The World Series of Poker is underway in Las Vegas, with the movers and shakers of the card world gathered to play for big prizes.
You can catch the likes of Dan Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth battling it out for the right to become crazy rich, and famous too. They’ll attempt to outthink their opponents and mask their intentions. There will be a mix of characters and personalities, and crucially, some very different styles.
When you think of playing poker, you probably get an image of James Bond in Casino Royale, dressed up in black tie attire and surrounded by people dressed similarly. If you tune into the ongoing poker games this fall, you’ll see that’s not the case. There are all manner of styles that pass as acceptable, and a look through history shows us many different looks have triumphed. These fashions have all won big at the main table and could be your inspiration for power dressing the next time you play poker for real money. Dress to impress, they say, but in poker, you dress to divert, distract and distort.
Who has been some of the fashion trendsetters in the poker world who have wowed in what they wear and won the main event? We’ve selected four very different styles you may wish to try the next time you’re in a casino.
Peter Eastgate – Hoodie
Denmark’s Peter Eastgate doesn’t stand out from the crowd; he’s very much a hoodie man, proving that casual can win the day when playing poker. Eastgate took home more than $9m at the 2008 WSOP and did so by looking like your average youth in the street. His hoodie, and backwards cap, were emblazoned with a sponsor’s logo, but they’re not uncommon attire at all. If you look understated, then there’s every chance your opponent will underestimate.
Johnny Moss – Cardigan and sweaterJohnny Moss has nine WSOP bracelets and won less than $1m despite coming out on top three times. Why so little? Because his victories came way back in the seventies, and that is evident in his fashion. Retro is very fashionable, though, and at his best, The Grand Old Man of Poker combined his grandfather look with a killer instinct for cards. Cardigans are versatile, working just as well over a t-shirt as a sweater. Moss often went blue and blue, neutral colors which gave little of his personality away. You can pair it with a pair of slacks or casual trousers, rather than jeans, to top off the seventies throwback look.
Doyle Brunson – Cowboy
Brunson was known as Texas Dolly, and he wore it well. Often, if poker doesn’t conjure up imagery of James Bond in Monaco, it will bring you to the Wild West, Stetsons, cowboy boots and brown shirts. Brunson won two WSOP main events in 1976 and 1977, but his attire was straight out of 1877. The 88-year-old is still going strong today, although not around the poker tables, but he does have ten WSOP career bracelets to show for his career. Whether he wore the boot or not isn’t clear, as his feet were under the table, but if you’re going to pick a style, you may as well go all-in.
Ryan Riess – Track TopRyan Riess, known as Riess the Beast, is a Michigan boy with just one bracelet to his name. One is enough because he earned it by winning the 2013 main event and bagging himself $8.3m. Riess dresses like your average college quarterback, casual in a branded t-shirt and a track top. That understated look reflects that of Peter Eastgate and is a favorite of players on the tour, but Riess was more open without a hood, as if he had nothing to hide. He did have plenty to hide; ace and king of hearts, the hand which won him both the WSOP and the World Poker Tour title in 2017.
And there you have it – a look at the fashions of some poker champions. It is said that your style can improve your game, but this is actually an idea that extends to everything, namely that your looks can improve your attitude and make you more confident. And that is fashion is all about.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
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