Imagine this: The sun is shining, and you’ve been dying to break out those denim jorts you’ve been thinking about for months. It’s finally warm enough to bare those knees and bask in the warmth of the outdoors, and while you could wear them with anything, let us propose an option you might not have considered: a rugby top. SS26 runways saw countless iterations, and we couldn’t help but take notice.
While we’re seeing subtle shifts in silhouette across styles—think slimline and cropped versus boxy and oversized—the contrasting collar and bold statement stripes remain a staple.
The key is to lean into the sporty feel by pairing it with pieces like sneakerinas or dad sneakers, or create intentional contrast by dressing it up for a more polished, preppy vibe with a pencil skirt and slingbacks.
Stuck on where to start your hunt for the perfect rugby top? I’m loving the one (specifically in the yellow option) from Gap Factory—it’s currently 60% off, bringing it down to just $19.99! It comes in one of this season’s standout color combos, is made from a lightweight jersey knit, and is incredibly versatile.
Style it with dark wash denim and a strappy sandal for an easy, pulled-together look that works for a day when you’re on the move and doing a little bit of everything.
Shop some more of our favorite rugby tops here:
Angel Cordova-Todd is the Fashion Assistant at Cosmopolitan UK, Red and Prima. Having previously spent time at Elle UK, The Sunday Times Style, Net-a-Porter and The Outnet she’s a budding shopping specialist. You’ll typically find her overpopulating her online wishlists, prepping threads for our next cover star, swimming in Bermuda, or internally debating whether she should root for Piastri or Hamilton during a Grand Prix (most likely both..).