Few combinations are more classic than straight-leg jeans and ballet flats. But anyone with good style will tell you that, to keep their wardrobe looking current each season, they incorporate of-the-moment trends, often pairing them with the aforementioned classic pieces. It seems that Julia Roberts can count herself among them, given her choice to wear a retro-striped polo shirt.
Roberts was recently spotted on the streets of New York City, blending in (as much as one of the world’s most recognizable actresses can) with the well-dressed residents of Manhattan. She wore the classic combination of straight-leg blue jeans and ballet flats (the minimalist, glove-like style of ballet flats that’s so popular right now). The retro-striped polo shirt she wore on top is poised to be an even bigger trend than it already is by fall.
The fashion crowd has fully embraced retro-striped tees and polos in 2026, and countless cool brands are on board. Roberts opted for a knitwear-style iteration by TWP, which added a distinctive 2026 look to her basics and undoubtedly made her outfit stand out among the sea of plain-tee-jeans-ballet-flats outfits. Scroll on to see how effective the shirt trend is for yourself, and shop my curation of cool retro-striped polo shirts to wear now and this fall.
The Trend on Julia Roberts
(Image credit: BrosNYC/Backgrid)
On Julia Roberts: TWP SS Polo Sweater With Stripes ($625); Alex Mill The Perfect Weekday Tote ($175)


































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