Everton star Amadou Onana turns up for Belgium duty in a black pleated skirt and a Louis Vuitton handbag – and is praised as ‘a child of his time’ for his bold wardrobe choices

• Amadou Onana has enjoyed a strong start to the 2023-24 season with Everton 
• The 22-year-old paired the skirt and handbag with some bright yellow shoes 
• City had their pants pulled down by a development team – It’s All Kicking Off 

Amadou Onana’s outfit choice as he arrived to link up with the Belgian national team has raised some eyebrows, with fashion experts praising the Everton midfielder’s wardrobe choices as ‘very clever’. 

Onana and Everton have enjoyed a surprisingly strong start to the season, winning six of their last nine games after having been touted as one of the sides to be flirting with relegation this term. 

The Belgian midfielder as a result was called up to the national team by Domenico Tedesco, where he will join up with the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard and Romelu Lukaku. 

However, while some of his team-mates arrived at the national training centre in Tublize on Monday in tracksuits, jeans and puffer jackets, Onana arrived in style. 

With yellow shoes on his feet, the 22-year-old Toffees star midfielder was sporting a black skirt, black jacket and a Louis Vuitton handbag beneath an umbrella amid the deluge in the heart of Belgium. 

Amadou Onana arrived for Belgium duty in a front-pleated black skirt, yellow shoes and a Louis Vuitton handbag

The 22-year-old has been in good form with Everton at the start of the 2023-24 campaign 

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Onana’s fashion choice was quick to raise eyebrows, but came in for hefty praise from experts, with one professor praising the midfielder for ‘playing with gender fluidity’.  

‘This is very clever,’ says Annick Schramme, professor of International Fashion Management (UAntwerp). ‘Onana is a child of his time and with his skirt he plays with gender fluidity. Many young people do not recognize themselves in the stereotypical gender roles and dare to color outside the lines with their clothing. 

‘That Onana does this in a macho world is paradoxical. But that is precisely why it is a powerful statement. In fact he says: “Anyone can wear it, I wear what I want”. 

‘In terms of a raised middle finger in a world where homosexuality has only been discussed since the World Cup in Qatar, that can count.’ 

Footballers have long held a chequered record when it comes to their fashion choices, with David Beckham an example. 

With the growing financial power that players have, the clothing that they are buying is seemingly growing ever more extravagant, as stars on the field look to make a statement off of it, too. 

And the editor of a Dutch magazine has been quick to point out that men’s skirts are becoming far more common place after success on the runways. 

‘During the Fashion Weeks this spring, almost every luxury brand showed a men’s skirt,’ says Tim Van de Pas, editor-in-chief of the Dutch magazine Manify.

‘Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy: they all have it now. And then it is not surprising that you now see the men’s skirt on the streets. That’s how it goes with fashion: what appears on the catwalk in the spring, you see on the streets in the autumn.’ 

Schramme added that for Onana to be able to express himself in such a way in a ‘stereotypical’ world such as football, where masculinity  

Onana was praised by fashion experts for ‘playing with gender fluidity’ and he was described as a child of his time

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt (pictured) is one of a number of prominent male figures to wear skirts

‘I think Onana’s example could now provide a breakthrough,’ says Schramme. ‘If it can be done even in the stereotypical world of football, then it can be done anywhere, right?’ 

Van de Pas was also of the opinion that the garment could become rife, but doesn’t quite believe it will be considered part of an ‘everyday outfit’ any time soon.

‘It fits in with the trend of wide trousers. I see it as a statement piece that you combine with something sober, like a hoodie.

‘I don’t think it’s an everyday outfit, but if the opportunity presents itself and you feel it, you should go for it. Who are we to say you shouldn’t do it?’

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