For the NFL season, pro footballers dust off their cleats and jerseys to make successful plays under the bright lights at their respective stadiums, which are packed with die-hard, passionate fans cheering them on.
However, the real action is in the suites – and on the turf sidelines – where the WAGS (wives and girlfriends of professional athletes) command attention in their own sport, fashion.
Each WAG has a unique, meticulous approach. Kayla Jones, the wife of Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones, is committed to showing off her comfortable but chic style during game days. Through her outfits, she supports the team and her hubby.
“When he puts on his uniform, I feel like I’m putting on my uniform,” Kayla, 28, told USA TODAY. “I want to show up for him, and it’s also so amazing to know that he gets excited to see what I’m wearing to the game. It’s just this thrill.”
Kayla and D.J. met in college and officially tied the knot in 2020. Her husband was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and eventually started playing for the Broncos.
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“I’m just so grateful to be able to support him in doing what he loves, and he reciprocates that energy towards me as well, with my love and passion for style and all things fashion,” she said.
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‘You can’t tell me nothing!’
Getting ready for game days is hectic. When deciding what to wear, Kayla prefers a cute but functional ensemble. She always remembers her football purse.
“I try to make sure that whatever I’m wearing is going to be bold and make a statement, but also it’s comfortable because the last thing you want is for your feet to be hurting at a football game because it’s a long day,” Kayla said, adding that she also considers the weather with her attire.
“Here in Denver, we do get snow, and it gets cold out here,” she continued.
It’s her favorite time to get dressed, though. She could hardly wait to pull out her designer boots and mink coats when the temperature drops: “Once I get a little breeze, baby, I’m pulling out all these coats. Y’all can’t tell me nothing!”
Kayla’s Instagram content highlights the best of her styling and makeup prowess. Her outfits mostly always incorporate the team colors sunset orange, summit white, and midnight navy.
In one of her most recent efforts, she wore a monochromatic blue look. Another shows her wearing a sherling, blue denim with a cowboy hat.
“Making major plays & major slays,” the caption stated.
One of Kayla’s favorite outfits of the season thus far is a navy blue shirt and vest set with a white bow-tie blouse. The knee-length Fendi Jacquard Chenille boots were the icing on the cake.
” I feel like your outfit can be a combination of high fashion with subtle details,” she said. “You don’t have to be designer from head to toe. It’s all about how you balance your outfit.”
WAGs invest in their beauty
Other WAGS hire beauty professionals to elevate their game-day looks. Celebrity Makeup artist Allison Kaye has worked with WAGS from several teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, and Kansas City Chiefs.
The most requested look is a soft-glam beat. One of Kaye’s favorite opportunities was working with Emily Mayfield, the wife of Tampa Bay Buccanneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“It ends up looking like an everyday look, but a little bit elevated, because the girls are going to be taking photos on the field and doing their own content and stuff as well,” Kaye said. “The goal is to make sure that it lasts throughout the whole game day and also looks good on camera.”
During the NFL season, she travels with her 55-pound kit to different cities weekly and shares her journey on social media. She can tackle up to seven wives at a time.
“I’ll glam them all back to back, and then they’ll go off to the game, and then I will fly back home,” the Miami-based MUA explained.” I’m usually only somewhere for about 24 hours.”
Kaye argued that wives and girlfriends prepare for games the same way any person would for their significant other’s professional work event.
“This is a time in their lives that they’re not going to have forever, and they want to make it as special as possible. I think that people like to assume that it’s making the WAGs look self-absorbed, and that’s absolutely not what it is at all,” she said. “They understand how special the moment is.”
Allahbia Mitchell, the fiancé of San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason, usually does her own hair and makeup. For game days, lip gloss and lip liner are essential!
However, she went the extra mile for the Super Bowl earlier this year.
“I use a makeup artist and hair stylist for Super Bowl. If we go back to the Super Bowl, I will probably do the same thing,” Allahbia, 25, said. “For the weekly game days, I just do everything myself. I like how I do my makeup, and I usually get a sew-in or a quick weave.”
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Trendy, custom pieces get the job done
Allahbia, who met the pro footballer in 2021, takes pride in coordinating the team’s colors—red, white, and gold—with trendy, custom pieces or from online fashion site Fashion Nova, whom she’s partnering with. She shows her team spirit by donning her man’s number, name, or face on her clothing.
In one instance, she bedazzled a shirt with the #24: “It was a big trend for the girls to have their men’s number on the shirt.”
” I wanted to do something like that popped more, and it was a little bit more glam for the playoffs. So that’s where I got that idea. And it was a lot of work. It was stressful, but it came out looking cute,” she continued.
Allahbia also outsources. This season, she contacted a designer on Instagram to create a Y2K-inspired airbrushed heart tank top with her fiancé’s last name.
“He is definitely a fan of that stuff,” Allahbia said about her effort to show support at games even during her pregnancy. “He’s the type to appreciate that. He wants to see me on the field before the game. At the beginning of the season, they have open practices, and he wants to see me there, too.”
The NFL WAGs resurgence is here, so buckle up!
There has been a renewed spotlight on the NFL WAGs lifestyle, as many of the women have a name for themselves as social media influencers, business owners, Olympians, and celebrities.
Some prominent couples include Ciara and Russell Wilson, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens, and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. PEOPLE reported in October that there have even been rumors about a potential reality show on Bravo of the Kansas City Chiefs WAGS.
Allahbia and Kayla are planning to carve their own lanes in the fashion space.
“I want to expand my styling services to other athletes and people in general,” Allahbia explained to USA TODAY. “I went to school for fashion, and that’s one of the avenues I was looking into going into.”
Kayla is turning her signature football purse into an upcoming business called Women With Ballz. The motto is “Turn game day into your runway.”
” I have some exciting things in the works, and hopefully these purses will be available to purchase soon,” she said. “I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback about people wanting to purchase these purses.”
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.
