Forget the NFL, Thom Browne Football Is the Most Fashionable Game this Thanksgiving

Every Thanksgiving since his childhood, Thom Browne has suited up and played a game of football. When he was growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, this probably meant putting on some sweats and a t-shirt. Anyone who knows anything about the (mostly) gray wool world of Thom Browne, fashion designer, knows that such a casual uniform wouldn’t do today, and so for the past several years, Browne has assembled a group of players in actual suits for a two-hand touch game in Central Park. “Family traditions are really important,” says the designer. “Doing this every year is a really charming reminder of how important my family is to me.”

Clad in the latest Browne apparel, the football teams have included models, actors, fashion editors, photographers, dancers; everyone and anyone in the greater Thom Browne orbit—and that orbit is really quite large. In the past year alone, Browne has made his mark on Broadway, where Tony winner Cynthia Erivo is a fan; at the Met Gala, where Cardi B stunned in a ruby-encrusted dress, and in sports, where LeBron James has made Browne his de facto stadium uniform.

The cast of players at this year’s game was equally star studded, with the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, Ella Balinksa, and drag queen Dan Donegan hitting the field. The only difference between past celebrations and this one is that the two teams—aptly coordinated by color: Gray vs. Navy—are wearing Browne’s new football-themed capsule. Releasing in Browne’s stores and at Bergdorf Goodman today, the capsule collection is comprised of jersey remakes of classic Browne silhouettes like a blazer, long shorts, button down, and cheerleader skirt, as well as gym bags and knits.

Kick off occurred on a frigid day in early November, requiring both teams to assemble in the collection with some helpful additions: thermal leggings and wool scarves and beanies. Let’s call the setting more Frozen Tundra (Green Bay Packers) than Jerry World (Dallas Cowbosy ). As a Packers fan myself, I probably should have prepared a bit better for the ice bowl that awaited, but green and gold aren’t really Browne’s colors, so I hit the field with bare knees to try to prove I had cred. The good news is I threw a couple of spirals—yes, Browne’s jersey blazer actually stretches and move so you can do your best Aaron Rodgers impression—before shoving hand warmers into my pockets and letting the rest of Team Navy do the legwork on the field.

This game was every bit the family celebration Browne intended. Mario Carbone of team Navy provided food from his restaurants; design director Robert Childs served at quarterback for Team Navy; model Rocky Hardwood acted as the de facto cheer captain; Ruby Aldridge, Jeremy O. Harris, Richie Shazam, and Chloe Wise applauded on the sidelines. Like any good family gathering, there was a bit of rivalry too—especially when Team Grey, led by my Condé Nast colleague Samuel Hine, won with a score of 21 to 14. “While team grey was ultimately victorious, due to my two touchdowns and a beautiful flea flicker executed by Chris Black, I thought we were toast when Lil Uzi came off the bench for team navy,” said Hine. “He had the best fit on, for one, and is one of the fastest men in music. He got some clutch first downs at QB. But ultimately it wasn’t enough to overcome our lead. Did I mention I threw two touchdowns?”

Does it really matter, though, who won and who lost when both teams—and all the cheerleaders—looked this good? It depends on who you ask, but what’s for sure is that this will be the best dressed football game on the internet today. (Sorry, Cowboys.)