Clearly this isn’t a fashion blog. I am not a designer and my opinion on brands, stores, or styles should be taken very lightly. That being said, this year I really want to expand the range of topics we discuss on Corben’s Corner so listen up and let’s go shopping.
I spend way too much money on clothes. Let me rephrase that, I spend way too much money on clothes that I never wear. I know I’m not alone. I know I’m getting at least a few head nods right now. But hey, sometimes you’re in a good mood and you just saw Beckham on Instagram rocking a short sleeve button up with an eccentric design and you end up walking out of the store with a new shirt and unsettled confidence. The humbling moment arises every time you pull it out of your closet, put it on, look in the mirror, and realize you aren’t David Beckham. Back on the hanger and into the closet the friendly reminder goes.
I know what they say. Fashion is about attitude. I mean, they say that a lot these days but that more or less covers it. You can wear whatever you want with the right façade and self-assurance. An outfit is always more about the person that’s wearing it than the actual fit.
Okay, so that was a lot of information that didn’t really get us anywhere, but I caught up with some of the players on FCC to maneuver us through some current favorite brands, styles, and where you might catch us shopping around the city. Although we’re not deserting soccer fully, we’ll also discuss how street styles and playing styles might overlap.
I’ll start with myself. I have a few recent staples. Apparently, I think I’m either tough or on deck for a bank robbery because I wear all black all the time. I’m not tough or savvy enough to rob a bank, so I guess I’ll continue to fake it until I make it. Anyway, my favorite items right now are my black heavyweight T-shirt from ‘Victor Athletics’, a lightweight ‘Your Neighbors’ trench coat, black ‘J Brand’ pants, finished off with shattered backboard Jordan 1s for all my sneaker heads out there. Thank you Annie!
So, how is this related to my style of play? Well, I wouldn’t say I am the loudest player on the field. I blend in, mostly doing the work in between the glamorous moments, but like the Jordan’s, I might catch your eye if you watch my feet.
Moving on to number 23, the second year winger/forward from California, Andrew Wiedeman. He is that guy who possesses the ability to look fashionable in just about anything. A truly unique quality that is surely groomed in California, but thankfully migrating east with Wiede, Harrison, and Aodhan, but I digress. Andrew combines some top brands with his own creative eye to continuously build up his wardrobe. The first multi-faceted item that’s a favorite of his is the Cole Haan walnut double monk strap shoes. He likes their ability to complete an outfit no matter the occasion. He can dress them up with a suit for game-day, or dress down on a casual night out with jeans and a t-shirt. The next item, a navy Merona pea coat, exemplifies his creativeness. Pea coats are a piece of clothing that can really catch the eye, really keep you warm, and sometimes really break the bank. However, Wiede has fashion sense that doesn’t require a money tree because after a purchase of $40, and $20 of alterations, this $60 dollar pea coat fits and looks like a much more expensive piece. No question why it made the list. Lastly, he finalizes his favorites with grey Asos brand ripped-knee jogger sweats. “These pants are an all day type item,” says Wiede. He can lounge in them on the couch, but also wear them with a coat in public and avoid the “that dude is wearing sweat pants at the restaurant” look.
As you can see, Wiede pays attention to details and in turn uses that information for his creative process. This dynamic is very similar to his play on the field. He has qualities that you can’t teach - like the famous ability to make something out of nothing. He has the technique, soccer intellect, and improvisational skills to consistently produce goals and assists for our team.
Mentioning another guy that has an effortless sense of style, Harrison Delbridge will have you pondering why certain items look better on him than you. If you ever see him on the street, I sincerely hope you guys aren’t wearing the same thing. His number one priority right now is keeping it comfortable, while coincidentally paying homage to his Australian roots. With his favorite t-shirt, the Flintlock, coming from Australian Brand ‘Zanerobe’ and the zespy jean from the New Zealand ‘iloveugly’ team. These two brands will have you feeling as good as you look, and the shoe game doesn’t stray far; you’ll likely see him finish off his outfit with another appealing addition, the prime knit Sam Smith Adidas shoe.
Reverting back to a previous thought, I am still dumbfounded as to how Harrison can have the frame of an NFL wide receiver and be amazing on the ball, too. It’s honestly unfair. He can make any outfit on the street look good, and he’s also the beastly center back with great feet on the field. But seriously, he is the conundrum that we are thankful for. Moreover, whether the Zanerobe connection is coincidental or not, Harrison is a truly loyal guy and that devotion translates on the field. He is a model teammate and leader and I look forward to stepping on the field with him every game.
My new roommate Aodhan Quinn is up next. We’re welcoming him and his left foot to FC Cincinnati from Louisville City. My first impression of Aodhan came in the form of shoes. As I watched him unpack, I’d never seen so many Adidas Ultraboost; grey, white, blue, etc. If it’s not broke, why fix it? If it looks good, why mix it? Unless it’s his new pair of black and red Yeezy’s, then he makes an exception. Most people would. Anyway, completing Aodhan’s wardrobe will require us to jump across the pond to get familiar with brands like Topman and Zara. His everyday attire consists of jeans, a t-shirt, and depending on the weather either a sweater or hoodie. While some might picture him as a Silicon Valley denizen based on this description, according to him, he really just likes layering well-fitting clothes.
I haven’t known Aodhan for long, but usually this sort of style is something that one sticks with. There is something to be said about finding what you like and standing by it. Well, if I had Aodhan’s left foot I’d use it often too. My point is this. From what I’ve gathered on the field so far, he knows exactly what he’s good at and embraces it. His vision, work ethic, leadership, and of course his educated left foot. Once again, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Keeping it in the family, my other roommate Eric Stevenson takes full advantage of his professional lifestyle and keeps his wardrobe classy, but relaxed. Naturally his favorite brand is Lululemon. If your fashion goals align with Eric’s and you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to introduce yourself to this quality brand. Although, I have to admit sometimes it’s difficult to tell if he owns multiples of everything or if he refuses to change clothes. Publicly, I’ll give him the former. His favorite Lulu items right now are all the same fabric, a stylistic staple of the brand that includes a grey three button Henley, a lightweight black hooded sweatshirt, and black shorts to match. He stays away from bright colors, and strategically only owns centrally dark items. A somewhat standard outfit perfected by the brand and its’ customers. However, Eric’s shoe game is the pigment outlier. The white Adidas NMD is his current shoe choice, and for good reason. The Adidas NMD’s have become one of the most popular shoes since being released in December 2015.
To link Eric’s street and playing style I think it’s best to just revisit the ending of my first sentence. Classy, but relaxed. Just take a look back to his several goals this past season, particularly the runner up for goal of the year (which had no business losing). I can remind you quickly, Eric takes a calm touch about 30 feet away from the goal as 25,000 people look on. In the next instance, his laces take the ball on a bending route to the top corner of the net and lift every single person out of their seat. The reason I told you that story is because on the field it seems Ric doesn’t get shook. He rises to the occasion with an even-keel mentality. And more, in those moments you’ll most likely see him pull off some real classy stuff.
Okay, let’s button this article up. Fashion is all about expression. Moving from the person who designed it, to the consumer who buys and wears it. Both parties are manifesting their vision of themselves through clothes, and it just so happens we do the same thing on the field. Each of the players on our team has an individual style that is presented to the world when they step out on the town, and likewise when they step on the turf. The synchronization of the two is different for every person, but that’s what builds a team. It’s the collection of styles, minds, personalities, and inventiveness that fuses together to create one unit, FC Cincinnati.
