This "Ugly" Shirt Trend From the '00s Is Officially Back

Humor me. If you were taken back to the early aughts, what trends would you expect to see everywhere? Baguette bags. Statement belts, perhaps. Don't get me wrong. Many trends have become synonymous with that era, but none were as prolific as polo shirts, IMHO. You could spot this sportswear staple everywhere, from the runway to the red carpet. American sportswear brands such as Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, and Tommy Hilfiger may have championed this top in their collections, but the celebrity set made it cool. Without rappers fully embracing polos in the public sphere—to the point where many were double-layering them—this preppy item would have never had the impact in pop culture that it did. Of course, that's not to say that this item has always been beloved.

Like all trends, its rapid rise eventually led to it being regarded as an "ugly" and "tacky" trend of that period. In the past few months, however, we've begun to see the polo-shirt trend pop off again. While it's easy to assume that its current rise can be solely attributed to its proliferation in the spring/summer 2024 and fall/winter 2024 runway collections, that's not the whole truth. With the boom of fashion aesthetics such as tenniscore and country-club chic—fueled by the blockbuster film Challengers—we've seen sportswear take a big swing in recent seasons. That's occurred in tandem with the embrace of activewear staples by stars, including Bella Hadid, Rihanna, and Hailey Bieber. Considering all of these factors, it's unsurprising that we've seen this shirt style returning to the game.

If you're dubious about how this shirt has become stylish again, keep scrolling. Ahead, I've rounded up polo-shirt outfit ideas from the runway and the streets. Plus, I've shopped out the 20 best polo shirts to inspire you to embrace your inner Sporty Spice. If these examples can't prove to you that this shirt is scoring points in the courts of public opinion again, nothing will.

On the Runway

On the Streets

Shop the Trend

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.