Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and Timothee Chalamet in New York Knicks merch. Photo: Getty Images
Go sports! Even if you are not an avid sports fanatic, you can’t deny that there’s a certain sense of excitement in the air right now, around a bevy of different competing teams and athletes. This week alone, the NBA playoffs, the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Italian Open are happening in tandem—meaning there is tons of spectating going on. Just as intriguing, however, are all of the celebrities watching the action unfold live from their prime VIP seats. (Sitting in the nosebleeds? Never.)
Stars like Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Kendall and Kylie Jenner have all been spotted getting in on the sports action—and they’re embracing sporty style to do it. From the sidelines, celebrities are proudly repping their favorite team’s sports merch, from subtle logo hats to full-on sports jerseys. Forget wearing fresh-off-the-runway pieces or their best designer clothes (like Beyoncé has often done court-side): Authentic sports merch is the new status item to wear to a game, whether it’s brand new or rare vintage.
At the NBA playoffs this week, we’ve seen tons of A-listers sit courtside with their trusted merch. The New York Knicks count Bad Bunny, Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner among fans—all of whom have been spotted wearing the classic Knicks caps. (Chalamet even went a step further and wore a vintage Knicks tee, and a pair of custom Knicks Timberlands). Given there was once a time when the Kardashian-Jenners would hit up games in full-on fashions, the vibe shift to run-of-the-mill merch is intriguing; They now prefer to blend in with the crowds, versus stand out. The biggest Knicks fan of all, Spike Lee, has also been spotted in head-to-toe blue and orange to cheer on his home team.
Emma Stone was recently took in a San Diego Padres game wearing team merch. In her brown satin bomber and pinstriped cap, you could easily miss her in the stands.
The low-key sports fan look is having a moment on the streets, too. Just last night, Rihanna stepped out in a jersey that read “No Limits,” and paired it with a New York Yankees baseball cap. Justin Bieber also recently went for dinner in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey, while SZA donned a custom Detroit Lions jersey to Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Even if stars are favoring dressed-down sports merch, the way they’re styling their pieces is still elevated. Bieber wore his jersey with a cool leather coat draped over one shoulder—as though he was walking down a runway or something. Meanwhile, Rihanna paired her sporty pieces with satin ballet flats and a quilted pink Chanel bag (talk about a flex).
We are totally inspired to incorporate merch into our wardrobes for summer. But first: Allow me to find a sport I actually like.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.
