When I was growing up, my father would train home from the office, change out of his button-up and tie, put on sweatpants, and throw on a rugby shirt. It was a long-sleeved maroon pullover with a matching collar and a broad white stripe slashing through the midsection and sleeves. He would tuck it into his sweatpants, which sat high on his waist. Leather slippers, rugby shirt, and sweatpants. A grown man’s leisure fit, and a handsome one at that.
That’s the thing about the humble rugby shirt. Though its origins might be in campus sport and gamesmanship, it made its way into closets around the world because it’s a convenient, comfortable, and put-together garment that’s easy to wear. It’s a perennial shapeshifter, as relevant then as it is now, and always prepped for discovery. Just ask my colleague Ian Burke, who swears his induction into the fraternity of rugby-wearers should be no cause for concern. I, for one, do not blame him.
I share all this because, at this very moment, Abercrombie & Fitch is offering a grip of rugbys worthy of attention, many of which are on major discount. While the price might be the most attractive thing about them, that doesn’t mean they don’t have some handsome options that’ll be easy to incorporate into your day-to-day, whether you’re looking for something relaxed and cropped or a little more slimmed down to fit underneath a blazer.
The heavyweight sweatshirts are the best of the bunch
While rugbys are traditionally thought of as a midweight shirt, I’m very much into the idea of it as a sweatshirt. What it may lack in versatility (too bulky to throw under a blazer), it makes up for in being a layer that can stand on its own during transitional times. The cropped silhouette, which Abercrombie does quite well, meets the moment, and it’s hard for me to say no to a denim collar.
There are also more versatile options for traditionalists
The cropped thing ain’t for everyone, this is fact. If you prefer to harness the full sartorial power of the rugby, Abercrombie has a few that should be up your alley. I’m talking dashing colorways with bold stripes and the contrasting white collar the shirt is known for. Crucially, these can be dressed up or down, and can be key element to officewear or through the weekend.
Rugby shirts can be short-sleeve, too
While long-sleeved rugbys are the dominant look, a short-sleeve rendition with bold stripes offer the same collegiate vibe, but as a comfortable yet handsome polo for warmer weather. It’s obviously the most casual take on a sports classic, but one that’s more appropriate if the temperature insists on shorts.
