In the lead-up to Spring 2025, it seems like the humble rugby shirt is poised to become fashion’s next big new-old obsession. At the Copenhagen Spring 2025 runway shows a range of striped rugby shirts popped up across the runways of Baum und Pferdgarten set in a pink-and-green color combination with its quintessential contrasting collars and cuffs. The Danish brand skilfully subverted the sporty spirit of its rugby shirt with a sheer knee-length skirt drenched in sequins. OpéraSPORT also took an unconventional approach, pairing a cherry red rugby top with a floral belt, lace-trimmed satin pants, and barely-there strappy sandals. Marimekko embraced the athleisure aesthetic by teaming an oversized black and beige rugby shirt dress with slouchy socks, chunky sneakers, and a casual oversized tote bag.
Last week, I walked into Marie Claire’s office and caught my colleague Hanna Lustig sporting Damson Madder’s Remie Rugby Shirt, complete with bubblegum-pink stripes.
During Copenhagen’s Spring 2025 fashion week, rugby shirts reigned supreme.
When I asked Lustig about her inspiration, she insisted it had less to do with sports and everything to do with the enduring appeal of prep culture. “I used to have a copy of the iconic fashion photography book Take Ivy—a 1960s Japanese photobook that captures Ivy League students in their everyday collegiate uniforms—and after finally flipping through it, I felt flooded with inspiration,” she told me. The book spotlights an array of retro, preppy styles: crewnecks layered over button-downs, loafers worn with socks, and yes, rugby shirts. Originally designed for the rough-and-tumble of the playing field, the striped jersey was eventually adopted by students, solidifying its place in classic campus fashion.
“I started styling this stiff vintage rugby shirt from my ex-boyfriend’s closet with midi skirts and sneakers from mine, and basically never stopped,” she said. “Now that I have one of my very own, I can recreate the look without having to wear his scratchy old castoff," Lustig says.
Hailey Bieber and Rihanna pictured wearing the same Loewe rugby shirt in 2023.
After chatting with Lustig, I delved into the depths of TikTok (before the app went down and then came back) to gauge fashion creators’ take on rugby shirts—it turns out the buzz has been building for months. Like Copenhagen's runways, influencers are demonstrating how to channel a girlhood twist on the trend with pleated mini skirts, ballet flats, and bags decorated with quirky charms. There are also edgier approaches—layering a leather jacket over a rugby shirt and pairing it with floor-sweeping wide-leg jeans.
Whether TikTok sustains or not, the fervor for rugby shirts seems destined to endure—already seeing a 50 percent jump in search compared to last year, and its renaissance has been a long time coming. Dries Van Noten’s Spring 2024 collection showcased an embellished take on the rugby shirt, Miu Miu's version has held strong for several seasons now, and Loewe’s Resort 2023 style had a cool blue-and-red rendition famously worn by both Hailey Bieber and Rihanna.
Striking just the right balance between off-duty academic appeal and a dash of unexpected polish, rugby shirts deliver comfort, style, and a subtle nod to collegiate cool—the perfect recipe for your next style hyper-fixation. So, are you ready to show off your stripes?
Rugby Outfits to Try for Spring
Here’s how to master the rugby shirt trend with ease.
Couple a collared rugby shirt with a pair of relaxed denim bottoms, and throw a jacket over your shoulders to keep warm when dressing for the in-between season.
If you don’t think a rugby shirt can transition beyond a sports arena, allow this look to prove otherwise.
A trench coat is a quintessential spring layer that complements the preppy forward rugby shirt. Pair it with a high-waisted pair of shorts and swap your boots for slingback heels to ace the polished approach to the trend.
Here’s how to channel your inner school girl—with a grown-up twist.
If you’re in the mood to go full-on prep, wear your rugby shirt alongside a pleated midi skirt. To give your uniform a more laid-back edge, slip into a pair of suede sneakers.
This fashion week showgoer embodied the phrase, “no-pants, no problem.”
Embrace the no-pants look and choose a rugby shirt that can cosplay as a mini dress. Double up on tops with a crisp button-down shirt and anchor your outfit with a pair of loafers.
The baggier, the better.
Baggy jeans are topping the denim trend charts, and if you haven’t experimented with the style yet, this outfit can point you in the right direction. Match the energy of your bottoms with an equally roomy top.
While some fashionistas will tell you not to wear multiple striped patterns at once, this street style maven isn’t one of them.
This outfit is for all the maximalists out there. You might think vertical and horizontal stripes can't play nice, but this look proves that outdated theory wrong.
Prepare to wear this simplified outfit on repeat.
A slip skirt and a pair of kitten heels is your go-to streamlined formula for spring.
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