It’s no secret that airport fashion is not fit for the runway. Air passengers tend to wear unfashionable attire like sweatpants and hoodies for comfort while flying. So, seeing national soccer teams, prone to the jerseys and shorts they don on the field, arriving in style in Brazil before the World Cup is a pleasant surprise for fashion critics.
Team Italy was by far the most impressive, wearing three-piece, navy colored suits by their official sponsor since 2006, Dolce & Gabbana, for their arrival on Friday. Similarly, Ecuador’s national team wore a lighter navy blue suit with matching blue bags, resembling a crew of flight attendants more than a soccer team. Japan also donned dark navy blue suits with blue ties. Teams Costa Rica, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and Russia all wore black suits with jackets, while Germany's finest wore black slacks and button-down shirts.
The Netherlands national team went casual -- but not quite athletic wear casual -- with blue trousers, a light blue button-down under a bright blue cardigan.
Some teams were more well-clad than others, though. England opted for Nike polo shirts, sneakers and shorts despite having official suits with an optional waistcoat provided by British retailer Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LON:MKS). France wore similar polo shirts by Nike, with white stripes.
The USA national team, of course, also opted out of formalwear for their players' arrival and fully embraced airport fashion in Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) sweatpants on Monday. Teams Colombia, France and Switzerland also donned athletic attire.
Italy's national soccer team players arrive at Rio de Janeiro's international airport, ahead of the 2014 World Cup June 6, 2014. ReutersAndrea Pirlo (C) and his coach Cesare Prandell (back) of Italy's national soccer team arrives at Rio de Janeiro's international airport, ahead of the 2014 World Cup June 6, 2014.ReutersU.S. men's national soccer team players arrive at the Guarulhos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo June 9, 2014.ReutersRobin van Persie (L), Nigel de Jong (C) and Daley Blind of the Netherlands national soccer team arrive at Rio de Janeiro's international airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup June 6, 2014. ReutersArgentina's Ezequiel Garay (2nd L) and Gonzalo Higuain (2nd R) arrive with the national soccer team at the international airport in Belo Horizonte, ahead of the 2014 World Cup, June 9, 2014.ReutersCosta Rica's national soccer team players arrive at the Guarulhos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo June 10, 2014. ReutersJapan's national soccer team players exit the aircraft as they arrive at the Viracopos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Campinas June 7, 2014.ReutersEcuador's national soccer team arrives at the international airport in Porto Alegre, ahead of the 2014 World Cup, June 9, 2014.ReutersRussia's national soccer players arrive at the Guarulhos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo June 8, 2014. ReutersMexico's national soccer team players arrive at the Guarulhos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo June 7, 2014. ReutersGermany's Mesut Ozil (C) walks with team mates down the steps from their plane upon arrival in Salvador, June 8, 2014. Germany headed for their training camp where they will prepare for the 2014 World Cup. ReutersSpain's national soccer team exits their plane upon arrival at the international airport in Curitiba, June 8, 2014. Spain reached their base camp to prepare for the 2014 World Cup finals which starts on June 12.ReutersEngland's national soccer team players walk down the stairs as the team arrives at the airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro June 8, 2014.ReutersFrance's national soccer team players Patrice Evra (L) and Mathieu Debuchy (C) arrive at their hotel, ahead of the 2014 World Cup, at Ribeirao Preto June 9, 2014. The World Cup will be held in 12 cities in Brazil from June 12 till July 13. ReutersSwitzerland's national soccer team players arrive at the Guarulhos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo June 7, 2014.Reuters
