The inaugural GQ Bowl was a star-studded event that married fashion and football, as some of the NFL’s brightest stars debuted the Bode Rec. Spring 2025 collection at the chic Peter & Paul Hotel in New Orleans. GQ photographer Bowen Fernie was stationed backstage with the just-released Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, snapping exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos of all the new looks the fashion brand unveiled.
The All-American outfits combined luxury fashion with athletic style, partially inspired by designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla’s father, who was captain of his high school football team in Massachusetts. Fashion scene veterans like Lucky Blue Smith and Evan Mock showcased the new clothes on the runway, as did gridiron veterans like Alvin Kamara, Ja’Marr Chase, and CeeDee Lamb. With many of the world’s most stylish athletes being such loud and proud supporters of the fashion house—wearing Bode everywhere from the pregame tunnel to the White House—a Victory Parade-themed fashion show was a natural fit on arguably the biggest sports weekend of the year.
As Leon Bridges ended his opening song and the show got rolling, a palpable excitement filled the hotel‘s cathedral-turned-catwalk. Backstage, some of the models grabbed flower bouquets, American flags, or mascot heads to accompany them down the runway. Before getting their final touchups and taking their marching orders, others donned custom verdant Bode sashes or a pair of the new electric green Nike Astro Grabber kicks on their feet, with murmurs of approval filling the room as soon as they emerged from backstage. In classic Bode fashion, the clothing ranged from cozy knitwear and sweat shorts to suits crisp enough to make James Bond jealous. Every look grabbed the attention of the celebrity-filled audience, who helped turn the first-ever GQ Bowl into a true New Orleans rendezvous.
GQ got all the first looks at the fits moments before the rest of the world laid eyes on them. Green was definitely the color of the night, and whether you’re more into mesh jersey tops or floor-length dresses, the Bode Rec. spring 2025 collection has something for everyone.
