The collar has a job.
It gives the stripes an edge and frames the face. Who What Wear’s current coverage highlights contrasting collars and layered polos. Start with one collar open at the neck; add a second layer only if you like the extra volume.
QUIETLY WELL DRESSED / OUTFITS
The Rugby Edit
A proper collar. A bold stripe. A little attitude.
Find your rugbyAI styling illustration · Not exact retailer products or runway photography.
THE NEW MOOD
Bring some bite to the classics.
Gucci’s Spring/Summer 2027 “The Store Show” gives the rugby shirt a sharp new setting. The menswear gallery pairs striped rugbies with blazers, worn-in denim, loafers and short jackets. The interest is in the combination: a sporting top alongside clothes that belong somewhere smarter.
QWD’s take: keep the strong stripe, the contrasting collar and the easy attitude. Give them space. A straight jean, a soft jacket and a proper leather shoe make the idea feel useful now.
Runway inspiration from the September 2026 show. The forthcoming Gucci pieces are not presented here as available to buy. The selections below are alternatives, not replicas.
FROM THE RUNWAY TO YOUR WARDROBE
Let the pieces disagree.
A rugby with matching sporty trousers is predictable. Try faded denim and a soft blazer, or charcoal trousers with a leather loafer. That small change of context is where the outfit becomes interesting.
Keep the colour.
Burgundy, forest green, navy and cream are a useful starting palette. Choose one stripe you enjoy and repeat a dark tone in the shoes or jacket. You can keep the confidence without copying every runway accessory.
This is an editorial reading of the collection, not a prediction that everyone will wear it. Ralph Lauren offers another route into the same sporting vocabulary; its classic rugby is not a new Gucci collaboration.
THE SHOPPING EDIT
Choose your kind of stripe.
Showing United Kingdom. Research checked 3 October 2026; prices and stock can change. Direct retailer links. QWD receives no commission. Retailer research, not handling or wear testing.
No local product shortlist has been verified for United Kingdom in this edit yet. Use the outfit ideas with clothes you own, or view the Australian research with its Australian prices and delivery limitations.
01 / THE OUTFIT
Strong stripe. Clean denim.
White jeans let the richer colours do their work. The collar and trousers make two pale points in the outfit, while a brown loafer keeps it connected to everyday dressing. A rugby is already a statement; the belt can stay simple.
- Burgundy-and-green rugby, or your favourite dark stripe
- Relaxed straight white jeans
- Brown penny loafers
Try the shirt untucked first. If the body is long, a loose front tuck can reveal the rise without pulling the stripes tight across your stomach.
Explore The White Jeans Edit
02 / THE OUTFIT
The blazer loosens up.
A soft navy blazer changes the conversation. Keep it open so the collar and stripes remain visible. Faded blue denim and a loafer stop the combination feeling like office tailoring with the wrong shirt.
- Navy-and-cream striped rugby
- Soft, roomy navy blazer
- Faded straight blue jeans
- Brown tassel or penny loafers
Check the sleeves with the rugby underneath. The jacket needs enough room through the upper arm and back; if you cannot reach forward comfortably, choose a different layer.
Choose the right kind of jacketONE MORE DIRECTION
A short jacket. An easy attitude.
Try a navy or olive Harrington over a striped rugby, with relaxed blue jeans and a leather loafer. A shorter jacket leaves more leg visible, while the woven collar brings shape to the neckline. Wear the jacket open rather than compressing all those layers at the zip.
For a bolder take, allow a little contrast at the neck: a fine crew-neck layer under the open rugby. Keep it light enough that the collar still sits well. Two heavy shirts can feel bulky and warm, especially in an Australian spring.
The stripe is the interest. The fit makes it yours.
BEFORE YOU KEEP IT
Room, without losing the shape.
Body and shoulder.
Look for breathing room across the chest and a sleeve you can bend. A designed dropped shoulder is different from buying several sizes too large. Compare the body width and length with a favourite sweatshirt.
Collar and placket.
A woven collar gives definition; the body should not pull the opening sideways. Try the top button undone. You can stand the collar slightly if you enjoy the look—there is no need to force it upright.
Hem and layers.
Watch how much of the jean the top hides. A long, square body may need a loose tuck; a shorter one can sit freely. If adding a blazer, test the whole outfit with your arms crossed and seated.
Cotton jersey or a knitted rugby?
A traditional cotton-jersey rugby has more sweatshirt-like body and a woven collar. A knitted version may drape more softly and feel less sporting. Fibre alone does not tell you warmth: consider fabric weight, layering and the day’s temperature. Follow the individual care label.
Sources & further reading
- The Fashionisto — Gucci Spring 2027 menswear gallery, 26 September 2026. Runway looks with a blazer, Harrington and long coat.
- Vogue — Gucci Spring 2027 review and collection, 25 September 2026.
- Who What Wear — the layered-polo revival, October 2026. Includes womenswear styling; QWD’s outfits are its own menswear interpretation.
- QWD — the everyday rugby-shirt fit guide.
Researched 3 October 2026. Original runway photographs remain with the linked publishers. QWD’s illustrations are separate styling studies and do not reproduce or verify Gucci garments.
