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It’s time to put some prep in your step.
The preppy polo is an unlikely summer staple amid an early-aughts resurgence, dominating runways and street style alike.
While there’s been no shortage of the shirts from legacy brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren over the years, luxury designers have revived the top, which has also earned a celebrity stamp of approval despite its once “ugly” reputation.
“The polo is never just clothes,” Maggie Bullock, author of “The Kingdom of Prep,” told Nylon, calling it “classically American.” “For anyone who’s paying attention, this is a garment that sends a message.”
“It” girl and beauty mogul Hailey Bieber — who has set trends like glazed donut nails — has been spotted on more than one occasion donning a striped polo, while Sabrina Carpenter recently stepped out in a collared Miu Miu top paired with a white mini skirt, and her gal pal Taylor Swift also sported an oversized rugby shirt as a dress.
Rihanna was photographed in a bump-bearing striped top like Bieber’s when she was pregnant last year, and Billie Eilish performed on “Saturday Night Live” in Raimundo Langlois layered pink and blue polo.
The sporty shirt — which industry experts described as an elevated tee — also appeared on the spring/summer 2024 runways for Gucci, Givenchy, Loewe, Carolina Herrera and Miu Miu, which notably revived the prep-inspired boat shoes and specs.
“To me, it’s a meeting of maximalism and ‘stealth wealth,’” Laurel Pantin, a fashion writer and consultant, told Nylon, likening the trend to the subdued qualities found in “quiet luxury.”
“It’s somewhere in the middle zone, where there’s a layer of the old-school wealth that isn’t so ‘Succession’ — it’s a bit more youthful.”
The resurgence of the polo — a fitting style after Wimbledon and ahead of the Paris Olympics — appears to be part of a larger “tenniscore” trend that began last year but reached fever pitch with the release of “Challengers,” which starred Zendaya as the athletic heroine Tashi Duncan.
According to WGSN, tennis-inspired fashion increased by 7% year over year in 2024, while #tenniscore has scored millions of views on TikTok.
“Tennis has always been associated with elegance, particularly from a sartorial point of view,” Lacoste’s deputy CEO Catherine Spindler previously told The Post. “In recent years, the influence of tennis in fashion has accelerated. Pieces inspired by the world of tennis are now worn by everyone.”
Even if you aren’t hitting the courts or country club this summer, the style fits into anyone’s wardrobe because of its ease and comfortability. Not to mention, it doesn’t have to break the bank — unless you’re buying Miu Miu.
“It works for almost all generations and body types,” a fashion trend forecaster at Modacable previously told The Post.
“Big stars wearing sports clothes everywhere makes people feel like they can look cool, spending almost nothing, in a basic track set or yoga set … It’s easy, and always on point in 90% of day-to-day life.”
