Soccer might be known as the beautiful game, but it has never inspired beautiful design. As the World Cup in Germany gets into full swing, patriotic fervor will move millions of fans to purchase their team's jersey, resulting in innumerable crimes against good taste.

In the early 1990s, sports and fashion began to converge, with labels like Polo Ralph Lauren and Prada launching sportswear lines, and sneakers becoming de facto footwear even for fashionistas. As television broadened soccer's global reach, more people started to wear jerseys on a day-to-day basis. Now they represent a multibillion-dollar business, with the three big sportswear manufacturers, Adidas, Nike and Puma, vying to supply the kit of both club and national teams.

There is fierce competition to dress soccer stars off the pitch, too. Giorgio Armani kits out the England team, while Dolce & Gabbana dress the Italians. The flamboyant Japanese team is kitted out by British brand Dunhill, which has been dressing the immaculately coiffured "ultras" in impeccable style for the last seven years.