When Hailey Bieber or Rihanna wear…well, anything, their styling hacks usually become a phenomenon. So when they’re both spotted in the same week, wearing the exact same shirt… cue: chaos.
They’re both style muses whose fashion agendas have crossed paths this week, yet one is pregnant and wore it ‘cropped’, and the other elevated it with a more defined, elegant street style agenda. And their individual, diverse dress codes are enough solidification for us that this shirt style is the exact staple piece we need to add to our spring wardrobes.
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Yesterday RiRi, who is pregnant with her second child, was spotted out in Los Angeles with ASAP Rocky sporting her ever-effortless iconic off-duty style (another look to add to her most stylish maternity fashion moments history book).
Rihanna wore the shirt tucked above her baby belly
She wore low rise baggy jeans with Timberland boots left undone and the coolest Louis Vuitton box clutch. But it was her tucked up, long sleeved polo shirt that caught our eye as we were struck with deja vu.
After realising we had seen this blue and maroon grandad-approved, preppy British style polo shirt before, the penny dropped that Hailey Bieber wore the exact same shirt just three days ago.
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Hailey, also spotted out in LA, wore the same polo shirt from Loewe tucked into light wash straight leg blue jeans and paired with a bomber jacket, inhabiting a 90s style feel. In signature HB style, she elevated it with Bottega Veneta ‘Tex’ mules and a black Miu Miu bag.
Hailey wore the shirt three days prior
The rugby shirt style’s synonymy with preppiness is so apparent that the king of preppy polos Ralph Lauren, once dedicated a whole brand to the style. ‘Rugby Ralph Lauren’ was its very own line from 2004-2013.
How to style Rihanna and Hailey Bieber’s rugby shirt
The versatility of the rugby shirt is unparalleled (as already proven by RiRi and Hailey): pair with white jeans for the pinnacle of preppy, tuck into light blue jeans and wear with trainers for the ultimate off-duty coffee morning look, or elevate like Hailey with refined accessories to create a smarter feel.
The ‘return of the rugby shirt’ is actually quite unsurprising considering the popularity of breton striped collared knits over the last few years. And though this trend will no doubt sky rocket thanks to two fashion icons wearing the same one at the same time, the chunky striped style never really left. Like the breton: preppy, versatile styles as such will always make an appearance now and again.
Our forever style muse Princess Diana famously wore a pastel pink and blue rugby-style shirt in 1997, styled with white cropped jeans and suede loafers.
Princess Diana in 1997
The style is also supermodel-approved, as Kendall Jenner (when she had that bleach blonde hair) wore neutral stripes with blue jeans and Birkenstocks during Milan Fashion Week 2019.
Kendall Jenner in Milan, 2019
Gigi Hadid was 2022’s advocate for polo. She wore a rugby shirt with combat trousers, penny loafers and a black leather coat in March for Paris Fashion Week, and in August donned the coolest red Ralph Lauren shirt and shorts combo.
Gigi Hadid in 2022
5 rugby shirts you can shop now:
Must have:
Green and white cotton polo, £29.50, Marks and Spencer
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Polo shirt, £55, Crew Clothing
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Multicoloured striped polo, £79, Beaufort & Blake
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Lust have:
Buttoned polo, £210, Rowing Blazers
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Loewe polo, £695, Mytheresa
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