Rugby Shirts Are the Preppy Fall 2025 Trend Making a Major Comeback
Whether styled with pleated skirts or relaxed jeans, this top can work well beyond any sports arena.
Leading up to Fall 2025, it looks like the humble rugby shirt is set to become fashion’s next big obsession. Check out any street corner, and you’ll probably see stylish It girls promoting the sporty look.
With that said, the rugby shirt trend is nothing new. At the Copenhagen Spring 2025 runway shows, a variety of striped rugby shirts appeared 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 cleverly reimagined the athletic feel of its rugby shirt by pairing it with a sheer, knee-length skirt covered in sequins. OpéraSPORT also took a creative approach, matching a cherry red rugby top with a floral belt, lace-trimmed satin pants, and barely-there strappy sandals. Marimekko embraced the athleisure style by styling an oversized black and beige rugby shirt dress with slouchy socks, chunky sneakers, and a casual oversized tote bag.
During Copenhagen’s Spring 2025 fashion week, rugby shirts reigned supreme.
Unsurprisingly, the rugby shirt trend has also found its way into Marie Claire’s office via Damson Madder’s Remie Rugby Shirt, featuring bubblegum-pink stripes.
However, the style is less about sports and more about the lasting appeal of prep culture: crewnecks layered over button-down shirts, loafers worn with socks, and, yes, rugby shirts. Originally made for the rough-and-tumble of the playing field, the striped jersey was eventually embraced by students, cementing its place in classic campus fashion.
I delved into TikTok to explore how fashion creators are viewing rugby shirts — and it turns out the hype has been growing for months. Like Copenhagen's runways, influencers are showing how to put a girlhood twist on the trend with pleated mini skirts, ballet flats, and bags decorated with quirky charms. There are also bolder styles — layering a leather jacket over a rugby shirt and pairing it with floor-length wide-leg jeans.
The fervor for rugby shirts appears set to continue—already experiencing a 75 percent increase in searches compared to last year, and its comeback has been a long time in the making. Dries Van Noten’s Spring 2024 collection featured an embellished version of the rugby shirt, Miu Miu's style has remained popular for several seasons, and Loewe’s Resort 2023 look included a stylish blue-and-red variation famously worn by both Hailey Bieber and Rihanna.
Hailey Bieber and Rihanna pictured wearing the same Loewe rugby shirt in 2023.
Striking the perfect balance between off-duty academic vibe and a touch of unexpected sophistication, rugby shirts offer comfort, style, and a subtle nod to collegiate cool — the ideal choice for your next style hyper-fixation. So, are you ready to show off your stripes?
Rugby Outfits to Try for Fall
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 fall layer that complements the preppy forward rugby shirt. Pair it with a high-waisted pair of shorts and swap your sandals 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-up 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 fall.
More Editor-Aprooved Rugby Shirts
