If John Halls were to play a game of Two Truths and a Lie, his life story would certainly present a challenge. The 42-year-old from north London has had a remarkable journey that intertwines two seemingly disparate worlds: professional football and high fashion.

At just five years old, Halls made his debut in the spotlight, appearing in the opening scene of Kylie Minogue’s music video for Word Is Out. The video, shot in the early hours at Camden Market, featured a cameo by British TV presenter Davina McCall, who danced alongside Minogue. Fast forward a decade, and Halls found himself on the pitch at Highbury, representing his boyhood club Arsenal in a Worthington Cup (now the Carabao Cup) match against Manchester United.

In that match, the midfielder from Islington, who could also play as a full-back, came on as a substitute in the second half of a convincing 4-0 victory. His introduction saw him replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a player who would later win the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006 and start in the World Cup final in 2010. However, Halls’ debut was marred by a yellow card for blocking Phil Neville’s cross with his arm, followed by a second booking for a foul on Bojan Djordjic, which ultimately led to an early exit from the game.

Fast forward eleven years, and Halls faced another abrupt end to his career. After leaving Arsenal in 2003, he played for clubs like Stoke City, Brentford, and Crystal Palace. However, a persistent injury forced him to retire at the age of 30. It wasn’t until his mid-thirties that the emotional weight of losing his football career settled in, sparking a period of depression that he initially struggled to confront.

His moment of realization came unexpectedly during a visit to a London shopping centre shortly after his contract with Wycombe Wanderers had expired. “I literally retired, got my last paycheck, and then for about five days, I was crying,” Halls recalls. “While I was in the shopping centre, my now-agent approached me with the question: ‘Do you want to be a model?’ I thought, ‘Sure, why not?’ The very next day, I went in for a test shoot, and they signed me on the spot.”

Not long after, a six-week stint in New York propelled Halls into the vibrant world of high fashion. It was during this time, in 2013, that he landed the cover of Man of the World, a prestigious men’s fashion magazine. “Once that hit the shelves, my career took off,” he says. “For two or three years, it was absolute madness. I was traveling and working constantly. It helped me divert my attention from the loss of my football career, even though the depression eventually caught up with me.”

Since then, Halls has become a familiar face on the catwalk for renowned designer Giorgio Armani, opened shows for Dolce & Gabbana, collaborated with Brunello Cucinelli, and even saw his work with H&M showcased on billboards in Times Square.

Halls feels “super lucky,” and justifiably so. Transitioning from football to fashion as he did over a decade ago was not a common path. While David Beckham was one of the few who navigated both realms seamlessly, today’s landscape is seeing an increasing number of footballers combining their athletic careers with modelling and fashion.

In September, for instance, Barcelona and France full-back Jules Kounde created a buzz by donning whipped cream for a campaign shoot with the French fashion house Jacquemus. That same month, Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice made his runway debut for menswear brand Labrum at their London Fashion Week show held at the Emirates Stadium. Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin also made a splash in 2019, strutting in a vibrant pink ensemble down the runway for Louis Vuitton’s SS20 collection.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin further pushed the boundaries of fashion when he appeared on the cover of Arena Homme + in 2021, wearing a handbag and flared shorts. Styled by renowned British stylist Harry Lambert, who has previously worked with celebrities like Harry Styles and Emma Corrin, Calvert-Lewin’s look received widespread acclaim, but it was not without its share of criticism. Much of the backlash came from trolls, some of whom resorted to homophobic comments, particularly due to Calvert-Lewin’s shorts being misinterpreted as a skirt. Similar scrutiny has been faced by Bellerin, Rice, and Kounde for their modelling endeavors.

Some fans argue that players should focus solely on football, often failing to appreciate the significance of self-expression, off-pitch creativity, and the challenging of gender norms. However, an entire community exists that does understand and celebrate this evolution.

Jordan Clarke, the founder of Footballer Fits, a platform dedicated to showcasing footballers’ fashion choices, recalls creating the platform while working in a stockroom at Argos. “It’s fantastic that players are now feeling empowered to explore these avenues (like Rice and Kounde), as there was likely a time when they felt constrained by the pressures of football and the expectations of pundits, fans, or clubs,” Clarke shares.

“Fear of judgment is diminishing. The outdated notions of masculinity and the idea that ‘football is a man’s game’ are gradually being dismantled. We’re witnessing male players paint their nails, wear skirts, and engage in styles that would have been unthinkable a few years ago, largely because societal attitudes have shifted so positively.”

Creative director Morgan Allan, who works with Versus—a platform that promotes the intersection of football, new music, and culture—echoes this sentiment. After directing a recent shoot with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, he noted, “Social media has granted footballers greater control over their personal brand, reducing their reliance on brands and clubs.”

“Footballers train for only a few hours daily, leaving them ample free time,” Allan explains. “They play once or twice a week, and eventually, even gaming becomes monotonous. For players like Trevoh Chalobah, fashion provides a mental escape from the pressures of the sport.”

Clarke mentions that photographers often send images to Footballer Fits to showcase a player’s outfit when they can’t post themselves, especially after a disappointing performance. “It’s disheartening,” he says. “Football is a transient career, and regardless of how lucrative it may be, it’s crucial not to look back and regret the opportunities passed up because of fear of judgment.”

“Footballers are human beings, not mere machines designed for one purpose, irrespective of their price tags or salaries,” Allan emphasizes. “This is an exhilarating space, and while communities like ours exist for support, when a player like Rafa Leao shares a stunning post in Bottega, many comments still push the narrative: ‘What are you doing? Focus on football!’ That mindset persists.”

When Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford partnered with Burberry as a brand ambassador in 2020, the significance was profound for Trisha Lewis. In 2012, she founded Romance FC, a creative football collective based in Hackney, London. “Seeing Marcus Rashford linked to such an iconic British brand was a moment of pride for the Black community,” Lewis states. “In light of the scrutiny faced by Black players, this partnership felt like a significant victory.”

The intertwining of football and fashion transcends mere aesthetics; it can elevate narratives, as seen with Rashford’s Burberry collaboration. When former Lionesses manager Hope Powell was photographed alongside several women for British designer Martine Rose’s second Nike collaboration in 2022, it brought their stories to the forefront.

“Martine Rose introduced these footballers to a new audience,” Lewis explains. “Those who appreciate subculture and creative industries were able to learn about figures like Hope Powell, the first Black manager of the England team, thanks to that campaign.”

“Now, we’re witnessing more players being celebrated for their accomplishments instead of casting models to portray footballers in campaigns. We seek to spotlight real, relatable individuals, especially in women’s football. Strength should be celebrated in all forms; one doesn’t need to fit a specific mold to be a model. Footballers deserve to be recognized for their achievements in this space.”

For those who argue that football and fashion should remain separate, the reality is that the two realms are already deeply connected. Their relationship has evolved over the years, long before players began endorsing club kits and training gear.

Reflecting on the 1960s, Lewis points out, “George Best, the former Northern Ireland and Manchester United winger, was a fashion icon in his own right. He even owned a boutique in Manchester, and his influence was widely accepted. That era was undeniably fashion-forward, with the worlds of football and fashion naturally merging.”

“Think about Calvin Klein campaigns featuring former Arsenal player Freddie Ljungberg; they captured the public’s attention and made a significant impact. Whether or not you recognized him as a player, those billboards were unforgettable.”

Lewis expresses hope for greater representation of women in football, from grassroots to the elite level, to follow in the footsteps of their male counterparts. As for Halls, he encourages players to embrace the world of fashion, highlighting how it has transformed his life. However, he playfully cautions his new competition, saying, “Footballers are everywhere now. They are taking over my job again, which is a bit of a problem. I don’t mind them doing it, but I hope it doesn’t get too overwhelming!”

(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)