No red card for Elvis from the style referees

HE'LL be glad he never opted for a white sequined flared trouser suit like his famous rock'n'roll namesake.

Instead, it's Steven Pressley's understated style that seems to have got him noticed. Even dressed in just a black wool pea coat, a pair of boot-cut distressed jeans and understated trainers, a bag casually slung across his shoulder, there's no mistaking Edinburgh's own Elvis when he's out and about.

Be it his stature or his stubble, he is without doubt one of the best-known sportsmen in Scotland at the moment - but is he also one of the most stylish?

Certainly the organisers of the Scottish Style Awards seem to think so as he's been shortlisted in the Most Stylish Male category, where his fashion sense will be pitted against Dr Who actor David Tennant, racing driver Dario Franchitti, writer AA Gill and Turner Prize-nominated artist Jim Lambie.

So will his coat and jeans combo or his grey pinstriped single-breasted suit paired with light pink shirt and matching silk tie, see him capture the title . . or will he be relegated by the fashion police?

Out of a Hearts strip or a Puma tracksuit, it does seem that Pressley can dress well . . at times. Thankfully there are no blinging white suits of the kind his Premier League colleagues might prefer, no tacky "Italian" tie-styles, no outsized diamond earrings or sarongs - but will playing it safe win him the hearts of the style cognosceti?

The 32-year-old has already made it past a tough panel of judges from the fashion industry who selected him for his "inspirational personal style."

"It's quite laughable, isn't it," says a modest Steven. "I found out on Sunday morning before the game, so at least it gave me fantastic ammunition in the changing room and for the rest of the day.

"I think the lads are sick of it now, but I think the word you really could use about the other guys is: envy. And I've not let it lie that I'm in the running.

"Anybody who knows me - my wife and my friends - know I'm not too fussed about my own appearance. It's very important to represent the club in the best possible manner but I'm far from vain.

"It's nothing to brag about, I'm far from David Beckham, though I do take pride in representing my club. But I'm just not overly concerned with my appearance."

But despite his modesty the Hearts captain clearly has something. So what has he got that attracted the attention of the judges?

"Firstly, he's not flash, and secondly, he dresses as though he doesn't really care," says men's fashion expert Richard Gray of fashion bible, 10 Magazines. "His look isn't forced - he doesn't look styled or as if he's thought about it too much. He just pulls it off without looking like a fashion victim.

"And importantly, he doesn't dress like a generic footballer, homogenised footballer with the over-bleached hair. His messy hair is actually stylish."

According to Richard, the Hearts skipper knows his stuff. "It's all quite casual - he understands the commonsense rule of paying extra for great knitwear. He has expensive clothes, they're up-to-the-minute but they're not flash.

"He's comfortable in his own skin, and modern. People are sick of over-styled perfection, Steven looks as though he's not tried."

Style Awards founder Mary McGowne agrees. "He doesn't look like a clothes horse, although he does favour designer clothes. What gives him his unique edge is that he always adds his own personal twist - and that's how you can tell he dresses himself... although he does have a very stylish wife, June, and I reckon she will have a hand in his wardrobe."

However, Edinburgh fashion stylist Caroline Phipps, formerly of men's fashion mag GQ, believes Steven could do better...

"From the pictures I've seen he's no David Beckham. Where Beckham could make a dish cloth look good, Steven needs clothes to enhance his looks.

"It's clear he carefully chooses outfits that are safe. He doesn't go for anything overtly fashionable but picks contemporary fashion that is both stylish and flattering. He wears clothes well and is obviously a confident young man. With confidence you can pull anything off.

"I would urge him to go a little bit further as he's got the height and build to wear more 'catwalk' trends."

But it seems everyone else is a fan. Especially city fashion buyer Martin Lacey of Cruise Clothing. "The look for this season is very dapper - a much more dressed up look. Jeans are layered with shirts, knitwear and scarves, footwear is formal. These are looks that Steven carries off with ease and style."

He continues: "Accessories for men are increasingly becoming a very stylish addition to an outfit and Steven wears this look well, from scarves to bags. He is an icon both on and off the pitch."

"He's stylish and fashionable, without being a fashion victim," says Edinburgh stylist, Laura Wilton. "It's clear he's most comfortable in jeans and a casual shirt or jumper and trainers, but everything he wears is of superior quality - I reckon he shops in Harvey Nichols, Cruise and Xile."

But for Steven, his style is simply down to the odd shopping trip with his wife and some self-made purchases of whatever takes his fancy.

"I went shopping several days ago with my wife and I bought a few items from Daks, but I also like to shop at Cruise and Harvey Nichols as well as the high street shops. I shop where everyone else does and I'll mix and match."

And does he take inspiration from the style magazines and catwalks? "No, not at all, he says, after much laughing. "Nothing could be further from the truth!"
CLASSY FOOTBALLERS ON THE FASHION BALL

According to Mark Baxter, one of the authors of The Fashion of Football, "fashion has played a major part in the elevation of footballers to iconic status in modern society". Here are just a few of those whose style off the pitch made the headlines...

• George Best: The first real celebrity footballer, the Manchester United icon was young, good looking and wealthy - all of which meant he spent a fortune on his wardrobe in 1960s Carnaby Street and even launched his own chain of boutiques.

• Bobby Moore: He may have been the opposite of the glamorous Best, but Moore was no less a style icon and was fastidious about his appearance in public and privately. His London tailor Dougie Hayward designed all his sharp suits.

• Gianluca Vialli: "I will always remember the day Gianluca walked into the dressing-room wearing a cashmere V-neck, great trousers and terrific brown shoes. Within minutes, all the players were asking where did he buy his clothes? Within days, we were all wearing them," said Dennis Wise, Millwall manager. Need we say more?

• David Ginola: Haircuts have always been up for discussion on the terraces (think Alan Rough or Glenn Hoddle) but Ginola's flowing French locks finally made longer hair acceptable.

• David Beckham: The ultimate footballing style icon of the last decade, he's worn everything from sarongs to flat caps, and every new haircut sparks a thousand copies. Beckham is a fashion brand in his own right.

• Andrei Shevchenko: Chelsea's latest signing is an icon on and off the field. His good looks and physique have already seen him model for Armani.

Taken from the Scotsman