Steelers fans invited to East End's Bakery Square for fashion tailgate
Zach Banner isn’t a suit and tie kind of guy.
The 6-foot-8, 335-pound offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers prefers a casual look.
“Sometimes, simple is better,” said Banner, who wears a size 18 shoe. “A nice pair of jeans and a sweater with some comfortable footwear is how I would describe my style. You don’t have to be dressed up to be fashionable. And for us bigger guys it’s not always easy to find dress clothes. To find shoes that fit I have to shop online. When I have to wear a suit I try to avoid a tie.”
Banner will show his off-the-field style as he and teammate linebacker T.J. Watt serve as co-captains for Steelers Nation Rocks Steelers Style, the team’s annual fashion show.
This year’s event will be held virtually at 8 p.m. Friday.
Fans can catch their favorite players and their family’s runway looks on Steelers.com, the Steelers’ mobile app, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
Or they are invited to attend the Pop-Up Shop & Watch Party from 7 to 10 p.m. in Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End. The event is presented by Neighborhood Ford Store, PNC Bank, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan.
It’s free.
The pop-up shop is to celebrate the launch of Kiya Tomlin’s NFL-licensed gameday collection and an opportunity to watch the live broadcast of the fashion show on the big screen at Bakery Square.
“I am so excited about this because it’s a way to bring people together,” said show producer Demeatria Boccella, of Pittsburgh-based Demeatria Boccella Productions. “I love the atmosphere at Bakery Square. This will be the perfect time to get a look at Kiya’s NFL line. She is the inspiration behind this evening.”
There will be two Ford F-150 trucks – one filled with Tomlin’s merchandise featuring her collection, and another with stylists doing hair and makeup demonstrations.
D.J. Selecta will spin tunes.
“There will be music and with all of the food options at Bakery Square and the show on the big screen. It will be an amazing evening,” Boccella said. “The Steelers Nation family will be back together again. We are calling it a fashion tailgate party.”
Boccella said she loves seeing the players’ off-the-field looks.
“What they wear reflects their personalities,” she said. “It’s a way to express themselves.”
Rock Steelers Style, which will be co-chaired by Art and Greta Rooney and Mike and Kiya Tomlin, benefits the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Cancer Bridges and the Chuck Noll Foundation.
Online auction items can be bid on here.
The auction runs through Nov. 12 and includes autographed items from former and current Steelers players, paintings of Watt and Banner by Pittsburgh artist Cody Sabol, a signed Jerome Bettis replica jersey, a game-worn Donnie Shell jersey, and a $2,000 Steelers Pro Shop shopping trip.
Tomlin’s eight pieces for the NFL-licensed line will be featured in the show.
“I love to see the players suit up in something other than their uniform,” Kiya Tomlin said. “You can really see their personality. They love being part of this show because they know the fans love it.”
The show is always a lot of fun, said Watt in a statement.
“I think a lot of guys get really into it,” Watt said. “I think a lot of guys have great fashion sense. I am not one of those guys. I hope I can put something together. I know my fiancée is looking forward to it, too. This will be the first year she is going to be able to take part. It will be a good time.”
Banner said the show gives fans an opportunity to see the human side of an athlete. He admitted that he and Watt aren’t the sharpest dressers.
“They picked us because of our personalities,” Banner said. “I look for it to be an exciting evening. This event is about giving back and helping others. That is what I love so much about this organization. It’s so much deeper than just football. It’s about helping as many charities as we can.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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