Fashion and football, two worlds that have been firmly intertwined for quite some time now. With athletes like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo previously blazing the trail, footballers have become mainstays in the world of high fashion.
While public events and award ceremonies play host to some fantastic outfits, today the “tunnel fit” has become the runway for footballers to flaunt their style as their stroll into stadiums on matchday, often setting off social media with their outfits.
A player who has truly mastered this art is none other than Jules Koundé. The French defender, known for his impeccable performances on the pitch, has also earned a reputation for turning the tunnel into his personal fashion show.
From bold prints to eye-catching accessories, Koundé’s pre-game outfits are nothing short of iconic. Those who know Kounde know that he is never one to shy away from bold fashion choices.
A quote from him perfectly summarizes his fashion philosophy, “If you dress well, you will feel happy. If you feel happy, you will play well. And if you play well, they will pay you well.”
And that’s exactly what he’s been doing this season, the right back has been key in Barca’s flying start and and has featured in all games under Flick so far. To back his attacking prowess from right back, Kounde already has a goal and assist to his name in La Liga.
For Koundé, looking good isn’t just about style—it’s an essential part of his game.
Unfortunately for the Barca star, his stunning tunnel fits have been put on pause under Hansi Flick’s rule at the club.
Flick’s strict dress code—essentially limiting players to team-branded shirts and tracksuits—has crushed Koundé’s ability to showcase his creative side in the pre-match tunnels.
But don’t worry; Koundé has found a way to scratch that fashion itch elsewhere, and it’s turning heads in a major way.
Jacquemus, a French luxury fashion brand known for its minimal yet playful designs has featured French star Jules Kounde for their most recent campaign.
Their latest campaign, “La Casa,” has tapped Koundé as the face of their Fall/Winter 2024 menswear collection, a move that feels like a perfect match.
Shot by New York-based photographer Tom Kneller, the campaign features Koundé in a series of eye-catching looks that combine bold prints, bright colors, and unconventional aesthetics. Think sky-blue cardigans, zebra-striped loafers, and striking yellow Cuban-collar shirts.
The location of the photoshoot is beautiful to say the least, but the photoshoot itself has some interesting poses.
In the first image of the post, he is photographed in monochromatic, coastal knits and trouser shorts, perched on top of a mountain of suitcases. Fans rather than appreciating the creativity, are concerned about the Frenchman’s well being- as a tumble might add him to Barca’s already long and expansive injury list.
Kounde dressed in all black ensemble embraces the of the shoot, driving by a pickup window in his mini car and enjoying a nice three scoop ice cream to beat the heat in black.
Another image is where the Frenchman is ironing a Jacquemus polo, while wearing a striped black and blue tie and a blue and white pinstripe shirt.
What stands out in this click is Kounde’s footwear, they seem to be grass covered knee high boots probably made just for the shoot, and not for sale.
Shoots like these can be perplexing at times, in another image Kounde is out in a lawn while holding a vacuum cleaner for some reason. Ofcourse he’s doing this while looking extremely fashionable in dark blue pleated pants and a light blue/cyan knitted shirt.
Some of the pieces worn by Kounde, like the black suit jacket with an oversized pocket, the bright baby pink tie do not feature on their website, and may just be part of a collection yet to be released.
So how are some of these pieces worn by Kounde priced? The handbag in his black ensemble, known as “The large Turismo” will cost you around $1730 and is yet to go on sale on the website.
Kounde sports “The Carré loafers” in two different colourways on his Instagram post. The cheaper of the two designs are the all black loafers that are available for $860. The more hip design, the black and white zebra look is priced at $935.
For Kounde, this collaboration might just be his first permanent foray into designer brand deals and more photoshoots of this kind.
So, while Flick might have put the brakes on Koundé’s pre-match drip, the footballer is far from hanging up his fashion boots. With Jacquemus, Koundé is showing the world that fashion and football don’t just mix—they belong together.