TERRACE ESSENTIALS

British terrace culture, first dubbed casual subculture, is a movement that surged in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, echoing the true passion and devotion held by fans for their favourite football teams. With strong roots in their local communities, standing spectators gathered to watch matches, bringing together an aesthetic that merged an unforgettable era of sport, music, and fashion. 

Off the back of European football success, luxury sportswear brands such as Stone Island,  C.P. Company and Moncler were adopted by fans who wanted to bring a taste of the casual designer sportswear looks to the British games, after witnessing these Italian brands as a part of Paninaro culture on their overseas travels.

By the mid-1990s, terrace culture’s legacy and the love of casual sportswear lived on, with many of these original Italian sportswear brands remaining fan-favourites amongst football terrace crowds to this day. A celebration of identity in both football, luxury sports fashion, and streetwear, Stone Island’s shirt jackets, puffer jackets, and cargo pants, all marked with the coveted compass patch, continue to lead the stylistic trend.

Naturally, adidas also played a pivotal role in shaping casual terrace fashion, having become a staple on British terraces for decades with their low profile silhouettes, now dubbed the "terrace shoe". The adidas Samba, Gazelle, and Spezial were embraced by fans not only for their comfort but also for their unmissable 3-Stripes. Transcending the brand’s sports origins, the shoes weree quickly cemented as cultural icons in their own right, seamlessly mixing sport and lifestyle appeal in a way that resonated with generations of football fans and casual sportswear enthusiasts alike. 

Synonymous with terrace style is the focus on the ‘big jacket’. From Italian sportswear icons Stone Island and C.P. Company to luxury alpine brand Moncler, the statement outerwear piece has been at the centre of terrace aesthetics since the subculture began. Perfect for battling wet weather when at a match or simply as a statement piece, the terrace is always brimming with a wide array of outerwear that catches the eye.

Cultivating an environment of research, experimentation and constant advancement, Stone Island’s compass always leads forwards and has long been the pinnacle of design for terrace culture fans. Utilising innovative Raso Gommato fabric (meaning “rubberised satin” in Italian), this high-performance waterproof and windproof 3L Field Jacket is a masterclass in material innovation, dressed in a military-coded khaki green.

Designed to conquer the city and anything it can throw at you, C.P. Company’s Metropolis series is a perfect piece of terrace style. Dressed in all black, this waterproof jacket is kitted out with GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ for the ideal protection from wind and rain on the terraces.

Throwing things back to the ‘90s with this Umbro Zip Off Sleeve Wind Jacket, the British sportswear icons have come back swinging with their inline product following a recent collaboration with Slam Jam. This iconic pullover smock jacket with removeable sleeves is a perfect piece of terrace style, reminiscent of ‘90s and ‘00s classics in a versatile colourway.

Piggybacking off terrace culture’s affinity for the big jacket, down jackets also play a big part in the arsenal of casual style. A statement piece that was transposed from the ‘80s phenomenon of the paninaro in northern Italy, who often wore brightly coloured down jackets alongside other designer sportswear gear, the down jacket was adopted by terrace enthusiasts in the ‘80s when fans were visiting Italy for games.

Moving things forwards with paninaro influence, this Moncler Nylon Extra Legere Gliere Jacket beautifully encapsulates the Italian sportswear influence on terrace style. Subtle yet oozing with performance tech and luxury sports appeal, this lightweight down jacket has been perfected for city jaunts.

No terrace ensemble is complete without the appropriate footwear, and where better to kick things off than with The Brand with the Three Stripes. Low profile adidas terrace shoes have long been connected to British football terrace culture, and remain permanently linked with their various silhouettes and countless colourways.

A true icon of terrace and casual style, the adidas Gazelle Indoor sneaker is the perfect terrace shoe incarnate. Originating in the ‘70s, this German designed trainer is a design classic for good reason. Strikingly simple, yet full of personality, the Gazelle Indoor’s appeal has broadened even further than terrace culture, with it becoming a mainstay in recent “blokecore” trends.