Princess Diana's go-to rugby shirts are having a fashion moment – here's how to wear one
You don't need to be sporty to appreciate the appeal of the latest chic staple enjoying a moment in the fashion spotlight: the rugby shirt. Collared and most often striped, the style looks as fresh now as it did when varsity style pin-up Diana, Princess of Wales was photographed wearing one featuring baby blue and pink stripes outside London's Chelsea Harbour Health Club in May 1997.
Diana's pastel-toned knitted rugby shirt, paired with white capri-length trousers and duck-egg blue loafers, lent a note of preppy femininity to this masculine-leaning trend. But as well as archival inspiration, there are plenty of recent catwalk examples to turn to, with rugby shirts cropping up everywhere from New York City-based Monse to Chanel.
The style was a repeat feature in the spring/summer 2025 relaunch collection of heritage brand Kent & Curwen, which earned its stripes creating collegiate gear – from Cambridge ties to Eton rugby kit – in the 1920s. A century on, it has reinvented the rugby shirt with boldly clashing stripes including salmon pink and baby blue or emerald green and aqua – though it also keeps things classic with a navy and white option.
A similarly adventurous spirit has taken hold at offbeat Belgian brand Essentiel Antwerp, where appliqué patches, beading and rhinestones add flair to sport-inspired pieces. 'Combining a bold masculine print and fit with contrasting delicate feminine embroidery feels both playful and unexpected,' says Tom Depoortere, the brand's head designer and artistic director. 'As for styling, throwing an oversized blazer over a rugby shirt always works, or you could wear it with denim and a heel.'
The same styling tricks will work for the pieces infiltrating the high street. The majority of these stick to more muted, neutral stripes, and should slot easily into your usual outfit rotations. While trusty traditional cotton is dominating at the likes of M&S, Arket and Uniqlo, there are other materials worth considering – see Cos's elegant silk blend in navy and white stripes.
Then there are the knitted incarnations, including an ecru and chocolate piece at Hush. The relaxed open collar is prime weekend wear, but it could also be dressed up with a silky midi skirt. Or you could pair it with your favourite cropped trousers and spring-ready loafers for maximum Diana chic.
The best rugby shirts to shop now
Under £100
Under £200
Over £200
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Meet the outrageous sisters constantly in the headlines
If you think your siblings are badly behaved, opinionated, unlucky, stubborn, unconventional, or just plain wrong – you ain't seen nothing yet. New U drama series Outrageous tells the true story of the six aristocratic Mitford sisters, who couldn't have been more different, yet who each found fame – or infamy – in their own way. Focusing on how the sisters navigated the gathering storm of the 1930s, the show dives into public scandals, political extremism, dangerous romances, and devastating betrayals. Whether due to their political beliefs or private escapades, the sisters simply couldn't stay out of the headlines. Here's a taster of what the gossip columns of the time may have said... While she may be the eldest and cleverest sister, Nancy can't half put her foot in it. But why exactly has her new novel – a takedown of fascism – so upset the family? Not only that, she's fallen for a man who everyone else knows is gay. Might she finally get lucky in love and settle down with a husband who truly loves her? We'll see... Indomitable stunner Diana gets whatever she wants, and just a few years back what she wanted was Bryan Guinness, heir to a brewing fortune. Their home was once a haven for bright young things, but lately, we hear Diana has been setting her cap at a certain political kindred spirit with less-than-savoury connections – and ideas. There's just one problem: for her desires, she might have to pay a terrible price. Don't be mistaken by the quiet-seeming Pamela. Sure, she may dodge the limelight, stay out of politics, and avoid any drama - much preferring to rear chickens or motor across Europe alone – but all is not as it seems. Might her being wooed by a much older man - a physicist and amateur jockey - actually not be as surprising as it first seems, but rather a sign that her unflustered nature is hiding a discreet unconventionality? Zealous misfit Unity seems to have been headed for trouble from an early age, managing to get expelled twice from boarding school. And those who judge people by the company they keep might well find themselves looking on in horror at the 6ft 1in Mitford sister's recent life choices - what will be your verdict? 'Comrade Jessica' has a ring to it, doesn't it? And it's all too appropriate a moniker for the sister who has turned her back on the privileged world she was born into. And just what is she now planning to get up to with her equally communist-inclined teenage second-cousin (and nephew of Winston Churchill) Esmond Romilly? Ah, poor, sweet Debo. If any of the Mitford sisters deserve an uncomplicated love life, it's Deborah. Yet, the youngest sibling – who is nothing but inordinately grateful and satisfied with life – has had the heirloom rug ripped from beneath her feet by her very own sister no less! Ever since Pam announced her engagement to the one Debo had her eye on, she has been devastated. The question now is: did Pam know? is played by (Bridgerton, I Hate Suzie) is played by (Crime, The Control Room) is played by (The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) is played by (The Jetty, Say Nothing) is played by (Casualty) is played by (Stonehouse, A Confession) is played by (Belgravia: The Next Chapter) is played by (The Veil, Malpractice)
Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the complaint claims Midjourney pirated the libraries of the two Hollywood studios to generate and distribute 'endless unauthorised copies' of their famed characters, such as Darth Vader from Star Wars and the Minions from Despicable Me. 'Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism. Piracy is piracy, and whether an infringing image or video is made with AI or another technology does not make it any less infringing,' the companies state in the complaint. The studios also claimed the San Francisco-based AI company ignored their requests to stop infringing on their copyrighted works and to take technological measures to halt such image generation. Midjourney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, Midjourney CEO David Holz described his image-making service as 'kind of like a search engine' pulling in a wide swath of images from across the internet. He compared copyright concerns about the technology with how such laws have adapted to human creativity. 'Can a person look at somebody else's picture and learn from it and make a similar picture?' Mr Holz said. 'Obviously, it's allowed for people and if it wasn't, then it would destroy the whole professional art industry, probably the nonprofessional industry too. 'To the extent that AIs are learning like people, it's sort of the same thing and if the images come out differently then it seems like it's fine.' Major AI developers do not typically disclose their data sources, but have argued that taking troves of publicly accessible online text, images and other media to train their AI systems is protected by the 'fair use' doctrine of American copyright law. The case joins a growing number of lawsuits filed against developers of AI platforms — such as OpenAI, Anthropic — in San Francisco and New York. Meanwhile, the first major copyright trial of the generative AI industry is under way in London, pitting Getty Images against artificial intelligence company Stability AI.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Liam Gallagher has just one regret as he prepares for first Oasis comeback show
Ahead of Oasis taking to the stage in Cardiff next month, Liam Gallagher has taken to social media and revealed that he has just one regret about the legendary band Liam Gallagher has revealed his one major regret about Oasis just weeks before the band hit the road. The legendary Manchester-based band will be on s tage together for the first time in 16 years next month for their mammoth Oasis Live '25 tour. Brothers Liam, 52, and Noel, 58, had been at loggerheads ever since the band split in 2009 and were often embroiled in tense feuds on social media and in interviews. But years before their split, an internal war is believed to have broken out between the warring siblings. Liam is said to have questioned the paternity of Noel's eldest daughter, Anaïs, 25, in May 2000. But after almost two decades of arguing, the brothers left fans in a state of disbelief last year when they announced their sensational return, almost 15 years to the day of their split. In just a matter of weeks, they will take to the stage at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on July 4 for their first show. However, Liam has now opened up about his one major regret about the band in an honest admission with a fan. "How does it feel singing songs with ur brother again? Like old times?" asked one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter. Liam responded: "You know what it's spiritual but I can't help think about all those wasted years, what a waste of PRECIOUS time." Oasis came to an end in 2009 following a disagreement between Liam and Noel backstage at the Rock en Seine Festival in Paris. A witness who saw them row said: "Liam was goading Noel constantly and then the two snapped." Liam also smashed up one of Noel's guitars during the heated clash. The pair are due to perform over 20 dates starting on July 4, before completing the UK leg on September 28 at Wembley Stadium. But could fans see the once-warring brothers again after their upcoming tour? Replying to a fan last week, Liam said: "Let's see how this tour goes and if we still love each other after it." When asked by the Mirror how rehearsals are going, Liam told us: "Dangerous." Meanwhile, videos have circulated on social media, with audio clips of the band apparently rehearsing the anthems Cigarettes & Alcohol and Fade Away. He told fans that it was his idea to have both songs on the setlist for the most anticipated tour. Last week, the two brothers were seen heading to rehearsals for the first time. While the pair arrived separately, they had two very different methods of transport to the top-secret location. Liam was seen arriving in a chauffeur-driven van, surrounded by packets of Lockets and cough syrup to help his throat, while his older brother, Noel, took public transport and was seen on the District Line at Paddington station. A source told the Mirror: "It was extremely exciting having Noel and Liam in the same room. The excitement for the tour is off the charts." Get Oasis updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the hotly anticipated Oasis reunion tour grows closer, the Mirror has launched its very own Oasis WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the Gallagher brothers and all the information you'll need in the run up to the gigs. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
