IN DEFENCE OF THE 2006 WAG 'FITS

You don't need to be an armchair expert to know that UK football has been on the up this year. While the England lineup has raised some eyebrows, no one can deny the strengths of squad members like Declan Rice and Harry Kane. But it’s not just the football that’s worth watching – take a look pitch-side and you’ll see some elite levels of styling from the WAGs. Enter: Tolami Benson. Regularly spotted in the stands supporting her fiancé Bukayo Saka, Tolami has been reinventing terrace style with denim co-ords and statement jackets. In doing so, she’s reminding us that WAG culture is part of the tapestry of the beautiful game. And who walked so Tolami could run? The WAGs of 2006, that’s who. Deep-dive, incoming!

Picture the scene: it’s 2006. The England squad have arrived in Germany for the biggest football event of the year. They’ve brought their wives and girlfriends (the WAGs) for support, including Victoria Beckham (AKA Posh Spice), Coleen Rooney and Cheryl Cole, and they’re all staying in the sleepy spa town of Baden-Baden. Celebrity culture is peaking and the tabloids have a field day papping them everywhere – dancing on tables in nightclubs, working out and shopping HARD. Everything about them is criticised – especially their outfits. In fact, when England get knocked out, they get the blame for distracting the players.

Fast-forward to 2026: high-fashion collabs are connecting football and style more closely than ever, and the WAGs' Y2K style – think oversized shades, low-rise jorts and logo tops – is firmly back on the agenda. It looks like a reappraisal of the Posh/Cheryl/Coleen triumvirate is seriously overdue – so check out the 2006 moments that were actually way ahead of their time.

Nike England World Cup 26 Crest logo t-shirt in white, £49.99
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We love how Victoria Beckham chose to wear a vest with ‘England Rocks’ plastered across the front – it’s giving supportive gf. This paired with the micro shorts (which made a comeback on Prada's SS26 runway) and the oversized shades? It's all so Y2K-coded and we can't get enough. Update it for 2026 with the latest match-ready jerseys.

COLLUSION loose denim jorts in mid wash, £19.99

Everything about Coleen here feels like a throwback: the quiff ponytail hairdo, the tie-waist belt with the boho details, and of course, the jorts, which are huge this year, literally and figuratively. Why not add a pair to your summer rotation?

Von Dutch vd logo trucker cap in pink, £39
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If you love the Y2K details, then commit to the bit. Cheryl loved a trucker hat, a chunky heart-shaped necklace and a stand-out handbag to match. We suggest starting with a Von Dutch cap to channel your inner WAG.

Ed Hardy womens art for life perforated moto jacket in red and black, £120

If you were on the fence about motocross jackets, come join us on Team Tolami. She showed up to the first England match of the Euros in 2024 in the most iconic custom leather biker jacket that incorporated the UK’s flag colours – plus, it was daubed with the number 87, which was once Saka’s Arsenal shirt number. It's official: WAG fever is back.