The Fashion of Football: From Best to Beckham, From Mod to Label Slave

The Fashion of Football is a groundbreaking work that examines the link between soccer and fashion. Featuring a selection of rare photographs, the book divides itself into a work of two halves—the first depicting how fashion has influenced the players, and the second showing how it has been represented in the stands. We begin in 1962, when restrictions limiting earnings from professional soccer were lifted and players started to focus on looking good. We visit George Best's boutique in Manchester, try on the Terry Venables' wig, and reveal how the 1970s Chelsea team used flamboyant King's Road boutiques to gain the upper hand in psychological battles with fierce rivals Leeds. We then move on to the '80s to consider the influence British black footballers brought to bear on fashion, leaving room to mention the hairdressers and the mullet. Finally, in the '90s, we're confronted with Liverpool FC in white suits and David Beckham in a skirt.