FASHION

THE HISTORY OF TERRACE STYLE

By Lizzie Griffin, 22 June 2026

The football aesthetic has been on our FYPs for a while now – but with the biggest tournament in global football having just kicked off, it's about to dominate your wardrobe for the rest of summer. Yep, we're talking terrace style. It's a look with origins that go way back, so get comfy and we'll take a deep-dive into the who, where and whys of this storied subculture.

Picture: Getty

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

We're throwing it back the late 1970s, when Liverpool dominated European football and its footie-obsessed fans started following their team across Europe. Whether they won or lost, they'd always do a bit of shopping, bringing back the latest trainers and branded threads that weren’t yet available in the UK. Soon enough, it was all about one-upmanship – the goal was to find pitch-side-approved ‘fits, and you got extra points for wearing a branded piece that one else had. Fans would turn up to the terrace decked out in the latest adidas Sambas or Gazelles, or sought-after sportswear brands like Lacoste, ellesse, Fila and Fred Perry. The look spread to other teams, and the subculture became known as the Casuals. By the 90s, their style had gone mainstream with premium and designer labels like Stone Island and Burberry making their way onto the terrace.

BRINGING IT INTO 2026

'Within fashion history, [the Casuals] were the first group that took sportswear and wore it as high-end fashion,' explains curator Martin Pel in the documentary Casuals (2011). More recently, the Casuals' trademark style has seen a resurgence beyond the terraces, with luxury brands adopting terrace style and football shirts, sportswear brands and blokecore filling up our feeds. Scroll to see how we're doing it in 2026.

Picture: Getty

Picture: ASOS

GIRLIE DETAILS

Whether or not you're heading out to watch a game, a football top is definitely going to be a fixture in your summer 2026 rotation. Throw one on (our shirred ASOS DESIGN styles are especially good) with a bright maxi skirt for a colour-blocked look, and don't forget to accessorise.

GET THE LOOK:

ASOS DESIGN shirred baby tee with Spain football graphic in red, £22

ASOS DESIGN lace hem sheer midi skirt in blue, £30

Pull&Bear Flower hair clip in pale blue, £8.99

Pull&Bear Embellished macramé tote bag in ecru, £27.99

Influencer in Germany Shirt, Jorts and Trainers

Picture: Getty

Model in top and checked skirt|ASOS Style Feed

Picture: ASOS

BUSINESS CASUALS

Sportswear meets the office? OK, we’re convinced. Layer premium sporty pieces (you know, like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren and Fred Perry) with a tailored shirt and a slouchy handbag like influencer Julia Kammerer. Complete the ‘fit with statement trainers and don't forget to add fun accessories – we love Julia's neon sunglasses and blue hair clips.

GET THE LOOK:

adidas Football Germany World Cup 26 away shirt in navy, £85

Topshop barrel jort in blue black, £40

Topshop oversized shirt in blue stripe, £38

adidas Originals Samba trainers in leopard print, £100

Picture: Getty

adidas originals blue sambas|ASOS Style Feed

Picture: ASOS

COLOUR-POP 3-STRIPES

They think it's all over... but Sambas, Spezials and Gazelles aren't going anywhere this summer, trust us. No match day is complete without a pair of adidas Originals – just ask Hailey Bieber. And with so many colourways to choose from, the hardest part is choosing just one.

GET THE LOOK:

adidas Originals Samba OG trainers in light blue and cream, £95

Levi's cinch baggy jeans in light blue, £70

Mango starring Hailey Bieber funnel neck bomber jacket in electric blue, £79.99