Link: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/golf/phoenix-open/2025/02/08/fashion-show-at-the-wm-phoenix-open-means-plenty-of-wardrobe-planning/78364120007/
The WM Phoenix Open is more than just a golf tournament. It’s a social spectacle that, for some, doubles as a runway.
Here, the traditional polo and skirt uniform of golf has given way to something less traditional and more experimental: matching sets in bold prints, vintage-inspired silhouettes and cutting-edge athleisure.
Not to be mistaken for the banana and Jesus costumed fans, these fans could be attending anything from a bridal shower to Coachella.
For many women, looking their best is just as important as the event itself, preparing their attire for weeks, if not months.
“We started planning our outfits in December,” said University of Georgia student Julia Goldenson, 22.
Goldenson, a Scottsdale native, collaborated with three of her college friends who joined her at the event, to ensure all of their outfits were up-to-par.
“We did a major fashion show in our apartment last week,” she said. “We needed to try on every outfit.”
But it wasn’t just college students who were invested in their looks. Women of all ages arranged their ensembles just as meticulously.
“I started planning out what I was going to wear for just about over a month,” said mid-40s Phoenix elementary school principal Courtney Fraizer. “It was important to me to look good. I took off work for this.”
Clothing at the event ranged from jeans to sun dresses and high heels to elevated golf wear– pushing the envelope of what golf-wear should be. Regardless of the silhouette or style, there was one thing thousands of outfits had in common: the on-trend color green.
Waste Management prides itself on being 100% sustainable, so it seems inevitable that green would be the color associated with the event. However, the color is extending these fairways and is solidifying itself as a broader fashion statement in golf.
At the heart of this phenomenon is Jen Clyde, co-founder of Fore All, a brand that is redefining golf fashion with a bold vision that bridges vintage aesthetics and South Korean Influences.
“I didn’t know much about golf when I started the brand,” Clyde said. “But I knew I wanted it to be vintage-inspired while learning about the sport’s heritage.”
This approach led her to a source of inspiration: South Korea, where golf is treated as a luxury sport and fashion plays a central role in the culture.
“I just got back from South Korea,” Clyde said. “It’s a lot more kitschy and I really wanted to bring that to this brand.”
Launched in spring 2023, Fore All has quickly established itself in the golf fashion world with Clyde and her team marketing at various events including the WM Phoenix Open.
Their presence was impossible to miss the first three rounds of the tournament – with nearly 50 outfits designed for her group of women models and friends. Each outfit is carefully coordinated to create a visual story across the three days they’re in Phoenix, Clyde said.
“We make sure all the outfits look good together,” Clyde said, describing how she arranges them on the floor to visualize the complete picture. “Our outfits aren’t matching but they’re cohesive. Still very unique to each person.”
The most telling example of Clyde’s creative instincts is the story behind their signature green color.
“Every buyer said that green was the least-selling color in women’s golf,” she said. Despite the skepticism, she went with her gut and trusted her instincts as a trend forecaster. The risk paid off -- the same shade has been appearing all over the golf course.
“I love everything green,” said Alicia Haygood, owner and publisher of Scottsdale City Lifestyle magazine. “It’s just very golfy.”
Izzie Begley and Simone Roberts are graduate students at Northwestern Medill School of Journalism.
