Peanut Butter and Celery. Prints and Stripes. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. 

All seemingly unlikely pairings, yet somehow, seem to work.

Let's add one more to that list:

Hockey and Fashion.

Yes, you read that right. Now, never would I have thought that I would someday be writing about those two subjects in one blog, considering they don't seem to be linked in any way.

The Calgary Flames proved that fashion and professional hockey players make for a good match-up.

I have to thank my boyfriend, Joey, for the inspiration for this week's Eye-On-Fashion. A longtime, diehard Flames fan, he alerted me to a rather different group photograph of the entire Calgary Flames roster.

Out of the jerseys, skates, and gear and into suits, vests, and suspenders went the Flames this week, when they travelled to Washington, DC, via an old-fashioned train.

Donning three-piece suits, fedoras, and black and white oxfords, the Calgary Flames made a bold group fashion statement, coming off a recent win playing against the Philadelphia Flyers.

"We figured we were taking the train so we might as well go 'old-school'", says defenseman Mark Giordano, on the team's Facebook page.

The throwback to a more formal time in fashion history was right up my alley, as the 1950's is arguably my favourite decade in fashion history. Giordano seemed to enjoy all the "dressing up". He adds, "I think it's a fun trip for the boys. Sort of had a laugh today seeing everyone in their suits." 

You're a smart man, Giordano. I couldn't agree more.

It delighted me to no end to see a bunch of manly, rough-and-tumble hockey pros having a little good-hearted fun with fashion. The "50's themed, dress-up style train ride" inspired the impossible: turning no-nonsense athletes into dapper gentlemen, complete with looks that would make Don Draper proud.

Despite their proper gentlemanly attire, the guys couldn't resist a few playful jabs at each other. Rightwing Kris Versteeg poked fun at the brown velvet suit that defenseman TJ Brodie wore:

"His suit looks like my old couch at my parents' house, but it's pretty good..".

I have to wonder (and hope!) that perhaps Joey's favourite hockey team will inspire many t-shirt-and-jeans-wearing hockey fans everywhere to try a more formal, classic men's apparel every now and then.

The "impossible" is, in fact, possible, right?!

 

katie

Katie Kraus is a Toronto-born, fashion-loving, 107.5 Bolt FM DJ/Announcer and former city girl, gone country. Stay tuned for weekly Eye-on-Fashion Blogs at discoverhumboldt.com.