Here's something that has boomeranged back into my life - the rugby shirt. Do I like playing rugby? No. Do I still have nightmares about being forced into a weekly session of violent egg-chasing back in secondary school? Yes. Do I like watching rugby on the TV? Yeah, sure. Do I love the style of a rugby jersey? Absolutely!
Or at least I used to - but I can't actually remember the last time I wore one. Then, staring out the window at the eighteenth consecutive day of rain-sun-rain, and wondering how I was going to dress for this new season of changeability, I had a Road to Damascus moment. It's not cold enough for knitwear. It's not warm enough for a shirt. But it is classic layering season, and what better to layer up than a iconic rugby?
I should say that I love dressing for autumn, and there's definitely something of the autumn about the rugby jersey. It's tied in deeply with the falling leaves, the worsening weather, those back to college vibes, and the start of the sporting season, a time when walking in the drizzle is a pleasure for being properly togged. So this season, I'm going all out for the scholar-meets-sportster style. And here are three ways I'm going to make it happen.
1. Autumn stripes. I love the pop of colour that a rugby shirt offers, and this rather lovely mustard / maroon / navy Cotton Traders combination embraces the changing face of the natural world. I'm wearing this on top of a white Henley, which has a hint of yellow stitching to complement the jersey; and throwing over a half-length mack to catch the showers. On the bottom, wine-coloured jeans.
2. An Ivy look. I've chosen one of my favourite sporting shirts, the utterly iconic Springboks jersey, worn over a light blue striped shirt to create a comfortable layering effect. The 'boks emblem just elevates this outfit to a new level, paired with a mid-brown herringbone jacket (one of my favourite wardrobe pieces, from the always-excellent Brook Taverner) and cords to create an informal collegiate look. I'm off to the lecture now, then onto the rugby field.
3. A day in Dartmouth. One, perhaps, to wear at the annual food festival down in the South Devon town. I'm trying to stick to a maritime palette here, with a navy check shirt that hopefully complements this lovely quartered jersey from Joules. The jacket is Joe Brown's mock military, enough of a tribute - I hope - to relate to Dartmouth's famous naval college. Contrasting this are my darkest indigo jeans. Dartmouth is an autumn staple for us because of its annual food festival, a wonderful chance to explore the best food in the West, and stock up on some Christmas treats!
Three easy rugby outfits for the coming season, which should see me through the cold, the wet, the unseasonably warm, and anything in between. And yes, while I'll try to catch a couple of the Autumn Internationals, you're unlikely to see me diving around a muddy field - I'll leave that bit to the pros!
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