Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey hopes her style on the sideline inspires future women leaders

In Andscape’s new series “From Closet to Court,” NCAA women’s basketball coaches open the doors to their style playbook, breaking down the wardrobe pieces, personality and purpose behind their game day looks.

Notre Dame head women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey has turned the sidelines into her personal runway. When stepping into marquee matchups, Ivey wears power suits, bold color palettes, and statement pieces that have made her one of the most stylish figures in college basketball.

Ivey describes her style as elegant, chic, and classy, and her fashion has evolved since she was a student-athlete under former Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw. McGraw did not allow her players to wear team-issued sweatsuits and had them dress in skirts and business attire for away games, which forced Ivey to explore fashionable attire beyond her traditional college clothes.

“When you’re in public, you want to make sure that you look impressive,” Ivey said. “Your first impression is everything. We always dressed up as a student-athlete and as assistant coach, and I kind of carry that on as the head coach in my staff as well.

“All the variations of the teachings that I grew up with [from] my mom and then Coach McGraw have played into the style of the person that I am today.”

While selecting outfits for games, Ivey remains loyal to Notre Dame colors, particularly the Irish’s signature green. However, she has been taking bolder risks with colors and is considering adding more prints this season.

Ivey said she initially dressed up simply because she enjoyed it, but as social media, fans and even recruits began complimenting her style, she realized people were paying attention. That feedback made her more intentional with her looks.

Her players have even taken notice of Ivey’s outfits.

“I think just the way that I look, how I carry myself, it impacts them,” Ivey said. “I’m trying to inspire them with everything that I do, the way that I teach, the way that I coach, the way that I mentor. I think fashion allows me to show my personality in a different way.”

In Episode 1 of From Closet to Court, Ivey opens up about the inspiration for what she wears on the sidelines and offers a behind-the-scenes breakdown of some of her most memorable looks.

The post Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey hopes her style on the sideline inspires future women leaders appeared first on Andscape.