My Teenage Self Is Screaming – Skater Tops Are Back And Cooler Than Ever Before

It’s the early 2000s: you’re watching Lizzie McGuire, flicking over to an Avril Lavigne music video - straw-and-poke drink in hand. And somewhere in the scene, there’s a baseball tee. With its coloured sleeves and neck, often in red or navy, and crisp white body, it became one of the most recognisable off-duty staples of the era.

Back then, I had major FOMO. The baseball tee (also called a raglan tee) felt distinctly American, and as a British kid, I could only watch from afar. Fast-forward twenty years, and the trend has circled back. This time, I’ve got adult money, and the baseball top - well, it's got a whole new fashion currency.

The key difference? The styling. Where the early ‘00s version was about denim skirts, Converse, and studded belts, today’s baseball tee revival leans differently. Both Zoë Kravitz and Emily Ratajkowski were recently spotted in blue-sleeved versions, proving the top works just as well in 2025. Kravitz styled hers in New York with a sheer midi skirt - a Copenhagen-approved staple - and ballet pumps, transforming the casual tee into an actual top. Ratajkowski, meanwhile, gave it her signature downtown spin in July, pairing it with black capri pants and kitten heels. Two different women, two different approaches, but the message was the same: it’s grown up.

It’s also arriving at the perfect moment. With the rise of rugby tops and sporty-inspired staples creeping back into wardrobes, ASOS has reported a 300% increase in baseball-style tees compared to last year. That sporty mood is everywhere, from streetwear to runway collections like Miu Miu, Prada and Tommy Hilfiger's autumn/winter '24 collections. Never mind the The Row baseball tee that became an instant sell-out.

So how do we wear it today? The baseball tee works best when you play with contrast. For everyday, balance it with wide-leg trousers and pointed flats for a grown-up look, or lean into its athletic DNA with baggy jeans and trainers. For a more unexpected take, take Kravitz’s lead and pair it with something sheer or ultra-feminine to offset its tomboy roots. Whichever way you approach it, think of the baseball tee as a blank canvas - nostalgic, yes, but now infinitely remixable.

Shop: Baseball Tops

Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..