and the fabrics are better. They’re not perfect but definitely a step up from their classic baggy jerseys.
You can also experiment with colors that don’t directly match your teams colors. Bulls red is literally firetruck red and doesn’t look great on a lot of people. Pairing deep burgundy or even rust colored shirts really gives off that team color vibe without being so in your face about it. I learned my lesson when wearing a tie to meet with a client that was almost an exact match to Bulls red. My ultra chic client (who was also a fabulous older woman who definitely knew more about fashion than me) stopped me in my tracks and said, “That’s… very bright.” Great. Thanks a lot, I don’t need that during a client presentation.
There’s plenty of occasions you should lay down your jersey and turn in your team colors for the day. Weddings, job interviews, dates fall under that category. You’re not at the ballpark so unless you work for the team, wearing your team gear probably isn’t appropriate. Last year I wore a vintage Bulls shirt to a coffee date with this girl I matched with on Tinder. Long story short, she was from LA and lived and died by the Lakers. We spent 45 minutes debating who’s better, Jordan or LeBron before we both realized we wouldn’t really click because of our team loyalties. Some rivalries are better left at the basketball court.
Let’s face it, your team apparel choices say a lot about you whether you want to admit it or not. I get being a die hard sports fan but wearing your team jersey as part of your everyday attire is just lazy. Your team may not win every year, but you shouldn’t be taking L’s with your style everyday too.
