Alex Scott, the Arsenal Ladies captain turned face of BBC’s football coverage, has hit peak levels of fame.
On Monday, while presenting the England Vs Iran game during the divisive Qatar World Cup, she opted to wear the One Love arm band. The rainbow striped elastic was a statement of anti-discrimination and support of LGBTQ+ rights, in a country which does not have them. It came after players including England captain Harry Kane chose not to wear the band after punishment threats from FIFA. Rightly, her decsion was met with great internet acclaim.
This choice of accessory has been her most important, but over the years the 38-year-old presenter has become known for her apt choices when it comes to dress. She was a (very) welcome shot of style in the BBC’s football coverage as she made history in 2018 as their first woman to present World Cup, and today on the side-lines and red carpets alike, she has found her stride dressing the part.
Her career started on the pitch, though, having been signed by Arsenal at the age of eight in 1992. Before hanging up her boots in 2017, she won seven FA Cups with the team, made 140 appearances in the England squad and took part in 2012 Summer Olympics.
During this period her uniform was largely her team kit; the Gunners red shirt with Fly Emirates splashed across, white shorts, and striped socks. Scott made time for some extra-curriculars in this period though, and tended to tackle them boldly.
For 2015’s Breast Cancer Care’s London fashion show at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Scott was pictured in a coral sleeveless floor length gown, paired with a matching chunky enamel cuff. 2016’s Arsenal Foundation Ball saw her sport a monochrome gown with a mesh wave cut across the centre, and at the 2017 BT Sport Industry Awards she dubbed herself “Lady in Red” on Instagram, and wore a striking scarlet ball gown by Pia Michi.
Over the next few years, Scott used red carpet events to play with daring silhouettes in a variety of vibrant shades. At 2018’s ‘The Best’ FIFA Football Awards she opted for an emerald green printed slip dress by Amanda Wakeley, and for the GQ Men of The Year Awards that year it was a hot pink Solace London gown that caught her eye.
Another bold look came at the 2018 BT Sport Industry Awards, when Scott sported a cobalt blue fishtail frock with three flounces and a short train, also by Pia Michi. On Instagram at the time she wrote “Still a long way to go with that Red carpet pose.” It didn’t take her long to nail that one.
Moving into 2019, Scott began her sartorial shift away from a primary colour palette, towards a reliable wardrobe of black looks with subtle twists. For December 2018’s BBC Sports Personality Of The Year she said she was “changing up the style” with a low plunge, leather belted sequin jumpsuit by Nadine Merabi and wore her hair in a well coiffured up-do.
A series of sleek dark outfits followed, as she attended the Laureus World Sports Award in Monaco in February 2019 wearing an embellished black gown by Sherri Hill, the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards in May 2019 wearing a high neck, black sequin dress by Galvan London and The BRIT Awards in February 2020 in a pagoda shoulder, velvet mini dress by Alex Perry.
Scott continued climbing the sports presenting ladder, where her new working uniform began revolving around statement items, that look striking on camera. Typical examples in summer months include a smart black blouse and bold, yellow slacks to match her BBC Sport mic as she presented the International Friendly match between England Women and New Zealand Women in June 2019. In the winter, she swaps to chic, tweed overcoats like the one she chose in November 2021 to present The FA Women’s Super League match between Tottenham Hotspur Women and Arsenal Women.
Her on-duty wardrobe was at it’s most fashion centric whilst hosting the England Women's Team Celebration at Trafalgar Square, following the Lionesses’ World Cup win this summer. Whilst hyping up fans, she wore an oversized Burberry check blazer, slit black flares and her go-to Prada Monolith loafers. Her pitch to Prada transformation was complete.
In recent years, Scott has also leant into luxury labels for high profile events. To co-present December 2020’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, she enlisted the help of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s go-to designer David Koma, and wore his jewel trimmed, monochrome gown. She also relied on Koma this month, and wore his mirror corseted satin bodysuit and black flares to the A-list strewn ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ European Premiere on Leicester Square.
At The GQ Men of the Year Awards 2022, her last event before heading to Qatar, Scott was perhaps at her most fashionable in a sparkle heavy, nearly-naked sheer dress from Greek designer Celia Kritharioti’s AW22 runway. Cool-girl stylist Thomas George Wulbern assisted her, the man behind some of Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts’ and LGBTQ+ activist Munroe Bergdorf’s best looks.
From footie strips to red carpet splendour, Alex Scott has certainly learned to nail her sartorial strike.
