Whether he's looking sharp on Instagram, socialising with likes of Banks or refining his DJ skills, Daniel Sturridge is Britain's leading example of that rarest of breeds: a footballer as cool off the pitch as he is on it.

Having previously modeled bomber jackets - his wardrobe staple - for Esquire, the striker has now further cemented his style credentials by becoming an ambassador for Hugo Boss.

To mark the collaboration, we caught up with Sturridge to learn the style rules he lives by.

Every man needs a good pair of jeans. It's the ultimate wardrobe staple because most of us wear them more than anything else. I go for the Dsquared2 Cool Guy jeans which are well-tailored without being rigid on my legs. 

With grooming, less is more. I like to smell good so will use a fragrance like Boss Bottled. I don't overdo it, but I moisturise daily too.

Pharrell is my style icon. As a teenager he really influenced my style and he still does now. 

As a footballer you're stuck in a uniform - either in team kit or a team suit. I don't really get to show my personality in my job, so style is a chance to show people part of me they don't often see. 

Confidence is really important, in football and fashion.

I'm drawn to black clothes. I say I'm inspired by the wrestler The Undertaker because there's something about wearing black that makes me feel confident and classy. It isn't to try and make me look slim!

Avoid buying clothes that don't fit you properly.  A lot of men don't take enough care with the size of their clothes.  I think anything too big or small just looks scruffy - having your jeans dragging on the floor isn't a good look.

My standard outfit is a pair of Balmain jeans with a plain t-shirt and either a printed bomber jacket or dark blazer. I think contrasting prints against neutral colours make a bigger statement.

If you've got items from three years ago that you've never worn, get rid of them. 

Seasonal fabrics are really important to feel comfortable and look like you know how to adapt your look. I hate feeling too hot in the summer to love the thin t-shirts Rick Owens does. Another great brand for summer is Isabel Benenato, who does light-weight linen shirts that look stylish and different.

People can make clothes that cost nothing look amazing. Being obsessed with expensive clothing isn't a smart way to think about style.

When you're not playing football as often, people start to doubt the level you know you're at. It's always good to prove to people what it actually means to wear the club shirt and put the goal in the back of the net. That's why I went mad celebrating my goal against Villarreal in the Europa semi final. Sometimes you need to show people how much it means to you.


Daniel Sturridge is an ambassador for Hugo Boss and it's new fragrance BOSS BOTTLED UNLIMITED which is available now.