Gigi Hadid Makes Rugby Shirts the Spring Staple in Cashmere

The rugby shirt is back, and Gigi Hadid is making it look shockingly easy

Gigi Hadid keeps making the rugby shirt look less like prep-school cosplay and more like the cleanest shortcut to spring polish. In New York on April 10, she wore Guest In Residence’s newest striped version, and the whole point landed fast: this is not a stiff, try-hard preppy top. It is a soft, cashmere layer that gives you structure, color, and just enough attitude to make basic tees and button-downs feel tired.

What works here is the balance. The shirt has that classic polo collar and the built-in layered silhouette that makes it read styled without looking overworked. Paired with jeans and sneakers, it lands in the sweet spot Hadid does so well, where the outfit feels considered but still lived-in. That is the magic trick: the rugby shape supplies the polish, while the denim and sneakers keep it from tipping into costume.

Why this polo feels current instead of nostalgic

The broader sporty-prep mood has been building for spring 2026, with runway names like Miu Miu, Lacoste, and Prada pushing the look back into the spotlight. That matters because the rugby shirt is not showing up as a novelty one-off. It is part of a wider shift toward pieces that borrow from menswear and school-uniform codes, then get softened with better fabrication and sharper proportions.

This is also why the rugby shirt suddenly feels more relevant than the standard striped sweater. It has the same easy framework, but the collar, placket, and wider stripe treatment make it feel more directional. On Hadid, especially, it reads as a grown-up version of sporty prep, the kind that looks great with loose denim, a clean sneaker, and accessories that do not fight the shirt for attention.

Gigi’s repeat wear is the real endorsement

Hadid has not just worn the rugby trend, she has helped shape it through her own label. Marie Claire notes that she has designed not one, but two rugby shirts for Guest In Residence, which is a loud signal that this is more than celebrity styling. It is part of her brand language, and it makes sense because Guest In Residence is built around 100% cashmere and the idea of “future heirlooms,” knitwear meant to last years, not seasons.

That positioning is what separates this from the typical trend cycle. A rugby shirt in cotton can feel crisp and collegiate. A rugby shirt in cashmere feels far more luxe, far less throwaway. The softness changes everything, turning a sporty staple into something you would actually reach for when you want to look pulled together without looking dressed up.

The price tells you exactly where this sits

Guest In Residence’s Layered Stripe Rugby is priced at $465, which puts it firmly in luxury knitwear territory, but not absurdly so for a 100% cashmere piece from a celebrity-founded label. The exact cashmere suede style Hadid wore previously was listed at $695, and that higher price tracks with the richer fabrication and the more specialized finish. One version is the easier entry point; the suede style is the more decadent flex.

The fact that Hadid’s exact suede rugby sold out while the black shade remained available says a lot about the appetite for this silhouette. People are not just buying the celebrity association. They are responding to the shape, the fabric, and the way the piece threads the needle between preppy and plush. In other words, the shirt has enough design substance to stand on its own.

How to wear it without looking like you borrowed it from a fraternity house

The rugby shirt works best when you keep the rest of the outfit relaxed and clean. Jeans are the obvious move because they ground the preppy top and make it feel modern instead of precious. Sneakers do the same thing, especially if they are simple and low-profile, because they stop the shirt from turning too polished or too literal.

If you want to push it further, think in terms of proportion and texture rather than piling on more prep. A slightly fuller jean, a straight leg, or a cleaner tailored trouser all let the rugby collar stay the focal point. The shirt already gives you structure through its layered silhouette, so the rest should feel easy, not overbuilt.

A few styling cues keep it from reading like a throwback:

• Choose bottoms with a relaxed line so the top can hold its shape.
• Keep sneakers crisp and minimal, not overly sporty.
• Let one accessory do the work, like a structured suede bag or a clean shoulder bag.
• If you add a layer, make it a sharp leather jacket or an easy knit, not another preppy reference.

That last point matters. Star Style caught Hadid in New York with a Miu Miu leather jacket and a Liffner Pillow Hobo in suede dark brown, and that combination is exactly why the rugby shirt feels current. The jacket toughens the sweetness, the suede bag adds depth, and the whole look avoids the trap of trying too hard to be “college-core.”

The rugby shirt’s celebrity run is not random

This trend did not appear out of nowhere with Hadid. Fashion coverage has been clocking celebrities going all in on rugby tees since 2023, when Hailey Bieber and Rihanna wore Loewe’s red, white, and blue long-sleeve within months of each other. From there, the shirt kept circulating through the celebrity ecosystem, with Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid also spotted in the look.

That kind of repeat wear is usually how a piece graduates from niche to inevitable. Once multiple women with very different style instincts keep reaching for the same shape, it stops being a gimmick and starts feeling like a wardrobe answer. The rugby shirt has become exactly that, a piece with enough definition to feel styled, but enough ease to slip into real life.

Why cashmere makes the whole idea work

The genius of Guest In Residence’s version is that it takes a very menswear-coded garment and strips out the stiffness. The 100% cashmere fabric gives the shirt a plush hand, while the layered construction creates the illusion of more styling effort than there actually is. It is preppy, yes, but it is also tactile, which is why it works in a modern wardrobe built around comfort and polish in equal measure.

That is the reason Hadid’s repeat endorsement matters. She is not selling a costume or a one-season gimmick. She is showing how a rugby shirt can become the spring layer that makes everything else look cooler, from jeans and sneakers to a leather jacket and a suede bag. In cashmere, the preppy staple stops feeling borrowed and starts feeling like the smartest thing in the room.