Ah, it’s that time of year—no, not the Barney’s winter sale—it’s football season, folks. And depending on how or where you grew up, you either note it in passing, have an annual Super Bowl party, or treat it as if it was God’s gift to mankind. But no matter how you celebrate (or don’t) you can’t deny it’s kind of a big deal. So to support the National Football League and celebrate Super Bowl XLVIII, the CFDA and Bloomingdale’s have teamed up with the NFL to create a collection of football helmets created by fashion designers.
We agree this seems like an unlikely combination (nor could we imagine any player wearing these stylish designs), but the three have come together as a way to celebrate the first Super Bowl in the New York area. “Bloomingdales’ New York heritage combined with the fact that Super Bowl XLVIII is taking place in our back yard gives us an opportunity to merge fashion and sports in a modern way,” said Frank Berman, Bloomingdale’s executive vice president of marketing.
A collection of 48 helmets have been designed by CFDA members including Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Cynthia Rowley, Donna Karen, Badgley Mischka, Helmut Lang, Nicole Miller and Tadashi Shoji. The helmets will be on auction at Bloomingdale's until February 4, with a minimum bid of $248, and 100% of the proceeds going to the NFL Foundation, which supports youth football programs, safety efforts and community health initiatives.
”We are excited to team up with Bloomingdale’s and the CDFA to auction off designer Super Bowl XLVIII helmets to support the work of the NFL Foundation,” said Natara Holloway, the NFL’s vice president of consumer products. “This unique collaboration is another way for fans of football and fashion to get closer to the game and be a part of the Super Bowl XLVIII festivities happening all across the New York-New Jersey region.”
Designs that include everything from crystals and roses to the most basic of blacks make this whole line a collector’s dream, with bids currently topping out at over $2,000. Admittedly, owning a Narciso Rodriguez-designed helmet probably wouldn't get us any more into the game—but that doesn’t mean we don’t want one.
