Outside the Lines - Holly Aitchison

When Holly Aitchison isn’t orchestrating play at fly-half for Sale Sharks or representing the Red Roses on the international stage, her off-duty life moves at a slightly different pace. The 28-year-old rugby star has quietly developed a reputation for something beyond the pitch: a considered, personal approach to style.

Away from the intensity of elite sport – and the occasional World Cup triumph – Aitchison’s interest in fashion has become a steady presence in her everyday life. Through glimpses shared on her social media, she offers followers a look at a wardrobe that proves that the transition from kit to casual can be just as compelling as the game itself.

How would you describe your personal style?

It's probably comfy and casual. Comfy, but still cool, I would say.

What does a typical off-day outfit look like for you?

A typical off-day outfit is probably something I’d wear going for coffee. I want to be comfy, but I still want to do something that's different when I’m away from rugby. So I'll usually move away from activewear. My style is quite mixed – I don’t really wear the same thing all the time. I’d say it’s quite fluid and I like being able to try different things.

Have you got any staple pieces that are your favourites, or that you've worn more recently?

I'm wearing a lot of shoulder pads at the moment, which is quite rogue. When I'm away from rugby, I like doing things that feel a little bit more girly. So I wear a lot more blazers, different prints and maxi skirts. Things that makes me feel like I'm not in sports kit all the time.

Do you think your style has changed since becoming a professional rugby player?

Yeah, it probably has actually. When I was younger, I didn't really express myself through my clothing – I was quite shy. I'd wear all the same colour just to go under the radar. Now I think now I'm a bit more experimental and expressive through my clothes. I'm still quite a shy person, but that's how I feel like I can express myself.

Is there anything that you incorporate from rugby style into your personal style?

I loved the rugby shirt trend when it first came around. I liked how different brands interpreted it - I had a striped one and a plain burgundy one. I also like wearing clothing from other countries. I know I probably shouldn't really do that, but I like when there’s a bit of a crossover.

I actually really like what they do in football because it's a bit more experimental and the kits can be more out there. Last summer I liked mixing things up by wearing skirts with rugby or football shirts, which was really cool.

Do you think feeling confident in what you wear off the pitch feeds into your confidence on it, or do you think that's just a completely separate thing?

Yeah, absolutely. I used to be quite shy, and while I didn't bring that onto the pitch, having a creative outlet off the pitch definitely helps. It’s really shown me who I am away from rugby. The more my confidence has grown off the pitch, the more it translates to my game.

Matchday Holly vs non-matchday Holly - how different are they style-wise?

They’re very different. Matchday is obviously team clothing, which Macron have done a really good job with. I feel like rugby can sometimes be quite one-dimensional with what we wear because it's always kit. But I love things like Macron’s teddy print training wear, or anything that makes me feel a bit less like I’m in a rugby setting.

Away from matchday my style is very different. I try to be as unrecognisable as possible, to be honest. That's the time to be more creative. I really lean into skirts and things like that a bit more, trying to bring a bit more femininity into my style.

Is there a piece in your wardrobe that you always come back to, or a piece that means something special to you?

I don’t think I have one specific piece. But I do have a routine where after a big achievement I buy myself something new – usually a bag. For example, I bought myself a bag after winning the World Cup. I think it’s quite cool to have something that represents that moment and keeps the memory attached to it.

Who or what inspires your style in any sort of way, whether that's teammates, social media, designers, or just life around you?

I spend a lot of time on TikTok and Instagram, so I get a lot of inspiration from there. I follow pages like SheerLuxe, Sapna Rowe and Molly-Mae because I love seeing what everyone's wearing. I have to give Evie Wills a shoutout as well because I think she’s really cool. She wears a lot of different pieces and prints and is really good at keeping up with trends.

My mum is definitely one of my style inspirations because she’s so cool. It’s funny when people say they’re embarrassed of their parents, because my mum is so into her fashion that I actually ask her for advice!

How important do you think it is for women’s rugby to show players’ personalities and style away from the pitch?

I think it's really important that players have space to express themselves and use it as a creative outlet. I use Instagram and TikTok as a way for people to me and what I’m actually interested in beyond rugby.

It’s also nice for young girls who might see us as role models to be able to relate to us through other interests like fashion.

What fashion trend would you bring back from the grave?

Everyone is hating on chokers, but I actually really liked them!