The American magazine Vanity Fair has included Pope Leo XIV in its list of the most stylish people of 2026. The pontiff was placed in the The Originals category — a top ten of personalities the publication singled out for the most original and experimental approach to personal style. This is reported by Wave RBC.UA, citing the Vanity Fair website.

Who made the The Originals category

In the same list, alongside Leo XIV, are director Spike Lee, musicians Björk, Rosalía and Yseult, figure skater Alysa Liu, art curator Thelma Golden, and costume designer Sandy Powell. Vanity Fair describes them as people with a distinctive personal style and their own take on fashion, and in the pontiff's case it specifically highlights his ability to combine the traditional papal look with unexpected details.

Sneakers under the liturgical vestments

The magazine notes that even before his election as pope, Robert Francis Prevost paired his cream-colored cassock with Nike sneakers, and among the signature details of his look are baseball caps, which give his appearance a relaxed air. In May 2026, Vanity Fair separately wrote about footage from the documentary Leone a Roma, in which the future pontiff is shown wearing white Nike shoes under his liturgical vestments; the publication identified the model as the Nike Franchise Low Plus.

Fashion rankings and a love of baseball caps

For Leo XIV, making the fashion rankings is not a first: in 2025, the magazine Vogue included him in its list of the 55 best-dressed people of the year, noting his return to the traditional papal attire and the contrast with the more restrained style of his predecessor, Pope Francis. The publication also mentions the pontiff's passion for sports: in June 2025 he was photographed wearing a Chicago White Sox cap during a public appearance in the Vatican. According to Vanity Fair, Leo XIV is a fan of the Chicago team and attended the first game of the 2005 World Series.

Who is Leo XIV

It is worth recalling that Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected pope on 8 May 2025 and became the first pontiff born in the United States. Thus, his inclusion in the 2026 style rankings reflects the sustained interest of global media in the image of the American pope, who blends liturgical tradition with elements of everyday and sportswear fashion.