Germany’s Footballing Finest on Style, Pre-Match Rituals & Kits
Fashion and football are well and truly committed. What felt for many years like an on-off situationship has fully bloomed into a satorial power couple. Just look to the runway to see how both emerging designers and established houses have been drawing cues from the pitch and weaving them into their collections.
Nike has played a key role in this transition. The Swoosh's offering has long spanned the spectrum from pure performance to the deep corners of subculture, opening up a two-way street between the once opposing worlds. Releases like the recently launched T90 demonstrate how The Swoosh has transported football performance products and design elements into the fashion sphere in a meaningful and highly successful way.
As we prepare for a summer of women’s football fever, we sat down with three Nike players from the German national team before the tournament to explore these merging worlds further and discuss pre-game rituals, the power of female kits, and their off-pitch style.
How do you prepare for a game?
Giulia Gwinn: “I have a few rituals that I go through before the game. I do breathing techniques, because that helps me to calm down. I don't feel super nervous, I feel more of a positive anticipation, and that subsides relatively quickly when I start to play.”
Selina Cerci: I listen to a lot of music, do breathing exercises, and just try to calm down. I go through my good scenes that I've already played in the game in my head and tell myself that I'm going to make a good game."
Klara Bühl: "It's really important to eat well, to have good energy in the body and the mind, and feel fresh. The sleep before a game is really important, and I can sleep. So, normally, I take a nap in the afternoon if we play in the evening."
Do you have any rituals?
Cerci: “When I walk onto the pitch, I touch both posts on both sides of the goals.”
Bühl: “I tie my left shoe first.”
Gwinn: “I always step onto the pitch with my right foot first.”
What’s your off-pitch style?
Gwinn: “Still sporty but also chic. I love Travis Scott's collaboration with Nike. I really, really like wearing them. I like to try things out. I just like to express myself and try to make sure it reflects my character.”
Bühl: “Casual, I’m not that crazy or into following trends. I go with the flow, and just dress how I’m feeling.”
Cerci: “Everything. My style is different, also sporty and elegant. I just wear what makes me feel confident.”
When it comes to game day, do you have a routine you always follow?
Cerci: “I always do my hair at home. I do it myself because I probably take too much time to braid it. Otherwise, it’s breakfast, then relax, listen to music, sing a little something like that, and then depart.”
Gwinn: “I just focus on comfort. It has to feel good. I'm a perfectionist. So, whether it's my clothes or my hair, everything has to fit perfectly.”
There has been a lot more investment in performance wear and boots designed for and tested on female athletes. How does that impact your game?
Bühl: “It makes a really big difference. Sometimes we play with men's kits, if there's a new jersey and there's no women's fit, then it's like, you don't feel it, it's not comfortable, and then, you just feel like, “no, that's not so good.” And that's why it's so important that we have our own kit.”
Gwinn: “It definitely has a huge significance. When you have the feeling that you can perform 100 percent on the pitch, that you feel comfortable, it goes hand in hand. It's really nice to see that we're looked after and that our opinion is valued.”
Cerci: “It's up to everyone what they like to wear, but I'm in favor of wearing women's jerseys with cuts and being able to convey this femininity on the pitch, so to speak. It helps me feel like the same person on the pitch. It’s not just about men's football.”
Who’s your dream kit collaborator?
Gwinn: “My own collaboration, haha!”
