Why Your Outfit Matters When Playing Poker: Jackets, Caps, and More!

Over years of experience, poker players master emotional control and discipline. This makes it difficult to tell what they're thinking or feeling, but one sure-fire way to get to know them is through their style. For poker players, dressing up can be a means of making a statement, or it can simply be a way to show off their taste. Either way, good poker players are not only skilled with cards, but they also tend to have phenomenal fashion sense.

Take a look at what fashion often exhibited by poker players, and why you need to wear them, too!

Sunglasses

Credit: Photo by flipchip / LasVegasVegas.com, Greg Raymer 2005, CC BY-SA 3.0

For most poker players, sunglasses are a must-have. This isn't because card rooms are too brightly lit, though. Sunglasses prevent opponents from seeing a reflection of cards in one's eyes. It is also a player’s way of masking their emotions and thoughts, as even the slightest eye movements can give away the kind of hand they have.

This is especially useful if you find yourself in a situation where you have to bluff, a poker term that means relying on a hand that is not very strong, while acting like it is strong. This entails plenty of self-control so that you don't tip your opponents off — it is, after all, a pretty risky move. Plus, even when you are not bluffing, sunglasses are a great way to look stylish at the table!

Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, the winner of the 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, became famous for wearing unique holographic sunglasses. Some notable players like Qui Nguyen, Scott Fischman, and Chris Moneymaker even use mirrored sunglasses when they play.

Hats or caps

Credit: Photos by flipchip / LasVegasVegas.com, Phil Hellmuth 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0

Just like sunglasses, hats or caps are also useful in covering a part of a player’s face. They also help in concealing how players observe each other and analyze their movements.

Green dealer visors are probably the most common in the game, but these have long disappeared from the poker landscape. Instead, more players are donning hats or caps with logos of sports teams or poker rooms.

But that does not mean that unique hats are off the table completely. For instance, Doyle Brunson always plays with his trademark cowboy hat, even bringing it with him up until his last tournament in the 2018 WSOP. Also, poker legend Phil Hellmuth may be seen wearing a simple black hat with a logo of his sponsors, but the number stitched on the side changes through the years to represent how many WSOP bracelets he has won.

Dresses

Credit: Gene Bromberg, Liv Boeree, CC BY-SA 2.0

Over the years, the poker industry has seen an increase in female players. In such a male-dominated sport, many female players embrace and express their femininity, and they often do it through their outfits.

Olivia Boeree is currently the top female player, having won both a WSOP and a European Poker Tour bracelet. But with her background as a runway model and television host, she presents herself well in elegant dresses every time she plays. On the other hand, German host and poker player Natalie Hof Ramos also stands out with her classy monochrome outfits.

Jackets

Credit: Photo by flipchip / LasVegasVegas.com, Phil The Unabomber Laak, CC BY-SA 3.0

To complete the ensemble, most poker players wear hooded jackets together with sunglasses and hats. With hoodies, players can be more comfortable, but more importantly, they can focus more on the game and hide possible tells on their face.

But if players want to play with flair, like Daniel Negreanu, they can wear a suit and tie. This can be beneficial as wearing formal attire can change how people think and process information, which is crucial in a game of poker.

Nevertheless, there are poker players whose trademarks include hooded jackets. The widely famous Phil Laak rose to popularity as the “Unabomber” because his hooded sweatshirt ensemble eerily resembles that of Theodore Kaczynski, who was known as the Unabomber.

You, too, can recreate their styles (and perhaps, their success!) by choosing a jacket that serves the levels of comfort, aesthetic, and purpose you need to achieve your goals of balancing fashion and skill. Feel free to browse our collections, and select the perfect jacket for you now! You never know when you might need to look stylish and smart!