Why Sporty Collegiate Is the Trend Defining Fall

Sporty Collegiate is the combination of two other current top fall trends—old-school preppy and sports attire. It takes the classic plaid blazers, button-down shirts, silk ties, loafers, slacks and pleated midi skirts of the prep school aesthetic and mixes it in with the rugby shirts, track pants, running shorts, varsity jackets, baseball caps and soccer jerseys of fall athletes. Think elbow patches mixed with varsity patches. It's very much giving “I have 18th Century English Lit at 10 and tennis at noon.” Like if Rory Gilmore played sports.

Of course, Sporty Collegiate makes complete sense as a hot trend for autumn. It’s captures two of the biggest cultural touchstones of the season—the return to school and college campuses and the start of so many beloved sports seasons, like soccer, football and field hockey. But as for why it’s particularly popular in 2025, I have some ideas.

The overall rise in the preppy aesthetic is definitely a part of it. Ralph Lauren is suddenly creeping up in the rankings of the most searched-for brands on Google, and boat shoes were an It item this summer. Add to that the evolution of what I like to call the Country Club Athleisure pipeline, with folks styling their tennis whites and golf polos with streetwear staples, which is just another branch of preppy chic.

But this trend is due to more than just aesthetics. The undeniable surge of interest in women’s sports, and women’s interest in professional teams regardless of the gender of the players, is also a major factor here. It’s now not only cool to cheer on the Gotham FC soccer team at games or Minnesota Lynx court side, but also to rep their gear whenever it suits you. Spotting women wearing jerseys, baseball caps and athletic jackets emblazoned with the team of their choice is no longer a rarity. Even for fans of sports without a replicable team uniform, like track and field or gymnastics or swimming, there are other ways to show support, like with classic track pants.

So, what’s the best way to start working the Sporty Collegiate trend into your fall outfit rotation? I recommend building a classically preppy base and then swapping out one or two pieces for a more athletic alternative. So if you’re wearing a button-down shirt, sweater vest and tailored trousers with loafers, try changing out the trousers for a swishy track pant instead and adding a baseball cap up top. Or let’s say you love a good matching plaid blazer and miniskirt situation. Change out the blazer for an oversize rugby shirt and finish the look with retro sneakers in place of flats or knee-high boots. Et voilà! A fall-ready look that’s both comfortable and 100-percent on trend.