Lanna Apisukh/WWD
Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and three-time Super Bowl champion, stars in Tommy Hilfiger’s new fall campaign that takes the viewer inside The Plaza hotel, Hilfiger’s former stomping grounds
Lanna Apisukh/WWD
Kelcewas named Hilfiger’s global brand ambassador last March, and his first order of business was to appear in the designer’s fall campaign at The Plaza, a place where Hilfiger and his wife, Dee, lived for more than a decade, and a location Hilfiger feels exudes the energy of New York City — so much so that he will hold his spring 2027 fashion show there on Sept. 10
Kelce, the campaign‘s centerpiece, is unquestionably a “fashion guy,” whose game-day arrivals have turned each entrance into a showcase for his fashion point of view
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“Fashion has always been something I’ve had fun with. I put my looks together myself so what you see on game day is genuine,” Kelce said in an interview with WWD. “A lot of the game day looks reflect how I’m feeling that week or the vibe I want to project. It’s become a part of my game day routine that I’ve loved since being in the NFL,” the 36-year-old football player said
On game days, Kelce has been seen sporting a Tom Ford or Thom Browne designer suit, tinted sunglasses, unbuttoned shirts with gold chains and carrying Louis Vuitton bags. It’s been reported he’ll spend up to three hours pulling his outfits together. Kelce’s humor and natural stage presence have made him a headline-making crossover figure with influence beyond the sports field. From hosting “Saturday Night Live” to co-creating “New Heights,” a popular podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, which was Spotify’s number-one sports podcast of 2025, his reach continues to expand. He also manages major business investments, acts in TV shows and has endorsement deals outside of his NFL career.
“Travis connects with people far beyond football,” Hilfiger said in an interview. “He’s part of entertainment, fashion, business and pop culture, and that gives him an incredibly broad audience. He appeals to longtime fans who respect his legacy, as well as kids who see him as an all-time great, and brings a fresh energy to our American prep codes.”
The ’90s-inspired Collaboration Feels ‘Really Authentic’
Kelce has been a fan of Hilfiger’s since high school, when he would wear the designer’s clothing. When asked what’s the most memorable Hilfiger piece he ever wore, Kelce said, “Without a doubt, the sailing jacket. I remember begging my mom for one. The color block was so iconic and had so much personality. I’d still rock that thing today.”
Kelce believes Hilfiger’s fall collection‘s theme, “Prep Made Current,” is the essence of what Hilfiger does — taking classic, timeless pieces and giving them your own spin. “You can make something more modern without sacrificing that nostalgia,” said Kelce, who has also been tapped as a creative collaborator and is working on a spring 2027 capsule with Hilfiger
“We’ve been working on the collection for a while now,” Kelce said. “Tommy took me through his archive and walked me through some of his favorite pieces over the last 40 years, which was incredible,” he said. “For our co-created collection we reimagined some of those iconic staples in ways that feel contemporary and reflect my personal style. We tapped into unexpected colorways, fabrics, proportions — all those details that can bring a whole new energy
“I can’t wait until we can talk about the spring collection. I can’t give too much away right now.…You’ll definitely see my personal style reflected in how we reimagined some of the brand’s most iconic pieces,” he added
Kelce said that his personal aesthetic is deeply influenced by ’90s nostalgia, and Hilfiger was a huge part of that. “It was a defining style of that decade and is a brand I’ve genuinely worn and loved over the years, so that shared history makes the collaboration feel really authentic to me,” he said
The Campaign Taps Another NYC Icon
The fall campaignwas photographed at The Plaza by Lachlan Bailey
“The Plaza is one of the great New York icons,” said Hilfiger, explaining his affinity for the hotel. “It’s a place where diverse personalities, artists and innovators have come together for over a century; you never know who might walk through the doors. If those walls could talk, they’d tell incredible stories about authors, musicians, actors and designers whose paths cross there, even royalty, and I think today’s younger generations really appreciate that heritage and cultural legacy.” The hotel has played host to generations of icons, from Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
For the fall campaign, Kelce is joined by Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, along withGigi Hadid; brand ambassador and singer, songwriter and actress Jisoo; singer and songwriter Peggy Gou; tennis star Frances Tiafoe, and basketball legend Carmelo Anthony
Kelce described the shoot as “totally surreal.”
“Seeing the city through Tommy’s lens — with the history, the team, the energy — was something special. The Plaza is such an iconic landmark, too. It’s one of those campaigns that could have only happened in New York,” Kelce said
While Kelce is a fan of Hilfiger’s fall collection, one category in particular resonated with him. “I gravitate to the rugbys from the fall collection. They really exemplify that intersection of sport and style and culture that Tommy is known for, and can be sporty or elevated, depending on how you style it.”
As for which look convinced Hilfiger that he chose the right guy for the campaign, Hilfiger said, “Travis looks great in anything he puts on, whether it’s a relaxed hoodie or polished suiting.” For the shoot, they focused on pieces that are essential building blocks in a fall wardrobe — tailored coats, a cable-knit turtleneck, sleek pants and a varsity jacket
The designer noted that like all brand ambassadors, Kelce will be woven into the brand across campaigns, social content and cultural moments throughout their partnership. “We’re excited to let his personality come through and give people a more personal view of Travis in Tommy. It’s about embracing what makes this collaboration so authentic while giving him the freedom to bring his own point of view to our storytelling,” Hilfiger said
There was no question that Travis brought a lot of his energy to The Plaza hotel set. “Travis’ energy is infectious — he’s upbeat, positive and has a great sense of humor. He’s always making everyone around him feel comfortable, and he’s constantly cracking jokes. He’s very collaborative and has a great instinct for style. You can tell he really enjoys the creative process, which makes our collaboration feel seamless,” Hilfiger said
The Evolution of Travis’ Fashion Style
Asked whether the idea of a “fashion guy” has changed because of athletes like Kelce, Hilfiger said, “Absolutely. Today some of the most influential people in fashion are coming from sport. The idea of the ‘fashion guy’ is less about following traditional rules, and more about having a point of view. Travis is so confident, and he’s not afraid to experiment, mix things up and make a look his own. To me, that’s what real style is about,” said the designer, who has featured such sports stars as Rafael Nadal, Checo Pérez and Lewis Hamilton in his campaigns.
Kelce explained that his awareness of fashion definitely began when he was growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and he observed creative influences everywhere. “Every day at school, it was like a fashion show, and that energy of just being fearless and having fun with it really stuck with me,” he said
As Kelce has grown more famous, his fashion options have clearly widened
“I mean, I’ve just been exposed to so many more designers. The longer I’ve been in the NFL the more brands have reached out, and I’ve really been able to get my hands on more things in my size. Half the battle for me most of the time is getting to those 2XLs before they run out. It’s definitely made things easier to get what I love with the big-name designers, but I still love to rock the streetwear and brands that I came up with,” Kelce said
As a child, he was definitely drawn to sports icons that influenced his fashion choices
“When I was a kid, I loved sportswear and I think I had one pair of dress pants I’d only put on for special occasions. I always wanted to rock a headband for my games or wear a specific pair of shoes. I was definitely inspired by all the ’90s sports icons, so I really gravitated to the concept of expressing myself through what I wore. Obviously your style is going to evolve, but I still have just as much fun with it. Lately, I’ve been into experimenting with tailoring and proportions and playing around with statement pieces. [I] still love a good accessory too,” Kelce said.
Turning to his own personal wardrobe and the favorite item he wears on repeat, Kelce said, “I honestly change it up so much, so that’s a tough call. I will always reach for a vintage hat with a great old school ’90s logo from my favorite teams growing up. Those are definitely a staple in my wardrobe.”
Denim has been more challenging for him over the years. Discussing whether he prefers his jeans tight, relaxed, baggy, straight leg or wide, Kelce said, “I’ve fought with denim in the past trying to find the right fit. There were a couple years I just steered away from jeans altogether. I’d imagine most football players struggle with this because of the leg strength needed to play the game. I look back on my tight fit phase and just laugh at myself, so nowadways I typically lean away from the slim jeans. As long as they go with the rest of the outfit though, I don’t discriminate.”
In response to what he brought to the set that was distinctly “Travis” he said, “We had an elite cast for this campaign, so I think we all brought our own unique energy to set. I just love that fashion can bring so many people from all walks of life together: And Tommy’s brand really reflects that with this campaign. New York is special, and I think we created a campaign you could only do there. Having Jisso, Tiafoe, Peggy Gou, Melo and Gigi come through really highlighted what I love about the city you never know who or what’s around the corner,” he said.
Kelce said the biggest fashion faux pas he ever made was probably spending his entire rookie paycheck on an item. “I’m going to push some boundaries and take some risks, so sometimes those looks aren’t going to be for everyone, and that’s totally fair. But I’m always going to have fun with it,” he said
As for his football career, Kelce is excited about the upcoming season, and when asked what he wants to prove to himself, he said, “I’m fired up for this season. I’m just focused on being the best teammate to my guys, bringing that energy every day, setting the standard. I got so much love for this game, and I know I can still show up at a high level, so I’m excited to get this thing rolling.”
There’s no question Kelce’s juggling a lot among football, a successful podcast, modeling and other business endeavors
Lanna Apisukh/WWD
So when asked what guests might appear on his and his brother’s podcast, which resumes Wednesday, he said, “The show is heading into its fifth season, which is just wild. Season four had some absolutely insane guests. I mean, it was pretty epic to kick it off with Tay [his wife, Taylor Swift] and wrap with football royalty and literal royalty [Tom Brady and Prince William]. It’s always a blast, so I’m excited to get back into it and see what we got in store for this year. I’ve been doing this for a while now, and I have my longtime team around me who knows that during the season, football is the priority, so it’s just automatic at this point. We make sure we keep the main thing, the main thing.”
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