Jerseys or kits— whatever you call them, they are more than just a piece of fabric that players wear. They are corporate marketing tools, fashion statements, and a cipher for memories both good and bad. Chicago is fortunate to have two professional soccer teams with a history of having good looking soccer jerseys.

Let’s take a look at the Top 5 jerseys to represent Chicago.

5) 2008 Chicago Fire (Home)

Image Credit: Soccercorner

Apart from the “Oh, you work at Best Buy?” comments you get while wearing this, it was pretty dope (do kids still say that?). The three stripes on the sleeve and the placement of the Adidas logo give it nostalgic look of soccer of yesteryear. But the most stunning feature of all was the deep red color. It made it pop, especially on a hot summer day.

4) 1998 Chicago Fire (Away)

Image Credit: Chicago Fire

The 1998 Fire away jersey isn’t flashy by any means. It’s simple with its colorway but strikingly pleasing to the eye, it sort of reminds me of a baseball uniform. The jersey forever ingrained itself into Fire history as it was worn during the 2-1 victory over That Yellow Team during the 1998 U.S. Open Cup final.

Here’s hoping that the Fire honors this jersey with a throwback design for their 25th anniversary.

3) 2017 Chicago Red Stars (Home)

Image Credt: Chicago Red Stars | Annex

The gradient sky blue pinstripes gives the jersey a mean yet classic soccer look. Top it off with the four six-stars of Chicago and you got yourself a winner. It’s another jersey that captures the heart and soul of Chicago. (Sensing a pattern here?).

This jersey was done in collaboration between the Red Stars and Chicago-based company Annex.

2) 2014 Chicago Fire (Third)

Image Credit: MLS Store

Back in 2013, the Chicago Fire and then-sponsor Quaker announced a competition to design the third jersey for the upcoming 2014 season. The chosen winner was Freddie Christiano with their “Heart on Your Sleeve” design. In their interview with the club’s website, they stated, “[The jersey] establishes bonds of tradition, honor, and passion felt by all when carrying the flag on their sleeve.”

To this day, there has been no other Fire jersey that matches the bold look this one had, and there probably won’t be another as MLS shelved the third jersey option.

1) 2014 Chicago Red Stars (Home)

Image Credit: Yahoo!

If there is one that just screams “Chicago,” it would be the 2014 Chicago Red Stars home jersey. With its sky blue, white horizontal stripes and the four six-pointed starts, wearing this will make you a walking Chicago flag - not that there is anything wrong with that. Despite drawing some inspiration from the 2012/2013 U.S. National Team jersey, it remains distinctly Chicago.

The Red Stars used this design again for their 2015 season with a minor addition of placing a sponsor in the bottom half of the jersey. Despite the awkwardly placed sponsor, it remains the best-looking jerseys ever.

Honorable Mentions

• 2005 Chicago Fire Third
• 2018 Chicago Red Stars Home

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What is your favorite Fire or Red Stars jersey? Let us know in the comments below.