The Los Angeles Angels Nike City Connect uniforms might be the very first in the collection that makes a clear argument in style, practicality, and overall aesthetics to replace - yes, REPLACE! - the everyday uniforms.
That's no hyperbole from me. I really love the look of these threads and feel like the uniforms not only capture the mission statement of the collection but ultimately, do more for Angel's brand.
Let's dig in shall we...
The biggest appeal to the uniforms for me is easy - simplicity. Nike and the Angels did not go crazy in trying to capture the "Los Angeles" in its identity, especially, considering the roots that are heavy (and controversial) in Anaheim. The overall look is clean, and with that, carries a tremendous cream overtone that drives the concept home.
The design is based off of the beach, the coastline, and everything that is summer in SoCal - baseball, beach, surfing, and good vibes. Check. Check. Check, and ultimately, check.
Pulling the concept together is indeed the font that carries across the chest. The "Angels" across the chest, incorporating the heavily branded "Halo A", is absolutely beautiful over the cream uniforms and perfectly supported by the railroad stripes on the left sleeve that give a surfboard feel along with an unexpected (maybe?) old-school vibe for a club that carries a lot of tradition and history.
Of course, this is all pulled together by the numbers on the lower left abdomen that is surrounded by a diamond, continuing a superb blend of baseball and surfboard aesthetics. Again, simple, meaningful, and perfectly complements the other layers of the look.
My only gripe would be the hats - ah yes, the hats! There have been so many misses with the hats for the Nike Connect series, and unfortunately, I'm throwing these in the loss column as well. Are they a total miss? Not at all. I just think they could have been better. They feel too much like the other "specialty hats" for commemorative days or events around baseball, and quite frankly, lack the originality of the rest of the uniform. Just doesn't flow well...
Regardless, ultimately, I'm not letting the lids bring me down. These are dope. I love 'em.
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JULY 4TH HATS
This year's July 4th Hats for Major League Baseball were leaked earlier this week courtesy of Uni Watch and there is a part of me that wished I didn't see the leak, or even, just avoided baseball on July 4th altogether.
The Yankees don't play on Independence day this year (which is just poor scheduling and marketing), but I'm sure they'll still wear these...ummm, things, before or after the day in whatever series encapsulate the holiday.
For review - these are horrific. I'm just not a fan of these, at all. I know the need ($$$) and the attempt (how many ways can you do the American flag and a uniform hat?) - but wow, these ain't it.
Hard pass.