A football jersey isn’t the first thing you’d expect to see on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week. But when you’re talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, anything is possible.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s partner Georgina Rodríguez surprised the crowds in the French capital on Friday with an outfit that quickly went viral: a dress based on his iconic Manchester United No. 7 shirt.
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The design, from the Swiss fashion brand Vetements, transformed the Premier League club’s kit into a long, flowing red dress, with Ronaldo’s name and number on the front.
The dress was apparently signed by the 39-year-old former Real Madrid forward, who now plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Rodríguez has been a regular attendee at Paris Fashion Week over the years, but this is thought to be the first time she has taken to the catwalk.
While the dress — which is part of Vetement’s Fall 2024 collection — is clearly an homage to Ronaldo’s two spells at Old Trafford, there’s no sign of the United badge, probably to avoid any unwanted trademark issues.
On the back, it featured a message which appeared to be handwritten by Ronaldo, saying “For the love of my life Gio x Vetements” alongside another signature.
Both Rodríguez and Ronaldo are both usually active on social media, but neither has posted about the outfit yet.
Ronaldo himself has been a keen fashion enthusiast over the years, and has his own “CR7” brand of clothing and underwear, as well as a wide range of endorsements.
Vetements has been an influential presence in contemporary fashion over the last decade, with one of its founders going on to become creative director at luxury fashion house Balenciaga.
Some commentators linked Rodriguez’s dress to the so-called “blokecore” movement — a football-inspired fashion trend which involves wearing vintage football shirts, jeans and trainers — albeit a more refined version.
The reaction to the influencer’s outfit was mixed.
Fashion magazine Vogue didn’t reference Rodríguez by name, preferring to focus on some of the other 89 designs or ‘looks’ in the collection, but it did make an unflattering reference to “evening dresses cut from clingy jersey.”
Gossip magazine Hola was more positive, describing Rodríguez as looking “like a professional model, as she walked down the runway with a smouldering face.”