The popular phrase: “Every athlete wants to be a rapper, and every rapper wants to be an athlete,” is no longer true. As of late, “every athlete wants to be a fashionista,” at least, according to the March 28, 2025 Michigan Fashion Media Summit’s panel, “Redefining the Game: The Intersection of Sports and Fashion.” Moderated by Alex Crescenti, sports reporter and anchor for WXYZ, the conversation featured Dan Solomon, personal athlete stylist and founder of Closet Tours; Mike Sainristil, former Michigan cornerback now with the Washington Commanders; and Joe Holder, GQ columnist and Nike trainer. Together, they explored the growing relationship between style and sports, including how athletes express themselves beyond the field. The following five takeaways — from Name, Image and Likeness’ impact on fashion to the complexity of styling athletes — capture the essence of their conversation.
1. NIL is driving collegiate athlete fashion
The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s decision to allow college athletes to profit from their Name, Image and Likeness had more consequences than many imagined, with one of the most unexpected being the rise of collegiate sports fashion. Dan Solomon, who started by sourcing clothing items for Indiana University’s basketball team and now works as a personal stylist for pros nationwide, emphasized that his business wouldn’t be possible without NIL. Athletes in powerhouse athletic programs like those at the University of Michigan have access to more lucrative brand deals. Compared to larger cities, Ann Arbor’s college town charm means fewer spending outlets, leaving athletes with more disposable income to invest in high-end and personalized fashion. Mike Sainristil, whose NIL valuation heading into the 2024 College Football Playoffs reportedly sat at $556,000, noted that his interest in fashion began in college and has since evolved into a way of marketing himself. Where fans once only saw college athletes on screen during game days, they now follow their lives beyond the field through the brand deals they procure. NIL has transformed NCAA athletes into public figures, allowing them to express their identities on a massive scale and honing in on their unique senses of style that leave fans wanting more.
2. Why do athletes want to be fashionistas?
Maintaining a loyal fan base is one reason why college athletes are eager to become personalities beyond the field. Joe Holder, a former University of Pennsylvania football player with extensive experience working with the Nike athlete family, notes that in the past, a fashion persona off the field came only after on-field success. More frequently, however, we see athletes whose rise to fame is based more on how they present themselves than on their stats or accomplishments, or whose style and athletic recognition go hand-in-hand. Athletes want to “look good, play good” more than ever. While these artistic expressions and beliefs may be true for some, athletes like Sanristil view fashion as an opportunity to have fun and explore new styles outside their comfort zone. Regardless of the reasoning behind getting involved in fashion, it’s clear that, for many athletes, it has gone beyond being a hobby and turned into their lifestyle. Year after year, athletes like Odell Beckham Jr., Lewis Hamilton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander grace editorial covers and the Met Gala — some of the highest achievements in the fashion industry.
3. Styling isn’t as easy as one might think
The internet still isn’t fully ready for what athletes have to offer in the fashion world. Experimental outfits are often ridiculed online, from Travis Kelce’s retro Super Bowl fit sparking controversy to Kyle Kuzma’s mega-oversized pink sweater being turned into countless memes. Despite this mockery, the business of styling athletes is far from easy, largely due to their off-the-market proportions. Stylists like Solomon are tasked not only with sourcing clothing for athletes who are six to seven feet tall and wear size 14+ shoes, but also with curating looks for every public appearance they make. In the NBA, for example, Solomon explains that he styles 82 outfits for the regular season alone, not to mention potential playoff games and public appearances. These looks aren’t just “thrown on” — they are often uncomfortable. Holder emphasizes that every look is a micro-concept in time, reflecting subcultures within the broader intersection of fashion and style.
4. The stadium tunnel
The stadium tunnel has become the most prominent symbol of the intersection between professional sports and fashion. A game day is incomplete without the posting of a tunnel fit, a ritual that’s become a staple for many fashion-forward athletes. While the idea of expressing personality through clothing has long been part of sports culture (who could forget Michael Jordan), there now seems to be an unspoken rule that with recognition comes the responsibility to provide fans with a consistent image. Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center, notoriously said, “Some people go to play football, and some people go to play dress-up.” Even so, Sanristil explains that he puts effort into what he wears because it allows him to show fans a different side of himself, one that reflects who he truly is off the field. One must capitalize on branding, Holder argues, and the tunnel is not only a greater form of exposure for leagues themselves but also, more importantly, a platform for showcasing the creative and innovative side of athletes we rarely witness elsewhere.
5. A new legacy for athletes
The long-overlooked convergence between sports and fashion is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. No matter the motive behind NCAA and professional athletes investing more time and money into what they wear, the cultural relevance, as Holder coined it, cannot be ignored. Athletes are creating conversations and dominating the media beyond their respective sport, showcasing a side of their personality that only a few of the greats were previously able to. Whether it’s a four-time championship winner like Lebron James or an up-and-coming National Football League rookie attempting to make a name for himself, athletes have learned to capitalize on their windows of success. By leveraging opportunities like the NIL and the tunnel, athletes are stepping into what the MFMS panel called “improved distribution.” Given the growing trend of creative expression within sports, all panelists agreed that it’s fascinating to see how fashion continues to shape athletes’ legacies.
Daily Arts Writer Lucia Larach can be reached at llarach@umich.edu.
