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There was a time, not so long ago, when the term WAG had fallen out of favour. Photos of Coleen, Cheryl and Abbey descending upon Baden-Baden, tottering under the weight of big hair and even bigger Birkin bags, seemed like relics from a distant past – a different time. Fortunately, those dark days are over, and maximalist WAG style is back, embraced once more by a new generation of football stars’ number one supporters.
Leading the pack is Tolami Benson, fiancée of beloved Arsenal and England player Bukayo Saka. With her immaculate glam and penchant for custom looks, Benson has been credited with reviving WAG style – albeit with a distinctly Gen Z twist.
For England’s opening game of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday night, Benson chose a pair of upcycled jorts featuring a frayed lion and the number 87 embroidered by the sustainability-focused redesign service Loom – a nod to Saka’s shirt number back when he made his Arsenal debut.
It’s not the first time Benson has stolen the show from her spot in the stands. The 25-year-old wore a custom leather biker jacket by Antonia Bronze at the 2024 Euros, again emblazoned with the number 87 layered over a Diesel top. The snaps went viral, and the press swiftly crowned her “WAG of the Year”.
While sustainability likely wasn’t at the forefront of Cheryl or Coleen’s minds back in 2006, 20 years on, Tolami’s take on WAG style feels like a far more fitting approach to contemporary pitch-side glamour.
At the Three Lions’ victory over Croatia, her upcycled shorts acted as 2026’s answer to Victoria Beckham’s legendary “England Rocks” vest, which VB famously styled with a ludicrously capacious Birkin. Tolami carried a Chanel bag with her custom denim, proving that wile the aesthetic may have evolved, the (luxury) foundations of WAG style will never change.