On the pitch, 23-year-old footballer, Héctor Bellerín—who plays for Arsenal and Spain's national team—is known for his pace and performance. But elsewhere, he is fast gaining a reputation for his keen eye for fashion. Here, ahead of January's menswear shows in London, Paris, Florence and Milan—where Bellerín is likely to be in the FROW—he shares his top 10 style tips with Vogue.

1. Footballers need to push the boat out more

“If you are familiar with the football world you will know that the professional footballer's style philosophy is: ‘If it looks expensive, or has a big logo demonstrating that it cost me a lot, then yeah, I'll have it.' If it ends up looking good, even better. In terms of my teammates, I've been seeing a lot of Gucci tracksuits with the double G pattern all over them, tons of skinny ripped jeans and what feels like every single pair of sparkly or studded Louboutin high tops ever made. Jokes aside, though, I think the younger generation is way more clued up on fashion. They know a lot about brands and they always try to look good, which wasn't always the case—so, it's a start!”

2. PVC is on the money

“Right now, the coolest thing in my wardrobe is a grey, see-through Margiela trench coat in PVC. It's such a cool piece—not the easiest to wear, but if you put it together right, it looks so good.”

3. A Cold Wall* is 2019's hot ticket

“For me, London-based designer Samuel Ross at A Cold Wall* is one to get excited about, but there is so much talent in the UK right now. I personally love the clothes and message behind Liam Hodges and Paria Farzaneh, and I always look forward to seeing Christopher Raeburn's collection—I've been to his studio and I love the philosophy behind his brand. At this season's London Collections: Men (LC:M) I'm hoping to make it to Cottweiler; but I also want to go to the menswear shows in Milan and Paris, neither of which I have done before. I'm excited for the experience.”

4. Man bags are a thing

“Even though we just entered 2019, for some people, a man wearing a bag doesn't really make sense. That said, I've been carrying bags a lot lately and I love the practical element, as well as the fact that it's one more item you can play around with. I think it's good not to always look at trends and instead, follow your instincts regarding what looks best on you.”

5. Micro-sunglasses still have mileage

“You may have seen a picture of me watching my team from the stands in December wearing a Burberry scarf, a trench coat and tiny-lens sunglasses. It seems to have caused a major stir amongst football fans—they're not used to seeing football players dressing outside of the box or just trying different things. Some people are claiming micro-sunglasses are over, but I love a Matrix kind of vibe worn with a trench coat.”

6. Master layering and you're set up this winter

“The thing I love most about winter is the layering opportunities—and the coats. The more clothes you can put on, the more you can express yourself. I love an oversized cardigan that you can just throw on over an outfit to add character. I've also got my hands on some very cool coats and jackets this year: a yellow Kenzo duffel is one of my favourites, as well as a Raf Simons for Calvin Klein red puffer.”

7. Always wear a hat

“In winter I usually wear something on my head, whether it's a beanie, a bucket or a hood. The weather is always changing in London and I only ever really feel safe going out if I've got one of them with me. That, and my Burberry trench coat for when it rains. I like wearing classic pieces and then pairing them with something that doesn't really make sense.”

8. Don't listen to naysayers

“In January of last year I wore silk pyjamas with Gucci loafers for a show at LC:M—that was a big thing in the dressing room. A couple of days after I wore that outfit, there were pictures of me in it pasted all over my locker. But every time I dress up there is always something to say. If my teammates laugh at me, it's fine, because most of the time it means I'm doing something right.”

9. White trainers always work

“I love white trainers, whatever the occasion. I like how they can take the seriousness out of an outfit. Obviously keeping them box-fresh is a bit more tricky, especially with London weather and being someone who likes to walk a lot. But I have a whole tool kit to make sure they shine every time I wear them. My favourites at the moment are a pair of white Velcro Acne Studios trainers, but even a pair of classic white Pumas work for me.

10. Accessories are key

“My style is always evolving and I'm still in a phase where I like to change it up. Since it got cold this winter, for instance, I've been wearing a lot of baggy jeans and trousers with Nineties hip-hop vibes, but now I've decided that I want to wear more fitted stuff. The elements that usually stay the same with me are the accessories: my rings, my hats, my earrings—they are what define my style.”