Why is soccer player George Best considered a style icon of the 60s?

George Best was a famous Northern Irish footballer, considered one of the best players of all time. His career spanned the 1960s and 1980s. Best’s assets include the Ballon d’Or, the European Cup, and 179 goals for Manchester United. Best was included in the Hall of Fame of English soccer, and Brazilian footballer Pele called him “the greatest footballer in the world”.

Success on the international stage, he did not achieve, as he played for a weak Northern Irish team. However, this did not prevent him from becoming one of the greatest players of his generation. And in 1999, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, Best took 16th place in the list of the best soccer players in the world.

clothing designer

George Best loved clothes, he had his own boutique, he participated in fashion shows and absorbed the spirit of the time. And his style was quite diverse.

Julia: He wore, let’s say, smart-casual 1960s: suits, bombers, trench coats, high-waisted and high-slung pants, double-breasted jackets and shirts.

The talented footballer loved to buy himself sports cars, it was his passion. But with special trepidation Best treated the brand Jaguar: “I have a weakness for” Jaguar “and in 1968, I bought two or three cars – all white color.

George was always characterized by unpredictability, not only on the soccer field, but also in clothes. His unusual taste allowed him to combine different styles and create his own. In 2007, GQ included him in the top 50 most stylish people of the last half century. An impressive achievement, isn’t it?

Julia: If you look at the photos from that time, you can see that he skillfully combined tweed jackets and corduroy pants, cashmere pullovers and turtlenecks. Best uses different textures and prints, complements simple classic options with interesting jewelry.

In addition to being an excellent connoisseur of fashion, Best had another advantage – his crazy natural charisma. Long, sloppily styled hair, sloppy stubble, sideburns, and a radiant smile. All this combined with a unique style attracted the eyes of fans. He was called a sex symbol, the Fifth Beatle, a style icon.

Best became so fascinated with fashion that in 1967 he opened his own boutique Edwardia, where he sold the most trendy things of the time. At first, things went well for him, but in the 1970s business was in crisis and the boutique had to close.

Actor, model and scandalizer

During the wild popularity Best managed to star in a large number of commercials and even played a cameo in the comedy “Percy”. He wrote several autobiographies, he even had a movie made in his honor, and the footballer was also honored with a place on the cover of the debut album of the musical group The Wedding Present.

In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol. It was the worst 20 minutes of my life.

The soccer player knew how to party and have fun. Almost all his free time he spent in nightclubs and bars. From good alcohol Best did not refuse and during his soccer career. Once, missing the morning training Manchester United because of a fun night, George demanded that he was put in the lineup for the next match. But the coach firmly refused. Best’s career in “Manchester” abruptly cut off. After he managed to play for many medium-sized clubs, but never returned to the top.

As often as Best scored goals, he found himself in scandalous situations. “I became something of a pop star,” he claimed in one interview. In a state of alcohol intoxication footballer drove a car, staged drunken fights in pubs, changed women like gloves, swore on talk shows, sued Miss World, arranged scandals on the soccer field, sat in jail – and this is only a small part of his “merits”.