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Writer's pictureMolly Elizabeth

Arsenal’s Lia Wälti on Fashion’s Embrace of Female Athletes

The Swiss footballer shares her style inspirations, why she loved that Stella McCartney kit, and hopes for 2025 Euros.

 


Fashion and football share a mutual anticipatory yearning for future seasons. Perpetually looking ahead, these two giants of culture represent the communities around them, and thus it should come as no shock when the two interlink. For Lia Wälti, Arsenal’s midfield maestro, this relationship was brought into focus when she collaborated with Swisscom’s 079 earlier this year. 


The limited fashion collection, United by 079, sought to guide the raw team spirit of football off the pitch and onto fashion-forward statement jerseys — a recurrent sartorial trend in this Olympic and Men’s Euro year. Wälti, a proud Swiss national, featured in the brand’s digital campaign. “Working with a diverse group of talented individuals, each bringing their unique perspectives to the table was both inspiring and enriching,” Wälti shares with HALOSCOPE, adding that she found the access to creativity, “the most enjoyable aspect.” 


“The United by 079 collection was incredibly compelling because it represented a unique blend of creativity, community, and cultural expression,” Wälti says, recalling her own approach to style. Signing for Arsenal in 2018 from Turbine Potsdam, Wälti is now a certified Londoner. For all who regularly walk these historic, vibrant roads, the city reflects back onto one’s own tastes and for Wälti this is something she has embraced with open arms. “London is a melting pot of cultures, and you can see that reflected in the way people dress. There’s a fearless approach to mixing patterns, textures and eras which has encouraged me to experiment more with my wardrobe,” she says, adding that the city’s street style, “has had a profound impact on how I view and express my own style.” 


Wälti describes her wardrobe as diverse and a true, clear reflection of her effervescent and serene personality, adding, “[it’s] simple, comfortable and thoughtful yet also adaptable.” Specifically, she notes, “I have a deep appreciation for timeless items like a classic denim jacket or a well-tailored blazer.” A brand ambassador for world-renowned luxury watch brand Breitling — after all, she is Swiss — Wälti explained that her outfits never feel complete without a Breitling timepiece on her wrist. “They add a perfect touch of sophistication to any ensemble.”



Recognised for her clinical precision in the game, Wälti doesn’t only pursue high standards on the pitch. Off the grass, she says, “I prioritise quality over quantity,” adding that, with sustainability in mind, she chooses items of clothing, “that are not only stylish but also environmentally conscious.” 


Women’s football is undergoing a major growth spurt in the UK — as are many women’s sports globally. Thanks to a glorious win by England at the 2022 Euros, increased investments at all levels and wider media publicity, the Women’s Super League (the highest league of women’s football in England) experienced a 50 percent increase in aggregate revenue in the 2022/23 season, according to Deloitte. The swelling, thriving fan alliance is perhaps nowhere better seen than outside a sold-out Emirates or Meadow Park, where a sea of red consumes the atmosphere. “It still feels a little bit surreal seeing fans wearing our kits to be honest,” says Wälti, who continued, “It is a visual reminder of the deep connections people have with the clubs or national teams.” 


Just as devoted club fans have their preferences over team kits, so do the players themselves. As to which is her favourite from her time at Arsenal, Wälti admits it is hard to choose as, “we had so many beautiful kits in the last couple of seasons.” However, she concedes that, “Of course, the Stella McCartney of last season was something really special, I loved the colours and the fit. It was even more special that this was a special kit only for the women's team.” 


Aside from custom kits designed by daughters of famed rock stars who are fashion stalwarts by their own rights, the women’s game is producing noteworthy style moments directly from its athletes. “Leah Williamson, my friend and Arsenal teammate, has a fantastic style,” says Wälti of the vice-captain who, when not leading England to victory, can be spotted sitting front row at Gucci runway shows. “I would say that she is probably my favourite fashion icon in women's football,” she declares, adding that, “she is one of those people who can literally wear anything and look effortlessly cool. She has a knack for making even simple outfits look stylish.” Outside of her own team, Swedish international and London City Lioness striker Kosovare Asllani also receives Wälti’s praise. “I think her style is creative and classy.” 



The future is within arms reach as it always has and will forever remain. The time, however, is now for the female athlete at long last getting her dues, and here to greet her is fashion’s warm embrace. “When female athletes are included in fashion, it broadens the range of role models available to women and girls,” says Wälti, who continues, “It shows that athleticism, strength and fitness are just as worthy of celebration as traditional beauty standards.” 


As for the future of the beautiful game, Wälti is in for a spectacular 2025 as the Euros come to her home, Switzerland. A major opportunity for the country, the captain of the Swiss national team says, “I want to help make the game more visible and I want to lead the way for young players to create change.” More than 365 million people tuned in to watch the 2022 tournament, more than double the viewership from the 2017 games. Wälti hopes for a successful competition where her team can reach their full potential saying that, “Everything will be possible with our own fans in the back.”


“We want to inspire the next generations so that we can leave a lasting legacy for women's football in Switzerland,” Wälti says, noting her wishes to see improved facilities, increased interest in the sport and a whole new generation of fans and players who are directly inspired by what they see on the pitch next summer. “The 2025 Euros have the potential to be a defining moment for Swiss football and an unforgettable event for the entire continent.” 🌀


 

Molly Elizabeth is a freelance fashion writer and commentator based in London.



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