England squad's off-pitch fashion: 'Very Bond, very modern'

All eyes may be on the pitch when the England men's team line up for their opening World Cup game against Croatia in Dallas. But it's their fancy threads, as well as their fancy footwork, that has had people talking – from their official off-duty smart casual look to collaborations with a skateboard brand that saw designs sell out within days of being launched.

From three-piece suits to mix-and-match

Gone are the days when the team would be seen in a traditional three-piece suit. Instead, there is a collection of 12 mix-and-match pieces in navy and cream from Marks and Spencer, the FA's official partner, with not a tie in sight, all accessorised with loafers. A tie-in with Nike and skateboarding brand Palace saw many items sell out on their launch – with the team having worn a pale grey Palace tracksuit to arrive for a pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica. And there were baby blue Nike tracksuits on show as they stepped off their plane on arrival into the US for the tournament.

Fashion experts weigh in

'Italian chic'

Celebrity stylist Alex Longmore, who has worked with stars including Vogue Williams, Little Mix and Jamie Laing, said the overall vibe was "quite commercial" and covered "every aspect" of men's clothing. "You've got your smart casual, very Tom Ford, very Bond look – it's relaxed, it's incredibly wearable, it's aspirational. I think it's very modern, Italian chic, very of-the-moment." She compared their slip-ons to boating shoes by Tom Ford and Jimmy Choo. "They're very Upper East Side, Hamptons – it's kind of European, which is an interesting look and obviously very easy to wear and on trend. It's not shouting mega-formal, 'we're the England squad and here we are feeling a bit awkward because we're sportsmen'. It's more like luxury, with wool and sports jackets."

As for the fact the team isn't wearing a formal suit, which some on social media complained was not smart enough, Longmore says: "Not many men wear suits unless they're going to a wedding or funeral. And with more working from home, smart-casual is more relaxed now on every level. Athletes' bodies don't look their best in suits, they can look a bit bulky, so trousers can fall a weird way. This look is moving with the times."

'Individuality and style'

Celebrity stylist and Vogue contributor Marian Kwei says the modular look, with interchangeable pieces, is "designed with players in mind, but more importantly to push the narrative of individuality and style. Sports athletes have become visible with brand influencing, they're content creators in their own right," she adds. She says the choice of loafers helps the look appear "approachable" and easy, alongside "a more relaxed cut" of their jackets and trousers, and notes that the players "have their own spin on what they're wearing".

Psychology of the look

Carolyn Mair, a chartered psychologist and author of The Psychology of Fashion, says the team uniform from Marks and Spencer is "a very smart, business-casual look – it is masculine but absolutely not aggressive". She adds: "It's showing their confidence, they're successful – quite discerning with the styling. And not overly corporate, because they're not wearing ties – they have polo shirts and round-neck tops. It reduces the social distance from people, we feel closer to them." She highlights the consistency of their look, saying this shows not only group identity but also "shared values". "We imagine these people are very much cohesive not just in their values but their behaviours," she adds. "It doesn't look like any one of them is out there trying to get attention as the superstar of the group. It's a levelling of the playing field."

Palace collaboration a hit

As for the collaboration with London-based Palace, Longmore says: "It's going to be massive. They've been so clever with their marketing campaign. There are some really cool pieces."