Suiting the Athlete: Thom Browne's Coolness Factor
- Kick The Concrete
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
American sportswear is often defined by traditional colors of red, white and blue. The polo shirt, pleated trousers, the shirtdress, loafers, cardigan sweaters… are all staples of style in American sportswear. From western to preppy, it isn’t hard to find an All-American look, but why are so many athletes getting theirs from Thom Browne?
Browne, who has become known for his signature 4-Bar motif and red, white and blue stripe, grew up in Catholic school wearing a uniform the same as the kid next to him in class. His parents were professionals, so he knew the value of wearing well-tailored clothes because he saw them on his loved ones every day. As is often the expectation of a Catholic parent, he attended the University of Notre Dame and competed on the swim team.
After graduation, Browne tried his hand at acting in Hollywood. In the time he spent waiting for his name to be called for an audition, he practiced his hand at reconstructing vintage suits. Browne recognized he had a talent for tailoring, so he left Hollywood behind and headed to New York City in 1997. He spent some time working in Giorgio Armani's New York showroom before Ralph Lauren noticed his talent and hired him to lead Club Monaco’s creative development team.
During a time when jeans and the white tee were all everyone wore, Browne had a vision to elevate that narrative with cool suiting. He greatly appreciated the tradition of a suit, but he had an idea for a more modern and fresh design. So he created five such suits and wore them everywhere. Soon people noticed the meticulous craftsmanship and unique form of Browne’s suits and started requesting them at his small made-to-measure storefront in the West Village. This was 2001.
By 2011, Browne had expanded into men’s and women’s ready-to-wear. Now... Musicians, actors and athletes alike have come to covet Browne's cool American style and how his made-to-measure brand makes them feel one of a kind.
The Athlete’s Suit
In 2018, Thom Browne became the official off-pitch outfitter for FC Barcelona. Lionel Messi and "the team all were outfitted in the classic grey wool suit and ties, cashmere 4-Bar cardigans, black wingtip brogues and white button-down Oxford shirts." A standout travel day uniform for the league leaders at the time. Browne held this role for the storied Spanish club through 2021.
LeBron James must have liked what he saw in FC Barcelona’s fits because he arrived in a Thom Browne made-to-measure suit with shorts for the 2018 NBA playoffs. And he bought his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates their own gray Super120s shrunken twill suits with all the accessories.
Browne was more than pleased to see that each player tweaked the suit to reflect their personal style. While LeBron chose the shorts, striped socks and boots combo, Jordan Clarkson wore cutoffs, a hoodie under his jacket and Off White x Air Jordan Retro High OG “UNC” sneakers.
The Thom Browne Skirt
The 2018 NBA playoffs were probably Jordan Clarkson’s first taste of Thom Browne. Since then, Clarkson has become a sort of muse for the designer. At New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in 2021, Clarkson donned a pleated gray Thom Browne skirt. Clarkson's look gives us all the Thom Browne design markers. We see the red, white and blue grosgrain stripe peeking out from the skirt's slit. His tall frame suits the shrunken fit of his coat with the sleeves rolled up over a white button-down. Browne never skimps on accessories. A narrow tie and 4-Bar socks with wingtip boots complete Clarkson's signature Thom Browne look.
Clarkson must love the airy feel of the skirt because a year later, in 2022, he wore it again at the Bazaar and Bloomingdale’s ICONS celebration. This time it was tweed, and paired with a matching sleeveless jacket.
As Clarkson models, there's not just one look for the Thom Browne skirt. Russell Westbrook wore it to NYFW in 2022, as well. His was a white mid-length skirt that he wore with a cream 4-Bar cardigan and the signature red, white and blue stripes peeking out.
Stylist Vick Michel showed his curating skills in fashion when he put Kansas City Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster in a green 4-Bar Thom Browne skirt for his Super Bowl LVII arrival. Michel chose a custom shirt, Fendi boots, Kenzo hat and Saint Laurent bag to outfit the 2023 Super Bowl Champion.
The Legend and Her Love of Fashion
Tennis legend Serena Williams is known for her fashion statements both on and off the court. What a treat it was when she won the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Icon Award in custom Thom Browne in 2023. Browne, who is chairman of the board of directors for the CFDA, designed a "corseted gown in black sequins and a black satin stole, backed with liquid organza and hand-embroidered with pearls.”
The duo was back at it again! Check out this surprise look Williams wore to the 2024 Thom Browne Couture Show in Paris. In the sea of muted spectators — but never not oh so stylish — Serena was the pop of color. Preppy in red, Williams wore a red pleated skirt and matching corset embroidered with Browne’s Hector dog motif. Her layers of goodness were a pink and white striped button-down underneath and a crocheted coat on top. She carried the ever-loved Hector bag, which makes us all want to be the fashion icon that Williams is, so we can carry it too!
The Athlete on the Runway
In 2021, Lindsey Vonn became the first athlete to model for Thom Browne. Browne described it as "the most angelical and fantastical dream that led me home."
"The men’s and women’s fall 2021 collection featuring Lindsey Vonn" had a short film and poetic imagery with the ski slopes of Utah as her runway.
The GQ Bowl 2026 was a revolutionary fashion show during Super Bowl weekend. It featured football players Marcus Allen, Justin Jefferson and DeAndre Hopkins modeling on the runway. The hype for the event, which served as Thom Browne’s Fall 2026 show, was boosted by fashion-forward wide receiver Stefon Diggs with some model coaching by Gigi Hadid.
On the runway, Marcus Allen wore layered flannel pieces topped with the football sideline parka.
Justin Jefferson took to the runway killing the accessory game with an updated textured Bolton bag and wingtips with a gold-reinforced toe.
DeAndre Hopkins’ layered goodness included a wool bomber jacket over a sport coat, over a classic V-neck cardigan, over a white button-down. So cool!
Making their debut at the GQ Bowl was the Thom Browne limited-edition design of Asics’ classic gel-kayano 14. Gray, black and white editions of the collaboration were created featuring piping in the style of a Thom Browne sport coat.
The partnership was an easy one for Browne. Running is a creative experience for him. A quiet time when inspiration flows freely and ideas gain clarity.
The Athlete (and our favorite artist) in Thom Browne at the 2026 Met Gala
In May 2026, we enjoyed the spectacular fashion of the Met Gala. The theme for 2026 was “Costume Art” or “Fashion is Art.” Eleven artists and an athlete walked the carpet in Thom Browne. Browne's concept for this year’s gala was an examination of the body, and Browne’s interpretations were breathtaking.
In a full circle moment, Lindsey Vonn, Browne's first athlete model, was the “Classic Body.” Her elegant gown was “directly inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s classical marble statues from the past.”
Skepta in Thom Browne 2026 Met Gala. Credit: thombrowne.com
Skepta was the “Inscribed Body,” which “explores the skin itself as an artistic medium." Or tattoos on a suit.
Thom Browne on the World Cup Center Stage
Jennifer Hudson sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. It was the first time in the tournament's history that the national anthem of a host country was performed. The EGOT winner looked perfect for the moment as Law Roach put her in a custom Thom Browne white suit with red, white and blue grosgrain ribbons floating in the breeze.
What started as an American dream has now become a worldwide sensation.
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