THE DETROIT PLAYBOOK: “He Wears Pads, I Wear Prada”

The Detroit Playbook Collection is a series of stories of style and stadium culture written by Kiki Pape.

“He Wears Pads, I Wear Prada”

He plays for the crowd. She plays for the culture.

While he is calling plays, she is calling the shots while taking a lot of tequila shots — creating the day, keeping the kids entertained, running a business, and looking good while doing it. Football might be his love language, but she is the reason the whole operation runs. 

The midwestern WAGs aren't just watching the game; they’re shaping the culture around it. All with a bit of grit and grace. They’re the ones bringing the style to the stands, turning the Sunday traditions into social statements, and proving that all parts of the game on and off the field can coexist. Forget the sidelines, these women are too busy rewriting what it means to be part of the game. 

Take some powerful women as an example: Christen Goff, Sports Illustrated model and wife of Jared Goff, doesn’t just walk into a room—she owns it. She has built her own lane, proving that being a WAG isn’t just about who you're dating or who you are married to; it is about what you are building and the community you create around you. Christen celebrates women who create, influence, and bring the hustle behind the scenes,showing that the women of Detroit Football aren’t just part of the story, but they set the tone. 

Then there’s Brooklyn Adams, the girlfriend of Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown. Clearly a living Barbie doll —a woman who balances scrubs and sidelines as if it's second nature. A registered nurse with a heart that works overtime. Making you wonder, when does she have the time for all of this? While he is making plays on the field, she is out here saving lives. 

There's something magnetic about that energy she brings to Detroit,making it all feel so effortless. Brooklyn reminds us that being there doesn't always mean wearing sequins or heels but finding time to show up and looking effortlessly beautiful. 

And then there are these women like Kennedy Frazer and Isabell Sewell, who take that energy to a whole new level. Kennedy, the wife of Malcom Rodriguez, balances raising a baby girl with a growing media presence. At the same time, Isabell Sewell manages her life with three kids and still keeps her social media voice strong. Their feeds give off those effortless LA or New York vibes,with their curated style, the polished shots, and the lifestyle moments. Yet, celebrates Detroit culture and turns game day into a showcase of the city's creativity and pride. 

They prove that being part of Detroit football isn’t just about who you are married to– it is about shaping the culture and making your mark. 

”He wears pads, I wear Prada…” It started as a line, but it is really a lifestyle. Because of who he plays for, she plays for the crowd. Because of who he plays for, she plays for the culture. These women — from Christen to Brooklyn to Kennedy and Isabell— are proof that Detroit pride looks as good in heels as it does in cleats. They’re the ones redefining what it means to show up, reminding us that strength and style can share the same spotlight. In the end, the real win isn’t just on the scoreboard, it is in the way these women make game day their runway.