Q: What’s your favourite fashion item?
A: I’ll never part from my khaki combats: I’ve had the same pair, from “Great Wall of China,” since I was 17 years old and I wear them all the time. Every summer I have a clear-out of my wardrobe and all my old stuff goes except for them. If it’s hot I just pull them up because they have ties and I wear them like baggy shorts. If my house caught fire I’d make sure I’d save them first.
Q: Is there a fashion item that’s backfired on you?
A: Trying to look like Usher cost me a fortune. I went through this phase, when I was 21 years old and playing for Newcastle of wanting to be like Usher. On my first trip to New York I saw this ?2,000 Christian Dior black leather jacket, with loads of crazy zips all over the arms. I absolutely loved it and bought it immediately. When I got home my friends said: “What is that?” It never left my wardrobe after that. In the end I gave it to one of those mates who ridiculed me. I’m wondering now whether it was all part of his plan!
Q: What about hats?
A: My head’s too small for big hats: I really like wearing baseball caps and hats, but I’ve discovered I look stupid in big hats, especially oversized beenies, because my head’s too small. I’ve tried a few on, in the safety of my bedroom in front of the mirror, and realised I just look ridiculous.
Q: Is there one aspect of fashion you particularly like?
A: I love leather jackets: My girlfriend bought me a black Gucci, bomber style leather jacket for Christmas and I wear it as often as I can. In fact, I have loads of leather jackets, not just in classical black, but brown, red and even blue and green. My favourite look is the simple jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket look, and that’s usually my choice of clothes whenever I party.
Q: Do you like wearing suits?
A: I have over 20 suits: “I intend to get many more suits as well, especially as I get older. Right now I’m looking for a new suit as I have a number of weddings to attend in the summer. I used to be into William Hunt’s suits, especially as I knew William when I was at Newcastle. Now I get my suits specially tailored at Kilgour which, ironically, is almost opposite William’s shop in Savile Row. I like them fitted to type and nice and light for the summer.
Q: When did you get your ear pierced?
A: I begged my Mum to have my ear pierced. I was ten years old growing up in Nottingham and me and my friend both went on and on to our Mums about getting our ears pierced until we wore them down in the end. I have a simple, emerald-cut diamond in my left ear which I take out before training and playing in matches. Apart from that I hardly have any jewellery at all because I can’t be bothered to keep taking it on and off all the time.
Q: Explain your various tattoos?
A: My left arm is covered in tattoos. I don’t have a tattoo on any other part of my body but my left arm is covered from the shoulder to the wrist. I have a clock showing the time and date of the birth of my 14-month old daughter, Sancha, and the Latin words: “Deus protege meus filia” which mean “God protect my daughter.” I have some more Latin stating “It’s easier to destroy than create,” a saying that has always stuck with me, the sign of the cross because I’m Catholic, an eye and a hibiscus flower to remind me of my Mum.”
Q: Which of your football colleagues dress badly?
A: Patrick Kluivert use to look like a clown. When I was at Newcastle Patrick Kluivert, the great Dutch striker, used to be a teammate for a while. He used to turn up in drainpipe trousers and massive air force one trainers that made him look like a clumping clown. I told him it just didn’t go but he just laughed it off.
Q: Do your teammates mock anything you wear?
A: Tottenham lads laugh at my silver trainers, though. I’ve got a pair of Christian Dior silver trainers which I love to wear but I came back to the changing room after training last week to discover one of my silver trainers was hanging from the ceiling and the other was dangling off a piece of equipment in the gym. That’s typical dressing room banter and it’s the Spurs’ players way of saying they don’t like my silver trainers.
Q: What about skincare?
A: I’ve moisturised since I was a baby. Afro-Caribbean and mixed race people tend to get dry skin and are always advised to moisturise. My Dad did it to me until I was old enough to do it to myself, and now I make sure that Sancha, my 14-month old daughter, is moisturised every day too. I tend to use Nivea, but any moisturiser will do. You’ll never find me being waxed, though. That would be just too painful.
Q: What type of exercise do you dislike?
A: I hate the exercise bike. A mountain bike is great because you can get out and about but using a stationary exercise bike is just so boring. You tend to stare at a wall and go nowhere. I also associate it with being injured. At Spurs the exercise bikes are inside an altitude chamber, which makes it even harder work. It’s a good incentive not to get injured.
Q: Do you work out to music?
A: I couldn’t work out without some rap music. The only way I’d ever get on an exercise bike, for example, is if I had my Ipod on me and was listening to the American rap artist, “I.T.” Sometimes before a game I’d be too wound up so then I tend to chill by listening to some Maxwell.
My advice is always be yourself when you dress. Don’t try and be someone you’re not because it always shows. I like to keep it nice, smart and simple. There’s nothing worse than seeing someone in a suit who clearly feels uncomfortable. It’s more about how you carry yourself.
Jermaine Jenas is sponsored by Puma. Visit www.puma.com for more information.
