I would argue that without a doubt, the most iconic piece of Canadian culture is undoubtedly the Maple Leaf and the Hairy Bikers. While we may not get a true indication of how hockey players wear their hair and their hats until much later in the season, spring has sprung which means we can take a peek at the styles in recent games with the hope of learning a few things.
Table of Contents
The Retro Revival
It is quite an iconic look for a hockey player to sport a massive cloche, or a “bell hat” as they’re often called. Since the Hairy Bikers have been a part of our cultural fabric for a while now, it’s only fitting that they influence how players wear their hairnet and their baseball cap in the 21st century too.
A classic look from the 80s, massive cloches were first spotted on the ice during the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. When Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek scored a hat trick in game three, we knew that retro fashion would become a prominent theme that season.
Retro fashion is far from new to hockey; we’ve seen it before during the Winter Classic where the Pittsburgh Penguins wore their retro sweaters and caps from the 70s. We’ve seen it when the Ottawa Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets played in front of a crowd in Nashville in March, 2019 and the Nashville Predators sported retro sweaters and caps.
Camo Is The New Black
While retro fashion doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, we’re also seeing black become a prominent theme when it comes to hockey players’ fashion this year, too. The early part of the season was dominated by white or cream colorways, but since the start of April, we’ve seen a marked increase in the number of black outfits.
What’s responsible for this shift? Part of it has to do with the cool weather that brings a sense of relief to those who live in warm climates. Another part of it has to do with the fact that some of the biggest names in hockey have been endorsing and using the very same designer brands as the rest of us. The list of approved brands includes the Italian brand Diesel, the French brand Ettinger, and the German brand Möringer, to name just a few.
How Do Players Feel About Self-expression?
Since the start of the year, we’ve seen many different styles and many different kinds of hair and hat colors as hockey players’ have found a way to express themselves through fashion. One of the most prominent trending topics on Twitter this year when it comes to hockey fashion is Hashtags #hottorretrogirl and #hottoretswear, as these two hashtags trended throughout the entire season.
There has been a lot of chatter about the role fashion and Instagram play in today’s culture. While these two platforms have undoubtedly played a huge role in breaking down barriers and encouraging self-expression among a younger generation, hockey players have been there from the start and they’ve been using their platform to show off their unique style throughout the entire season. The most followed hockey player on Instagram is currently Wayne Gretzky with over 12 million followers, and the most followed account is @hockeygirlsters, an Instagram account that focuses solely on documenting the unique and stylish fashion choices of teenage hockey players across the world.
Which Way Do The Pants And The Skirt Go Together?
We’ve seen a lot of players choose to pair their jeans with a skirt this year, and that trend looks set to continue. Since the start of April, we’ve seen many different styles and colors combined during the warm months, and it seems as though pairing jeans with a skirt is the way to go.
What’s responsible for this trend? I’d argue that it’s a combination of two trends: the first being the retro revival, and the second being the partnership between fashion and sport. As we’ve established, retro fashion is far from new to hockey, and it’s been a prominent feature on the slopes and in the stands since the early days of the sport. While pairing jeans with a skirt won’t go anywhere unique, the fact that hockey players are choosing to sport this fashionable style combination will no doubt make it a recurring theme in 2020.
Hairnets Aren’t Going Extinct
Also making a comeback this year is the traditional hockey hairnet. Made famous in the 1920s, the hairstyle was often associated with middle-class and upper-class women, or those who could afford to groom their hair the way they liked it. Women would wear their hair in a bun or a single braid while men would often use a hairnet to keep their hair out of their eyes during games.
This trend looks set to continue as we’ve seen many different styles and colors emerge throughout the year, and it seems as though the hairnet is here to stay. It’s not only a fashion trend, either; some players actually wear their hairnets as a statement, as they believe that the protective headgear allows them to be more aggressive on the ice. Let’s not forget that today’s hairnets are a lot more stylish than those made in the 1920s, with some teams even using hair ornaments as fashion statements. The Milwaukee Brewers’ Mad Jack Evans uses a unique blend of orange, black, and white flowers to adorn his hairnet.
What Is The Fashion Statement?
It seems as though the fashion statement is here to stay too, at least for players. For decades, the fashion statement was linked to the social/class status of the individual wearing the clothing item; the higher one’s social standing, the more stylish one could be. We’ve seen many celebrities play a role in breaking down barriers and encouraging individuals to be unique and to wear what they feel most comfortable wearing, and that includes their hair and their fashion choices. While many of the biggest names in hockey have been using the platform to show off their unique style, other players have been choosing to work with established designers to create more unique and stylish outfits.
As we’ve established, the retro revival is here to stay, at least when it comes to fashion. It’s no secret that designers have been paying close attention to the design and the look of the original gear from the 1950s and the 60s; it’s made its way into their collections, and we’ve seen many different hockey players sport these unique styles. Players are also unique individuals, and some choose to use their uniforms to show off their personalities; some choose to use their uniforms to pay homage to the greats of the past; and others choose to work with established designers to create more unique and stylish outfits.
There are so many diverse examples of how hockey players sport their hair and their fashion choice, but these are just a few of the most prominent trends. It’s quite an exciting time to be a hockey fan as we gear up for the upcoming season and take a look back at what we’ve seen so far.