Hailee Steinfeld's Game-Day Looks Could Learn A Thing Or 2 From Taylor Swift
As its ranks fill out with high-profile names like pop icon Taylor Swift and gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles, the world of WAGs — the wives and girlfriends of professional athletes — has become a touchstone for fashion and beauty inspiration. When we're not trying to emulate game-day-ready WAG makeup trends, we're peeping Brittany Mahomes' best game-day outfits.
However, one famous WAG has been flying under the radar: Hailee Steinfeld. The "True Grit" actor has been dating Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen since last spring and reportedly attends game after game, but we rarely see evidence of her presence. Why? Perhaps because her outfits, which seem to revolve exclusively around Bills merch, aren't making much of a splash. In a September 24 post on the Instagram account for her Beau Society newsletter, Steinfeld shared some insight into her game-day philosophy: "Football season is back, which means ... I get to watch my favorite person continue to make NFL history every week. ... You'll find me drinking hot chocolate bundled in vintage Bills gear." Steinfeld even revealed the source of her Bills apparel — a resale shop in Buffalo, New York, called Queen City Vintage — saying, "I've found my favorite game-day pieces — the pre-loved Bills gear of my dreams."
We love a unique fashion point of view, and not everyone has to go all-out for a sports event like Swift does while supporting her own beau, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But if Steinfeld wants to help her vintage pieces shine and join the increasingly glamorous WAG nation, she could learn a few lessons from the "Bad Blood" singer, including from Taylor Swift's best and worst game-day looks.
Jaw-dropping game-day looks start with styling
Let's be clear: There's no rule about avoiding team merchandise in a hot game-day 'fit. On the contrary, these can be cornerstone garments for stadium-bound celebs. The key is to elevate those bread-and-butter pieces with fabulous styling and accessories. For example, let's compare two outfits worn by Hailee Steinfeld and Taylor Swift: the branded windbreaker Steinfeld wore to watch the Buffalo Bills face the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 23 and the oversized Chiefs jersey Swift wore the week prior when Kansas City played Cincinnati.
While Steinfeld is always gorgeous — and the "Hawkeye" actor looked to be having the time of her life at the game — her ensemble of a white jacket over a white T-shirt felt a little basic, offering no pizzazz or focal point. Even Steinfeld's casual hairstyle and understated beauty look failed to add interest. In contrast, Swift took what could have been a boring, expected jersey and turned the dial up to 11 by adding couture elements — a monogrammed leather Louis Vuitton bag, layered gold jewelry, and the pièce de résistance: head-turning thigh-high leather boots from Giuseppe Zanotti.
@itjustlisa Taylor Swift at the Chiefs vs Bengals game September 15 recap what taylor swift wore and some fun moments during the game #tstheerastour #taylorswift #taylornation #swifites #swifttok #taylorsversion #theerastour #chiefs #traviskelce #daniellehaim #haim #estehaim #taylorandtravis #tayvis #taylorswiftchiefs #greenscreenvideo
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The "Cruel Summer" singer naturally finished her look with sooty lashes and her signature red lip — a finish that Taylor Swift has pulled off with various red lipsticks over the years. All this skillful accessorizing made Swift's jersey pop, turning it from a run-of-the-mill sports top into a daring statement piece.
Unexpected fashion in team colors can be just as powerful as a branded jersey
We get that Hailee Steinfeld's game-day brand is all about loudly repping the Bills, but sometimes a subtle approach can be just as effective — and open doors for more creativity and style. Let's compare another two outfits from Steinfeld and Taylor Swift's recent football outings: Steinfeld's outfit at the Bills-Dolphins game on November 3 and Swift's stunning look at the October 7 Chiefs-Saints matchup.
First off, kudos to Steinfeld, who was moving in the right direction with this ensemble. By putting her love for Bills branding front and center with an embroidered snapback cap, Steinfeld could be less direct with the rest of her clothing. A black leather jacket is always a reliable choice — even if it isn't among the Bills' official colors of red, white, and blue — and the red scarf tied it all back into the team's theme. This time, Steinfeld even added a little visible bling by opting for heavier earrings. Still, the "Dickinson" star has plenty of room to push the fashion envelope further, and Swift's red-and-black, Chiefs-inspired co-ords are a masterclass in styling team colors.
@stephwithdadeets Taylor Swift is back at a Chiefs Game, rocking the plaid ❤️#fyp #taylorswift #traviskelce #chiefs #greenscreen
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Setting aside branding altogether, Swift served in a plaid Vivienne Westwood sweetheart corset top and miniskirt, simultaneously matching and standing out from the sea of other Chiefs fans. Paired again with black boots and a red lip, Swift showed her support from head to toe — all without a stitch of Chiefs-specific merchandise. While we wouldn't demand that Steinfeld surrender her beloved vintage Bills pieces, this just goes to show how she can inject team spirit into her game-day looks without relying solely on logos and jerseys.