Trend Spotting: The Return of the Rugby Shirt (Ilona Maher approved)
15 rad rugby shirts & how to style them for fall
Growing up, I was very much a tomboy. It wasn’t until well into junior high that my more girly side took root—right on cue with peak puberty and all the drama that adolescence brings. A large part of my tomboy tendencies were due to the fact that I idolized my older brother, Mason. I wanted to be just like him—so much so, that in elementary school I even chopped my hair into a full-blown, 90s-era bowl cut to copy his hairdo (I’ll spare you the photo documentation). Bless my sweet parents for allowing me to snip off all my blonde locks, but back in those days I barely let them brush my hair, let alone put a bow or clip in it, so I was probably doing them a favor by cutting it short.
Given my desire to be just like my big brother, when I saw him and his friends sporting rugby shirts—paired with Girbaud jeans, OG black Adidas Sambas, puka shell necklaces, and, ahem, frosted tips—I had to have one too. Thus began my lifelong love for rugby shirts. These days my style may veer more feminine, but rugby shirts still satisfy my ever-present inner tomboy AND my love for all things preppy AND my undying devotion to stripes. Given the shirt’s Ivy League vibes, the style always reminds me of textbooks and backpacks, so its return to the fashion scene this fall is perfectly timed.
Rugby style inspo via Carrie Bradshaw // ALC // Annie Desantis // Courtney Grow // Jessie Bush // Ilhona Maher
A rugby shirt will always look great with jeans and sneakers (the bleached tips, not so much, but frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if the puka shells make a comeback). However, these days I prefer to wear the sporty style juxtaposed with something a little bit girlier, like satin sandals, a sequined skirt, bold earrings, or a pop of red lipstick a la women’s rugby star and recent Olympic medalist Ilona Maher (and newly minted Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover star).
A rugby shirt is also the perfect transition piece from summer to fall: wear it now with sandals, shorts, or a skirt, and then wear it later with loafers and layers like a turtleneck or button-up peeking out from underneath, or with a cozy sweater or barn jacket piled on top. Ahead, check out 14 rugby shirts and styling inspiration…
xx, Tessa