Rugby shirts for women are spring’s sleeper fashion hit
Move over sweatshirts and cardigans, there’s a new long-sleeved layer in town
All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.
You don’t need to be a fashion expert to figure out that the chilly mornings and balmy afternoons of spring mean a few good layers are a wardrobe essential. Throwing on a chunky cardigan with your favourite jeans? No brainer. Pairing a lightweight jacket with a floaty summer dress? So chic. But a rugby shirt? Those garishly striped garments last seen on muddy teenage boys and middle-aged men reliving their glory days at the local park on a Sunday morning? Well, actually, yes.
“There is a real vintage preppy trend coming through at the moment, and a rugby shirt is a real staple for that look, whether it’s an all over stripe style or just a great standout colour,” explains Ed Bonnar, founder of British brand Beaufort & Blake, which made its name on proper, good quality, sports-inspired attire, including polos, Henleys and, of course, rugby shirts.
The vibe here is ‘old money’ with a borrowed-from-the-boys twist. Ideally, rugby shirts for women should be made from a heavy cotton with a faded wash, as if it might be something you inherited from your dad or that your boyfriend has been wearing and rewashing since his prep school days (Bonnar points to Beaufort & Blake’s Kittisford style as a best-seller for this reason). Some of the best on the market come from New York-based brand Sporty & Rich and, frankly, I couldn’t have described the look any better if I’d tried.
Ralph Lauren SS25
Guest in Residence
Princess Diana in pastel pink and blue stripes should be top of your style moodboard here, but, for a more modern reference, see also Taylor Swift in oversized Ralph Lauren (worn with knee-high boots from a more equestrian vibe) and Hailey Bieber channelling a full back-to-school look in red and navy stripes with ankle socks and Mary Janes. Gigi Hadid is also a committed fan, with her fashion brand, Guest in Residence, offering a full line-up of vibrantly striped rugbies that come with supermodel approval.
The biggest faux pas when it comes to rugby shirts for women? Buying an actual rugby shirt. The goal here is to create a worn-in, this-old-thing aesthetic – not to declare your love for the All Blacks. And do you really want to spend an entire Saturday afternoon barbecue fielding questions about Marcus Smith’s conversion average just because you picked up an old Harlequins shirt on eBay?
“You don’t have to pick a team,” advises Bonnar. “Just go for a colour, stripe or blocking that you love. Anything that reminds us of an old vintage rugby is a winner for us! Also don’t be afraid to size up for a more relaxed fit and extra layering potential.”
And so we come to styling. Rugby shirts are loud enough on their own so resist the temptation to pair with anything else brightly coloured or overtly patterned. Jeans are the obvious choice (choose a slightly slimmer cut to balance out the weight of the shirt) while a seriously oversized rugby shirt can be worn alone or with denim shorts on warmer days.
“Our go-to is layered up, especially over an Oxford shirt like our Beauchamps, to really lean into the preppy trend,” recommends Bonnar. “As the weather brightens up, a rugby over your shoulders or tied round your waist will be a great layer for when the sun goes down.”
