6 days ago
Premier League 2025-26 kits: a fashion expert's verdict
The new Premier League season begins on Friday and that means we will get the first glimpse of each team's new kit in action. Hannah Rogers, the Assistant Fashion Editor at The Times, gives her thoughts on how they rank from a sartorial perspective — from Bournemouth's Dennis the Menace stripes to Nottingham Forest's 'yuck' gold.
With a razzy airline sponsor, it perhaps makes sense that Arsenal's away kit looks inspired by waves in a rooftop swimming pool — though I'm not mad on the washy-wash shade of blue, nor the raspberry pink stripes. A bit meh? The home shirt is cleaner, with a confident, fuss-free pop. The call to switch out last year's contrasting blue for straightforward red stripes was a sage one.
Ooh, these swirly bits on the cuffs are a bit fancy, aren't they? Unfortunately, they ruin what is otherwise a perfectly good shirt. Conversely — and I know us fashion editors are ones to talk — but the plain black away shirt is dead boring. I suspect the players are happy about that, though.
I was casting my memory for what these shirts remind me of, and then it hit me: Dennis the Menace. One nice thing to say: I appreciate the slight difference in red and blue hues on the respective vertical band piping.
I'm not loving the murky mix of beige and gold, Brentford — it reminds me of the inside of a naff posh car. The little polo collars feel non-committal, and give me the ick. Thumbs down! The home kit's neckline and sleeve hems, however, are what you might call a point of interest. I like the unexpected asymmetric cutaways.
Ok, these are nice! By which I mean: you might actually wear them off the pitch. The lilac is a masterstroke. I really dig the V and crew-neck collar distinctions for home and away, too.
Clever consistency on the striped trims, and the patterns are quite groovy. I don't hate these.
Crikey Chelsea, what were you thinking here? There's clearly a theme with indistinguishable graphic prints this season, but the one on this home shirt must be the worst. As for the away kit… it's giving Gucci vibes.
The less said about the gold here, the better. It's so horribly shiny. The home shirt is streets ahead — classic and cool.
Less is more, as Everton (and Castore) have clearly realised — albeit they might regret the butter yellow. It's been terribly modish on the high street this summer, but coming to the end of its trend cycle. The zig zags on the home kit are the cleanest print yet, but still tactfully distracting.
Raves and festival fields: that's where these shirts belong. Letting the acid green do the talking by minimising details elsewhere is what makes it work. The same can be said for the monochrome home jersey. Adidas's three stripes are the height of cool right now, and take centre stage across the shoulders.
Was there a memo sent around about sleeve details this season? The ones here look like bathroom tiling. I much prefer the away kit, which hasn't been tarnished with the same trim.
Very nice home and away kits, no notes. I'm here for the barely-there polka dot print.
I've got a soft spot for Man City's baby-blue clobber, and am not averse to the white brushstroke detailing across the front here. And just look at the natty neck scarf styled with the away shirt! Is that for chilly match days, or cocktails after the game?
I'm not sure the washed-out effect offers much here, and we've got yet another odd graphic motif on the away shirt. Is that grey, or lilac? The home shirts are inoffensive enough, but nothing to write home about.
Newcastle away — Now we're talking! The colourways are my cup of tea, especially the turquoise trim. Lovely. But, alas, what happened with the home shirt? Perhaps the blurred stripes are intended to give the opposition a migraine.
You know by now how I feel about gold: yuck, horrible, bad. The home kit has a vintage feel (thumbs up) though, again, the polo collars make me cringe.
Red and white stripes: what else is there to say? They do the job. Awful checkerboard print on the away jerseys. The Roker Lighthouse supposedly depicted in each square does not read.
Well done, Spurs: the windowpane check adds an element of intrigue to these black away shirts. The home kit feels modern. It's got a nice elongated silhouette.
Nothing wrong with these. That's all.
I appreciate you can't do much about your team colours, but that really is a grim mustard yellow. The aquamarine away kit, mind, is lush — and the use of texture is much nicer than the usual digital printing.
