Being a sports girlie is fun and all... until I gotta put together a game-day outfit and the only thing I have to work with is an oversized gift shop T-shirt that every dad owns. I can't tell you how many times I've had to figure out how to crop it with a hair tie or settle for wearing a baseball cap because it was the only cute sports merch option.
And just in time for MLB season, Off Season and the MLB have teamed up on a six-style capsule collection that might be some of the chicest sports merch I've seen. It's the brand's first collaboration with Major League Baseball, marking another major launch for the growing label founded by Kristin Juszczyk. Inspired by the custom looks she famously designed for herself while supporting her husband, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Kristin turned her viral designs into a business that's redefining what fan apparel can look like, particularly for women.
I got to chat with Kristin during MLB All-Star Weekend, where she debuted her latest collection, now available to shop at UrbanOutfitters.com, OffSeason.com, and MLB.com. We talked about breaking into the sports world, building her brand in a traditionally male-dominated industry, the WAG community, and the one celebrity she’d love to see wearing her pieces.
Tell me about your collaboration with Urban and how this collection came together, and why the MLB was the right fit?
The MLB has been one of our most requested collections since the day we started Off Season. There's so much heritage behind the league. We approached this collection the same way we approach every collection: we start with the league's history and culture, then add our Off Season twist. We want every piece to feel true to the league and the team while still being recognizable as Off Season.
We're also so excited to launch exclusively with Urban Outfitters for the first few weeks. It feels like the perfect partnership because their customer is exactly the audience we're trying to reach.
Where do you find inspiration when you're designing?
I find inspiration by going to games. And I'm always paying attention to what women are wearing. I take a lot of inspiration from current fashion because that's really what I'm trying to bring into the sports world—taking the trends women are loving and translating them into sports apparel. That's often where we spot a gap and an opportunity to create something new.
Did you ever imagine this would become your career?
It was always a dream. To actually be living it feels like a real pinch-me moment, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. We’ve worked really hard, and my team is incredibly hardworking. So to be here feels like a wonderful way to celebrate all the hard work we’ve put in.
What do you love most about working in the sports world?
The community and culture that sports create mean everything. People love representing a team because it makes them feel like they're part of something bigger, and I think fashion does the same thing in its own way. Being able to combine the two and stand for something more through what you're wearing means the world to me.
As a woman working in sports, you built a successful brand in a male-dominated industry. How have you navigated criticism or negativity along the way?
If you're in the public eye, there's always going to be negativity that comes your way. That's just the world we live in. I always say the only time negativity can hold any weight is if you actually feel that way about yourself or believe what’s being said. If you don't, then it shouldn't hold any weight at all. That's how I try to look at criticism. It only has power if I believe it. And if I do believe it, then it's a sign that I need to change something.
What's something people might be surprised to learn about the wives and girlfriends community?
I think the word community right there, as you said. People always think that there's like a rivalry, especially if you're on a rivalry team, but we really do all support each other. It's been so much fun getting to meet so many wives and girlfriends across different leagues—from the MLB to Formula 1.
You guys have created the coolest cultural phenomenon that's grown so organically. You’ve become such powerhouses, which is exactly what we need in the sports industry.
It's been so fun because we see firsthand the hard work our partners put in every single day to be the best of the best at their craft. But for them to perform at that level, their partner has to be operating on that same wavelength. What happens at home carries over onto the field, the court, or wherever they compete. It's been so meaningful to have that sisterhood.
With that, tell me about the friendships you've made along the way. I can imagine this whole journey has brought really cool people into your life.
I've made so many amazing friendships. Obviously Claire Kittle is one of my best friends. It's been so rare because our husbands have been on the same team for 10 years, and that's unheard of. That never happens. People come and go and change teams, and we've been so fortunate. At this point, she's not even my friend—she's family.
And there are so many others. It's crazy. I always think back and laugh because if Kyle and I were getting married now, I'd have so many more bridesmaids. I've really made sisters throughout the league.
Is there a player or a fellow WAG you'd love to see wearing an Off Season piece that hasn't yet?
Okay, I'm always trying to think about this question because there are so many people. I gotta say it was really fun to see Jordyn Woods wearing the brand. Moments like that are so exciting, but honestly, nothing beats seeing everyday fans wearing it and making it part of their game-day style.
Oh my god, iconic!
It’s so iconic with the Knicks winning. The Knicks literally created world peace.
Correct.
So she's been amazing. I always say I'm obsessed with LeBron. To be able to do anything with him or anything with his family would be incredible.
What was the hardest piece you've ever had to design, and who was it for?
It was probably the piece I created for my husband to wear to the Super Bowl. It was such a big moment for him, and I wanted to create something that he felt comfortable in. The way you start your day that day matters—you want to start on the right note. It was such a significant moment in his life, so that was probably the most challenging, only because it carried so much emotional meaning.
Looking ahead, what's the next big dream for Off Season?
The dream is to continue to tailor to sports fans and keep pushing the boundaries of what sports apparel can look like, whether that's through different silhouettes or new designs.
I also want to continue expanding across teams—to one day be able to tailor to every single team across all these leagues and truly become the one-stop shop for sports fans. Whether they're going to an MLB game, an NFL game, or any sporting event, they know that Off Season will have something for them.
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
