Princess Diana Has A Surprising Link To Gossip Girl

Varsity style is back. Like the preppier sister of athleisure, this trend encompasses classic Americana with Brit school uniforms, pinstripes and tennis whites. Think Princess Diana in a Philadelphia Eagles jacket back in 1991. Or her V-neck cricket knit. Or a Harvard logo sweatshirt. In fact, any of her off-duty looks. For she really embraced varsity style, which is firmly back on the agenda again – and largely thanks to the reboot of Gossip Girl, which has just landed on BBC iPlayer.

If you're wondering how to tackle the trend, there were plenty of references to varsity prep on the spring/summer catwalks. Lacoste's trademark white cable knits were the perfect cricketing outfit, made cooler with tube socks and mismatched trainers.

And what better place to start than the King of the uniform - Thom Browne, whose signature style of blazers, pleated skirts and brogues check every box. But it was Irina Shayk, spotted in a Philosophy maxi coat in the streets of New York, that really reaffirmed collegiate cool as the new one to watch.

Drawing inspiration from Wimbledon's tennis whites tradition, even Adidas Originals latest collection, Tennis Luxe, pushes the boundaries of sports luxe fashion for a range that works on and off the court. Asymmetric tops are paired with pleated minis, oversized sweats with bike shorts, and an all white umpire blazer is about as synonymous with British summer as strawberries and cream.

Thankfully for us, layering is key to the trend, making it the ideal way to transition into a new season as we head into autumn. The real heroes are the outerwear options - the bomber jacket, the cable knit cardigan, sweatshirts and blazers - and we can't stop thinking about Megan Fox's Versace look that manages to tick three trends at once - stripes, bold colour AND preppy, the hat-trick!

So, how to wear without looking a little more 'school' than 'cool'? Elevate sporty basics like cycling shorts, tank tops and leggings with crisp tailoring, or try pairing knee grazing shorts with an oversized knit for 'borrowed from the boys' casuals.

We love premium sports brands like Fred Perry and Polo Ralph Lauren for classic polo shirts and blazers, teamed with great jersey pieces from the high street (Arket, Weekday and Cos have a particularly great selection). Vintage shops are also a great treasure trove of retro sports merchandise to show your spirit. To get you started, shop our edit of the best Varsity pieces worth cheering for.

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