Colorado Avalanche Fashion Review: Red Carpet and 3rd Jersey
Well, never mind how the Colorado Avalanche looked in the final 15 minutes of the game. The players had pretty good game as they strolled the red carpet for the introduction to the team’s 20th anniversary season.
The event started at 3:00 pm before the season opener against the Minnesota Wild. Well, fans were asked to report to the Grand Atrium at Pepsi Center by 3:00 pm. In fact, Avalanche mascot Bernie didn’t even make his appearance until around 3:15 pm.
While it’s true the players didn’t even start their strolls until close to the 4:00 pm mark, it turned out the results were worth waiting for. All the players were very gracious in slapping fans’ hands as they made their way down the red carpet (though Jarome Iginla strayed to the other side just before he got to mine — boo.)
Not only that, though, these guys show what it means to them to have to wear suits on a pretty consistent basis. Some of them get really creative in their suit game while others keep it classic. Let’s look at some of the fashion highlights of yesterday’s red carpet stroll. At the end we’ll look at the debut of the Avalanche’s third jerseys.
Next: Colorful Suits
Suits with Color
Obviously there’s no such thing as a suit with no color. However, some players like to get creative with their color choices. (Sorry, but the next two pictures are backside views because the sun was behind them as they walked up the red carpet — you can’t see the suit color.)
Now, I like this picture because Tyson Barrie and Blake Comeau show you how you can take the same basic navy suit pants and update it according to the chosen jacket. Comeau has gone for a classic steel gray. Barrie, on the other hand, has opted for an attractive eggplant color.
Tyson Barrie joins Blake Comeau and Nate Guenin on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Center John Mitchell has gone down a different route. He’s chosen an electric blue — and he sticks with that color alone.
John Mitchell walks the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
I like how he pairs this electric-colored suit with a traditional white shirt — very chic.
John Mitchell on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Defenseman Francois Beauchemin went the opposite direction. He paired a classic beige suit with a trendy sky-blue shirt and tie.
Defenseman Francois Beauchemin on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Next: Patterned Suits
Patterned Suits
A couple players took their creativity one step further. They went full out with patterned suits. (Again, shot from behind because I couldn’t get the color otherwise.)
Jarome Iginla’s suit jacket is an absolute winner. Subtle charcoal polka dots stand out on a background of chic gray. The black pants offer the perfect foil for this jacket.
Jarome Iginla walks down the red carpet in his polka-dot suit
Personally, though, I’m partial to Jack Skille’s look:
Jack Skille walks the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
That’s right, he’s wearing a checkerboard suit reminiscent of Sheldon’s from the Big Bang Theory.
Next: Classic Style
Classic Style Suits
Naturally, you can never go wrong with a classic-styled suit, as these players show.
Center Nathan MacKinnon looks styling in his classic suit and trendy haircut:
Nathan MacKinnon on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Carl Soderberg, on the other hand, looks like he could be ready to sit down to a board meeting. (That’s not a bad thing.)
Carl Soderberg on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Of course you can never go wrong with Swiss style, as backup goalie Reto Berra shows:
Goalie Reto Berra on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Next: Sockless
Suits without Socks
For some players, it wasn’t so much the suit they were wearing as the way they wore it — in this case, without socks. You may have already noticed Tyson Barrie’s naked ankles. Here they are again, anyway:
Tyson Barrie joins Blake Comeau and Nate Guenin on the red carpet. Photo credit: Nadia Archuleta
Semyon Varlamov — who wore his suit that way at the Avalanche Charity Brunch — was also letting his ankles get some sun:
Semyon Varlamov on the red carpet. Photo: Nadia Archuleta
Center Matt Duchene followed suit — I’m pretty sure he’s showing the most ankle:
Matt Duchene on the red carpet. Photo: Nadia Archuleta
It’s the new cut in suit pants — tight and with the ankle exposed. You can show skin like these players do, or you can opt for creative socks like Nathan MacKinnon does.
Nathan MacKinnon on the red carpet.
Next: Star Power
Star Power
Some players looked born for the red carpet. They have real star power.
Is it just me, or does Matt Duchene bear a striking resemblance to Tom Cruise in this photo? The hair, the suit, the sunglasses… definite star power.
Matt Duchene on the red carpet. Photo: Nadia Archuleta
It may just be the back-lighting — or the Christian Slater hair — but defenseman Erik Johnson’s got the look.
Erik Johnson on the red carpet.
Of course, our captain, Gabriel Landeskog, has got star power in spades (including his own entourage apparently).
Gabriel Landeskog on the red carpet.
Next: 3rd Jersey
Third Jersey
In case you think this blog has gone all fashion magazine, let’s have a look at the official unveiling of the Colorado Avalanche’s third jersey.
The design of the third jersey got leaked several weeks ago. Fan reaction was definitely mixed. However, today the team hosted an open practice that included an unveiling of the third jersey. Let me tell you, the sweater combined with the full uniform — including navy pants and helmet — is very striking.
Colorado Avalanche third sweaters at open practice
The navy blue is supposed to represent the Colorado sky. The white on the shoulders are the snowy mountain peaks. Naturally the logo is based on the Colorado flag. Finally, the silver stitching in the log hearkens back to the silver mining that helped make our state great.
I don’t know if fans cared so much about all the symbolism. However, I can tell you the sweaters were flying out of the store.
Erik Johnson’s sold out first. Never mind — I don’t think these sweaters are going away anytime soon, and Christmas is coming up.