Fashion Playbook: From Wimbledon whites to F1 paddock chic, the biggest sports fashion trends ruling 2026

'Tis the month of sports. While last month the Knicks winning had unleashed a series of style shenanigans, there’s the British GP this weekend and the Belgian GP the week after. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup has got Indian fans messing up their sleep cycle. Add to that the parade of Wimbledon whites, and we have a sports calendar that is running high on adrenaline with a side of style.

There’s a return of tennicore and blokecore (more on that later). Lewis Hamilton has reinvented paddock chic when he successfully negotiated with Ferrari for special contractual freedom that allows him to bypass wearing official team gear and showcase high-fashion designs when walking into the paddock.

The events are no longer just about athletic excellence — they have become powerful fashion platforms. Athletes today are cultural tastemakers as much as competitors. At the same time, luxury labels are partnering with sports organisations, football jerseys have become streetwear staples, Formula 1 has ushered in “paddock chic”.

Kick it in style

Fashion plays centre forward in football, as ‘blokecore’ is back. First coined on TikTok in 2021, the term comes from British soccer slang. It’s a trend that turns vintage football jerseys into everyday streetwear by pairing them with relaxed denim, tailored trousers, skirts or sneakers for an effortlessly sporty look.

What to get: Sports jerseys, track shorts, cleats, football socks
Who wore it recently: Zendaya and Rihanna

"A football jersey is the best way to integrate a football-inspired look into your wardrobe and can be the base for many looks. Also invest in a classic pair of retro sneakers like Adidas Sambas & SL 72, Nike Cortez or Dunks, New Balance 574 or 2002R, Puma Speed Cat, Converse Chuck 70s," Rin Jajo, stylist

White out | Tenniscore

At this point, Naomi Osaka may be known more for her on-court entrances than her performances, but her Wimbledon walk-tothe-court outfit was surely not phoned in.

The sculptural kimono crafted by designer Hana Yahi used seven different textiles upcycled from vintage kimonos, a traditional shiromuku wedding dress, and a deconstructed bridal gown. It was detailed with embroidered cranes stretched across the delicate fabric, along with cherry blossoms, all done in pearl-white thread.

Two days later, the four-time grand slam champion replaced it with a cleaner silhouette featuring a traditional sash, a flowing train and a bomber jacket embroidered with flowers. As the fashion forerunner in the game, Osaka clearly brings tenniscore a fashion aesthetic inspired by the game back again.

What’s back: Pleated skirts, polo knits, cable-knit sweaters, white sneakers
Style icons: Naomi Osaka, Novak Djokovic

"I think the biggest difference is intent when it comes to styling sportswear for everyday life. You are mixing performance pieces with lifestyle pieces. For example, pair a tennis skirt with an oversized blazer, or a football jersey with tailored trousers instead of track pants. That’s when it becomes fashion. Tenniscore is polished, preppy and clean — think pleated skirts, polos, crisp whites, cable knits. Blokecore is more relaxed and nostalgic, like oversized football jerseys, vintage sneakers, track jackets. The trick is to let one sports-inspired piece be the hero and balance it with elevated basics," Rishi Raj, stylist

Basketball Basics

The Knicks won their first NBA championship after 53 years. While mayor Zohran Mamdani donned a Josh Hart jersey under his suit jacket and over his shirt and tie, it was Rama Duwaji’s look that channeled the DIY spirit of downtown New York. She wore a cascading upcycled Knicks T-shirt dress by 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Miss Claire Sullivan layered over a black skirt with orange pom-pom earrings to match. Basketball fashion is all about shorts and sneakers. If you want to follow, a classic Air Jordans is the way to go.

How fashion meets football

Gabriela Hearst became the first designer to craft made-to-measure uniforms for the national team of Uruguay — popularly known as Le Celeste (the Sky Blue) — and its management crew.

Spanish luxury house Loewe has entered the world of international football through a new partnership with Spain’s men’s and women’s national teams, becoming their official off-the-pitch dressing partner.

Sportswear giant adidas has partnered with Mexican social-impact label Someone Somewhere on a special-edition lifestyle jersey celebrating the intersection of football, craftsmanship and community.

Players from the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in black suits with asymmetric leopard-print panels and bejewelled leopard lapel pins, immediately sending social media into a frenzy. The double-breasted trompe-l’oeil suits crafted in black silk crepe with double-collar construction and velvet leopard print details were designed by Franco-Congolese designer Alvin Junior Mak of jmakxparis.

Luxury brand Jacquemus and Nike came together to dress the French national team. For the England men’s national team, Nike has collaborated with the British company Palace Skateboards to unveil the ‘The Three Lions by Palace’ capsule collection.

Canadian rapper and singer Drake’s streetwear label NOCTA has unveiled its own striking interpretation of the Canadian jersey as part of the X2 Nike Collection.

"For wearing sports fashion, integrate one item into your look. The idea is to contrast rather than match. So it’s good to try the unexpected like wearing a jersey tucked into pleated pants, or a tailored shirt with tennis skirts, or a blazer thrown on over a rugby shirt. And, of course sneakers, are always a fun and comfy way to bring a sportswear element to your outfit, and so are caps," Rin Jajo, fashion stylist

Paddock Chic | F1

Formula 1 may be about speed, but today it’s just as much about style. The paddock has become motorsport’s answer to the front row at Fashion Week, where drivers arrive in meticulously curated looks before slipping into their race suits. No one embodies the shift better than Lewis Hamilton, who has transformed pre-race arrivals into style moments with oversized tailoring, bold prints, luxury streetwear and emerging designers. His move to Scuderia Ferrari this season has only intensified the spotlight, making every paddock appearance as closely watched as his race performance.

With celebrities, luxury maisons (LVMH is an official partner while Gucci is set to tie up with Alpine Racing for the next season) and global brands now treating Formula 1 as a cultural playground, paddock chic has become one of fashion’s fastest-growing aesthetics.

What’s back: Racing jackets, leather bombers, watches, utility separates, statement sunglasses, sleek sneakers
Style icons: Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Yuki Tsunoda

“The pieces that work best are the timeless ones. Polo T-shirts, rugby shirts, bomber and track jackets, retro sneakers, baseball caps and zip-up jackets are incredibly versatile. Where people go wrong is going too literal like head-to-toe team merchandise can start looking like you’re on your way to training rather than dressing for the day. Fashion always works better when it borrows from sport rather than copies it completely," Rishi Raj.