From Rosalía to TikTok, #BootsOnlySummer is turning football culture into fashion, fueling the evolution of Blokecore and street style in Europe
This summer, TikTok is serving up one of the most unexpected fashion trends yet: wearing football boots in everyday life, and not just on the pitch. Dubbed #BootsOnlySummer, the viral aesthetic is redefining how Gen Z blends sport, nostalgia, and style. What started as a joke is now a full-fledged look linked to the growing influence of football culture and the continued evolution of Blokecore—a style rooted in vintage kits, streetwear, and British lad energy.
TikTok Trend Alert: Why People Are Wearing Football Boots Off the Pitch
If you scroll through TikTok right now, chances are you’ll stumble on a guy sporting football boots (the real ones, with studs and all) in all sorts of settings aside from the pitch.
@zai.zee #bootsonlysummer #football #footballmemes #footballtok #fyp #foryoupage #soccer #uptown #womensfootball #shesaballer #hijabifootballer #hijabi ♬ UPTOWN - CHY CARTIER
What used to be every kid’s dream—spending afternoons in the corridor dribbling like Ronaldinho in muddy boots while getting yelled at by your mum—is now a full-blown styling trend on social media. It goes by the name #BootsOnlySummer.
Rosalía, New Balance, and the Viral Rise of #BootsOnlySummer
It started as an ironic styling experiment by random TikTok users—where no one was actually taking it seriously. It suddenly caught everyone’s attention when Rosalía showed up at her Met Gala 2025 fitting wearing New Balance 442 Pro V2s.
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In this Instagram post, Rosalía makes a bold statement at the Met Gala, pairing her look with New Balance 442 Pro V2s, embracing the “Boots Only Summer” vibe.
While many still think the whole thing is ridiculous (let’s be honest, wearing studs on concrete isn’t exactly practical), some see it as the next chapter in the ever-evolving fashion saga known as Blokecore.
What Is Blokecore? The Football-Inspired Fashion Trend Explained
Blokecore (or Bloke core) is a style characterised by vintage football shirts, jeans, and sneakers. The term “bloke” is British slang for “man” and is closely linked to “lad core,” another term that draws from English football subcultures.
@jessicadiener1 ⚽️⚽️ #jessdiener ♬ original sound - Spragga ⛷️
This aesthetic captures a distinctly British vibe that stands apart from American slang and fashion influences.
Celebrity Endorsements and Runway Moments Fueling the Blokecore Hype
Blokecore blew up last summer, surfacing on the feeds of unexpected celebs such as Drake wearing a Barcelona-OVO home jersey, Emily Ratajkowski repping SSC Napoli, and Kim Kardashian casually showing off a vintage AS Roma shirt from the 1997/98 season—a reference that certainly caught the attention of football enthusiasts.
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This Instagram post highlights the rising trend of wearing football boots off the pitch. From the streets of the US to casual outings, people are lacing up studded boots for everyday wear — comfort aside.
Even Spring/Summer 2024 runways caught the wave, with designers like 3.Paradis, Etro, and Kseniaschnaider all releasing pieces that align with this aesthetic.
#BootsOnlySummer: A New Chapter in Football-Inspired Street Style
#BootsOnlySummer might be the latest radical twist in this ongoing trend, but what does it really mean?
Despite its absurdity and impracticality, the trend underscores how deeply football has influenced contemporary fashion. What used to be two separate worlds are now merging more than ever.
Football Culture and Its Growing Influence on Youth Style
Football has long been a cornerstone of European pop culture, producing global heroes and shaping icons both on and off the pitch with each goal and campaign.
Over the past twenty years, lifestyle giants like Nike and Adidas have embraced this legacy, going head-to-head with a run of iconic advertisements that have inspired the dreams of every Gen Z kid raised on football flicks and branded aspirations.
European Streetwear vs. American Urban Style: A Cultural Shift
In a way, young Europeans are engaging in a unique, likely short-lived experiment by testing out new styles that reinterpret shared cultural references, with football at the forefront. And that’s actually great news for streetwear as a whole. Moving away from an American “urban” narrative—one that often feels disconnected from European experiences—could open up fresh paths and possibilities.
Ultimately, the #BootsOnlySummer trend, which has gained significant traction on TikTok, presents an opportunity to inject fresh energy into European streetwear and street style. This shift could help streetwear stay relevant and thrive simply by speaking a language that resonates with this generation.
Edoardo Passacantando
Editorial team