Are netizens right to mock soccer player Jules Cunde’s heels?

Once again the Blues’ arrival at Clairefontaine got ink flowing and keyboards heating up. It is not about the preparations for the Euro in Germany, but about the style of the players’ clothing. A quilted Dior jacket for Kylian Mbappé, a Drôle de Garcons cardigan for Youssef Fofana or a double denim jacket for Benjamin Pavard, the members of the French soccer team have done well. One of them has a habit of standing out from the crowd with his audacity, and this time it was no less. Jules Cunde appeared in jeans outbreak, leather jacket and orange tie. In her hand, she carried a vintage Louis Vuitton Keepball bag, created in 2001 in collaboration with Stephen Sprouse. And while her look was met with the approval of most netizens, garnering half a million likes in less than 24 hours, her heeled cowboy boots did earn her some derision. “Mr. or Mrs. Kunde,” “Juliette Kunde,” “I’m sure she’s wearing a turban,” the disaffected like to comment. Who do not hesitate to question the vigor of the French defender, who conveys an image that is far from the stereotypes of football players.

Figures of abundance

Football icons represent a masculine image for many, embodying virility and strength. Therefore, any coquettishness is always perceived as contrary to this role assigned to them. A phenomenon that is not new, according to media sociologist Jamil Dakhlia. “The evolution of male characters through footballers mirrors the evolution of masculinity in society. And this development is not so recent. In the 2000s, David Beckham was known for his attention to appearance, hairstyle and fashion. He was considered the prototype of the “metrosexuals” of the time, which contradicted his position.

Cowboy boot heels, however, have a very masculine and masculine origin. Historically worn by men, these boots were invented specifically for cowboys. Their bent heels, which create a problem here, allow them to hold the lasso and stay in their necks. Additionally, the far-western aesthetic of Jules Cunde’s look is in keeping with the times, Louis Vuitton Fall Winter 2024-2025. between Pharrell Williams’ fashion show, Beyoncé and Lana del Rey’s country albums, and Bella Hadid’s Instagram photos. Therefore, the 25-year-old is once again aiming quite well.

Like in the NBA

Jules Cunde’s style is a real topic on social networks. There are more than 56 million videos on TikTok on this topic alone, completely eclipsing his soccer videos. Beyond the analysis of his appearance, the question that arises in these networks is whether Jules Cunde alone can establish the tradition in football.tunnels fit”, comes from basketball? Indeed, in the NBA, when the players enter the stadium, they show off their outfits, each one more stylish than the other, and above all, much more fashionable than sports. Systematically attracting all eyes, the young Frenchman is slowly introducing a similar practice to both the French team and FC Barcelona, ​​where he plays. Enthusiasm that increasingly infects his teammates.

Soccer pop star

For several years now, footballers have been breaking into the fashion scene, inviting themselves to the front rows of fashion shows and sometimes even to the catwalks, like Ronaldinho in Kidsuper or Djibril Cisse in Marine Serre. “Football players have risen in the pantheon of celebrities,” explains Jamil Dakhlia. “Before, they were more popular, plebeian figures. They were ridiculed for their appearance, associated with a form of antiquity. Today, they have become modern faces of success, ambassadors whom fashion does not hesitate to call. And because fashion is a small reflection of a certain classification of society, they have stood out and gained cultural legitimacy. The holy totem of success they represent allows them to do more daring sartorial experiments than if they were Mr. Aimene. And be sure to absorb any criticism from netizens.