Thanks to Gucci, Chuck Bass's Signature Top Is Back to Make Your Jeans, Skirts and Shorts Look Cooler

Had you told me before this week that the layered polo top would suddenly be "a thing" once again, I’m not sure I would have believed you. After witnessing the return of boho belts, pirate boots and lots and lots of gold, fashion's ever-fluctuating cycle has once again revisited the noughties to bring back a scene-boy signature, popped collars, contrasting colours and all.

Typically associated with classic American prep, the layered-polo trend didn’t stay buttoned up for long. Quickly adopted by New York street culture in the '90s, it took on a younger, cooler edge in the 2000s when the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch made it a must-have. All roads lead back to Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, though—who, with the help of musicians like Aaliyah, Destiny's Child and Snoop Dogg, expanded the look into an entirely new space.

But with the start of the 2010s, as trends so often do, the aesthetic lost its pizzazz. Whilst we were treated to some memorable moments throughout the Y2K years (think Megan Fox’s layered cropped polos in Jennifer's Body), the style shifted from an aspirational signifier of cool to slightly out of touch. Sure, by the end of Gossip Girl, Ed Westwick’s Chuck Bass had evolved into the reformed "bad boy" we all adored, but in season one? Those double-layered, popped-collar polo shirts read cliché rather than downtown cool. Then there was DJ Pauly D, fully bathing the look in "guido" glory in 2011. Just take a look at the Dolce & Gabbana spring/summer 2005 menswear show if you need any further clarification.

So imagine my surprise when, 15 years after its peak, the layered polo is being adopted once again—only this time, the coolest women around have claimed it. Like any good trend, three is the magic number. First was Miu Miu’s spring/summer 2024 show, which quietly helped nudge preppy back into fashion’s ever-evolving spotlight; then came Tommy Hilfiger's just-shown spring/summer 2027 collection, and if that joy-filled homecoming that remixed archival prep with relaxed proportions wasn’t enough to sell you on the look, nothing will.

But the grand finale, so to speak, was from Demna’s Gucci. As the lights went up for the S/S 27 show, we were looking at a re-created storefront complete with metal rails, and as supermodels and nonnas nonchalantly "browsed" down the runway, one look stood out: a striped top with a stiff white collar (on Elsa Hosk, no less). At that moment, it felt undeniable: this wasn’t just a passing revival; the trend had legs. Because, in the wise words of trend forecaster and fashion oracle Mandy Lee (aka OldLoserInBrooklyn), "Evil doesn't die; Denma reinvents it".

But why now? For starters, if this fashion month is anything to go by, fashion is firmly in a maximalist mood. From the vivid colours that dominated summer to the steady rise of print over the past few years, the move away from minimalism is hard to ignore. The layered polo trend sits right at the intersection of the two, though, balancing polish with a carefree feel, structured but never overtly stiff.

And when we look at the popularity of layering and the practicality of this styling hack (especially heading into the cooler months), it just makes sense. By mixing colours and fabrics, you can make it feel less contrived and more instinctive, like you’ve just thrown things together and are embracing the chaos that follows. Did we just uncover the easiest way to make your midi skirts, jeans and cargo shorts look cooler? I think so. Scroll to shop the best layering polos on the market.

Shop the Best Layered Polos