A Glam Slam

JUNK FOOD OPENS SUPER BOWL POP-UP SHOP

Whether you're cheering on your team during the season or showcasing your support in the off-season, Junk Food t-shirts are the perfect fan fashion. The brand has an apparel licensing agreement with the NFL to create a retro-inspired lifestyle collection of team gear for men and women. The ultra comfortable tees and hoodies feature team colors and logos while distressed graphics provide a vintage look. 

This year the brand is taking their NFL gear to the Super Bowl. Junk Food has set up a pop-up tailgate shop at The NFL Experience, in the Dallas Convention Center. The company will sell limited-edition vintage NFL t-shirts at the event, which began on January 27th and continues up until the big game on February 6th. This marks the 19th year of The NFL Experience, an interactive theme park for NFL fans that features a variety of activities including gaming event, football clinics and autograph sessions.

If you're not a Steelers or Packers fan you need not worry. The pop-up shop will feature gear for men, women and kids, commemorating all NFL teams. It's ever too early to stock up on fan gear for next season.

To check out the full Junk Food NFL Collection, visit here.

 

UNDER ARMOUR LAUNCHES COTTON COLLECTION

For quite a long time, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank referred to cotton as the "enemy." But the two have since made amends. The Baltimore based sports performance brand is actually embracing the fabric in their latest venture, the launch of an innovative performance cotton collection called "Under Armour Charged Cotton." 

Despite the use of a different material, the cotton collection will still possess the same qualities that consumers love most about the brand's current offerings. The new gear wisks away moisture with signature technology and dries five times faster than ordinary cotton. Charged Cotton also offers the much-needed stretch and recovery that is integral to training, resulting in lower "cling force" and a stick-free fit.

"While Under Armour may have said cotton was the enemy, it certainly wasn't the enemy of our consumer," Plank said. "This is a whole new category for Under Armour that makes us relevant to a whole new consumer. In addition, it makes us relevant to the consumer that we already have in just a different way."

The Under Armour Charged Cotton Collection, which includes men's and women's shirts and shorts as well as capri tights for women, will be available nationwide on March 12th, 2011. The line will be supported by Digital, TV and in-store advertising campaign featuring brand ambassadors such as Tom Brady, Miles Austin and Lindsey Vonn.

Will you try the new cotton collection or stick with the current, form-fitting gear?

 

SEAN AVERY STRIPS DOWN FOR MARC JACOBS

Sean Avery is no stranger to the world of fashion. The Rangers winger has interned for Vogue magazine, served as a design collaborator for menswear label Commonwealth Utilities and always earns a spot among the best-dressed athletes. He's even admitted that when his hockey days are over, a career in fashion is definitely in the cards. In his latest fashion industry gig, Avery has teamed up with design guru, Marc Jacobs. Ironically enough, this collaboration involves no clothes at all.

The Canadian hockey player is the latest celebrity to strip down for the designer's "Protect The Skin You're In" campaign. The campaign is meant to raise awareness for skin cancer and benefit melanoma research at the NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. For more information, check here.

Aside from a very naked Avery, the bright blue tee features this tagline: "Protect Your Largest Organ." You can pick one up at Marc Jacobs retailers. Check it out:

OAKLAND A'S RETURN TO GOLD

Oakland A's fans will probably be happy to hear that the team has done away with their black alternate jerseys. The A's unveiled their newest look for the 2011 season, a gold jersey that will now serve as the home alternate to the traditional white uniforms. The new on-field fashions have a bit of a retro vibe, since the A's last wore gold in the 70's and 80's.

So how does the team feel about their new gear? General Manager Billy Beane referred to new look as "canary yellow" and reliever Jerry Blevins said, "It might be hard not to notice us now."

There's no word on the coloring of the pants or caps just yet, but here's a look at the jersey:

 

The new jerseys will be available for purchase in the next few weeks at oaklandathletics.com/shop. 

 

JOHNNY WEIR WILL LACE UP IN LOUBOUTIN SKATES

Figure skater Johnny Weir has a closet that any woman would kill for. Countless Chanel pieces, fur coats and hats, and a Balenciaga tree are just some of the items that make up his amazing wardrobe. When it comes to shoes, the skater told New York Magazine "I love me some red soles." And apparently they love him right back. 

During a recent broadcast of Martha Stewart’s “Sirius XM” radio, Weir revealed that luxury French footwear designer, Christian Louboutin, will create an exclusive pair of ice skates for him. They will be the first pair of red-soled skates ever made. For Weir, his fashions typically receive more buzz than his footwork so these high-style skates will no doubt be the perfect compliment to his flashy ice costumes. 

Weir is also expected to be a major presence at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York next month. According to The Cut, his Fashion Week plans include "designing a special coat with [furrier] Adrienne Landau," being the "centerpiece" at Elise Overland’s show, and walking the runway for designer Asher Levine."

 

 

MATTHEWS RIVALS POLAMALU WITH NEW HAIR GIG

The primary competition in Dallas on February 6th is of course the football game. The secondary competition is of course the hair. It was only a matter of time before Green Bay Packer Clay Matthews, often nicknamed "Fabio" because of his long blonde mane, scored his very own hair endorsement gig. The linebacker has inked a one-year deal with Unilever’s Suave brand of hair care products.

Prior to the new gig, Matthews made his interest in a hair endorsement very public sharing this on Monday: "I've been throwing it out there and just getting shunned. I don't know what it is...America, I'm looking for a hair deal." 

Matthews' marketing agent, Ryan Williams of Athletes First, said the deal included media appearances pre- and post-Super Bowl and a production day should the company want to film a commercial or additional advertising with him.

Polamalu's curls have always received the most attention despite the fact that Matthews also sports a standout hair style. The former USC Trojan teammates will now meet "head-to-head" in Super Bowl XLV when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers. And when they're not hitting hard on the field, expect to see these two guys "whip their hair back and forth" on the sidelines. 

 

KEVIN GARNETT LETS HIS SHOES DO THE TRASH-TALKING

The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have a long-standing NBA rivalry. In preparation for their match-up on Sunday, Celtics forward Kevin Garnett is letting his footwear do the trash-talking. 

Garnett's latest KG1 sneakers from ANTA feature a Celtic-green suede colorway, with white piping and black and gold accents. The shoes have been named "Beat L.A." and include details that call out the basketball rivalry. The tongue features "152-120," which is conveniently the all-time regular season series record between the two teams. Boston is of course on the the winning side. Garnett will likely debut this special ANTA shoe on January 30th, the first time the Celtics and Lakers meet this season.

There's no word on whether or not these shoes will be available to the public but it's safe to assume they'd be a huge hit among Celtics fans. And it wouldn't be surprising to see Kobe counter back with some new kicks of his own.

Check them out:

 

JORDAN BRAND LAUNCHES AIR JORDAN 2011

Nike's Jordan Brand has unveiled the AIR JORDAN 2011, the 26th shoe in the AIR JORDAN franchise. The new kicks feature several one-of-a-kind performance and design characteristics including interchangeable red and blue midsoles and premium handcrafted Patina leather, a material that has never before been used on a performance basketball shoe.

According to the brand, "each shoe is finished with a hand burnishing process, ensuring that no two shoes are exactly alike. The Elephant Print traction and constellation pattern not only draw tribute to the Air Jordan legacy, but also resonate with today’s consumer." The two sets of midsoles are geared towards the player that needs to be quicker on court and the player whose game is more explosive, allowing the shoes to be an extension of athletes' various styles of play. 

Tinker Hatfield, Vice President of Special Projects and Creative Design for Nike, Inc., and Tom Luedecke, Senior Footwear Designer for Jordan Brand, led the creative team who worked closely with Jordan to create the Air Jordan 2011. 

“Each year I challenge the Brand to push the envelope in all aspects of the creative process including design, technology and the overall performance of the shoe,” said Michael Jordan. “The AIR JORDAN 2011 is representative of where we are headed as a Brand in 2011 and beyond."

The shoes will be available for retail on February 19th ($170), in conjunction with the 2011 NBA All-Star game.

 

LADIES LOVE TO WEAR POLAMALU

He might be a monstrous force come gametime but off-the-field, Troy Polamalu has got a softer side. At least in the eyes of female NFL fans. CNBC's Darren Rovell reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers safety has the best-selling jersey among women. So while they love Tom Brady's model looks and Drew Brees' model family, Polamalu win theirs hearts with those long, luscious Samoan curls. Perhaps his football skills and good-hearted nature have a little something to do with it too. Either way, the exposure from Troy's Head & Shoulders endorsement deal certainly helps his cause as does the fact that he has an entire website dedicated to his mane.

As much as the ladies support him, the men like their Polamalu too. He has the best-selling jersey among the male demographic as well. It's safe to say we'll be seeing a lot of the number "43" in the coming weeks. If you want to get in on the action, you can pick up a Polamalu jersey at the NFL Shop.

Polamalu's Super Bowl competitor, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, has also climbed up the female list, nabbing the number four spot. 

Here a list of the top 10 best-selling NFL women’s jerseys:

1. Troy Polamalu, Steelers
2. Peyton Manning, Colts
3. Drew Brees, Saints
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
5. Tom Brady, Patriots
6. Tim Tebow, Broncos
7. Miles Austin, Cowboys
8. Eli Manning, Giants
9. Tony Romo, Cowboys
10. Jason Witten, Cowboys 

 

 

PADRES UNVEIL NEW MARINE DIGITAL CAMO JERSEYS

The San Diego Padres unveiled the team's new "Marine digital" camouflage jerseys which will be worn during Sunday home games this season. As a team closely associated with the Military, the Padres came up with the camo concept in 2000, yet the new look represents only the third different jersey to be worn.

"Our goal is to honor the men and women of the military," said Padres President and COO Tom Garfinkel. The Marine digital look has replaced the traditional "Woodland" pattern by the military. The digital reference comes into play because the design was made on a computer and the appearance of the jersey looks pixilated. The Padres had to receive permission from the Marine Corps to use the computer-programmed MARPAT (Marine pattern) design. Here's a close-up look:

 

According to the team, the first camouflage pattern used by the Padres was commonly referred to as "Jungle camouflage" because it was widely worn by troops during the Vietnam War. 

 

In 2006, the Padres moved on to the "Desert Camouflage Uniform" or DCU. 

 

Baseball fans are often split on how the camo uniforms look. While many want to support the look to support the troops, camo uniforms are not a good idea from a fashion perspective. The new jerseys are a bit better than in previous years, mostly because the camo pattern is more subdued. There's no word yet on the color of the team's pants. Here's a look at the new uniforms:

 

When replicas of the new camouflage uniforms become available in Padres stores, a portion of each sale will benefit the Marine Corps Assistance Program.

 

- Glam Gal -