{"id":64560,"date":"2022-07-31T11:38:27","date_gmt":"2022-07-31T16:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=64560"},"modified":"2025-11-12T10:32:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:32:03","slug":"how-to-wear-a-polo-shirt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/style\/clothing\/how-to-wear-a-polo-shirt\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Wear a Polo Shirt With Style"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

With our archives now 3,500+ articles deep, we\u2019ve decided to republish a classic piece each Sunday to help our newer readers discover some of the best, evergreen gems from the past. This article was originally published in June 2017.<\/i><\/p>\n

The polo shirt is a true men’s style staple.<\/p>\n

Yet despite its ubiquity in the male wardrobe, it’s not a garment that typically comes in for much affection or enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

Perhaps this is because of the negative associations with which the polo shirt is laden. It is often thought of in terms of a uniform \u2014 either literally, as in the required get-up of a pizza delivery man or elementary school student, or metaphorically, as the go-to garb for corporate drones and preppy fraternity brothers. The polo is further seen as the default of the sartorially lazy \u2014 something a guy dons when an event requires a shirt with a collar, and he can’t be bothered to even button up an Oxford.<\/p>\n

Yet the polo deserves a little more love than it typically gets. Falling between a t-shirt and a dress shirt, it’s the perfect garment for the many events in life that aren’t at all formal, but aren’t outright casual either. It’s a great shirt for summertime first dates, backyard BBQs, and when you’re not sure exactly where the plans for your day or evening will take you.<\/p>\n

Even in terms of casual everyday wear, the cool, breathable polo shirt is just as easy and comfortable as a tee, but looks a notch more put together, so that swapping the former for the latter is a zero-effort way to upgrade your summer style<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And far from being blandly uniform, or only worn by one type of man, polos have been popular with widely varied groups, from Nantucket yachtsmen to West Coast skaters; there are different types of polos for different occasions, and they can be worn and styled in many different ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In other words, contrary to popular opinion, the polo shirt is quite versatile and can<\/em> be sartorially interesting. Truly, the polo shirt is clutch.<\/p>\n

Today we’ll take a look at how to elevate it beyond the realm of casual Fridays and suburban dad-dom \u2014 how to wear a polo with style.<\/p>\n

A Brief History of the Polo Shirt<\/h2>\n

\"Vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite the name by which it is now known, the polo shirt did not emerge from the \u201csport of kings\u201d but from the game of tennis.<\/p>\n

In its early days, tennis had a touch of aristocratic flare and was played in a get-up known as \u201ctennis whites\u201d \u2014 flannel trousers, a dress shirt (with sleeves rolled up), and even a tie. Thick, heavy, hot, and cumbersome, these garments obviously didn\u2019t lend themselves well to playing an active, outdoor sport.<\/p>\n

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Ren\u00e9 Lacoste decided to do something about this issue, creating his own ideal tennis shirt. Made of a comfortable, breathable \u201cjersey petit piqu\u00e9\u201d cotton, the white short-sleeved shirt eschewed buttons all the way down for a placket of three up top, and included a soft, unstarched collar that was still stiff enough to flip up to protect his neck from the sun. The flexible, lightweight shirt also had a longer tail in the back to keep it tucked into Ren\u00e9’s trousers.<\/p>\n

Lacoste debuted the shirt at the 1926 U.S. Open \u2014 which he won in both comfort and style. The following year, Lacoste, who was nicknamed \u201cthe Crocodile,\u201d adhered the now famous reptilian logo to the breast of the shirt. And in 1933, the retired player began to manufacture his garment for the masses.<\/p>\n

The \u201ctennis shirt\u201d caught on with other kinds of sportsmen, particularly polo players. These athletes had developed their own \u201cpolo shirt\u201d \u2014 the Oxford button-down (the buttons on the collar were designed to keep it from flapping in your face as you galloped about the field) \u2014 decades prior. But Lacoste\u2019s short-sleeve garment proved even more suitable to the game, and was so widely adopted that even tennis players began to refer to it as a \u201cpolo shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dwight<\/a>

The popularity of the polo was given a big boost when President Eisenhower was seeing wearing one. Golf courses began changing their dress codes to allow for polos on the course.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the 1950s, Lacoste began to offer the shirt, formerly only available in white, in a wider range of colors and brought the polo to America. It soon won widespread adoption by discerning sportsmen, particularly golfers, and then moved into the realm of everyday casual wear. The 50s also saw the rise of a competitor to Lacoste; fellow tennis champion Fred Perry introduced polos that had his soon-to-be iconic laurel wreath logo stitched instead of ironed on, and were adopted by English scooter-riding mods.<\/p>\n

An even fiercer competitor to Lacoste\u2019s polo dominance emerged in the 1970s. Designer Ralph Lauren named his line of WASP-y casual wear \u201cPolo,\u201d and a central piece of this collection consisted of, appropriately enough, polo shirts. As Lacoste and Lauren battled it out for dominance, the polo gained even more popularity, and became associated with the \u201cpreppy\u201d look of the 1980s.<\/p>\n

The polo shirt began to lose some of its cache in the 1990s, as it became the go-to get-up for casual Fridays, and corporations made it the actual uniform for workers ranging from customer service reps to waiters.<\/p>\n

Still, the polo has maintained its staying power, and continues to be worn by everyone from U.S. presidents on the golf course to rap moguls on stage.<\/p>\n

It should continue to be a mainstay in your everyday wardrobe too, as long as you wear it with style.<\/p>\n

How to Wear a Polo Shirt With Style<\/u><\/h2>\n

\"Vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

Fabric<\/h2>\n

There aren\u2019t too many technical details to know about the polo shirt, but it\u2019s helpful to have an understanding of the kinds of fabrics it comes in, particularly its two main types.<\/p>\n

Polos are available in a variety of materials from natural to synthetic. The latter often make up the performance blends used in polos specifically designed for athletic wear. Silk and silk blends are an option, but are not recommended, as they show your sweat easily, lose their color as they become wet, and just look rather cheesy. Polyester, or cotton\/poly blends extend the life of the shirt, but are less breathable, more stinky, and cheaper looking.<\/p>\n

\"Vintage

Wool and wool blends are often used in \u201cretro\u201d style polos, and make for shirts that look a little more formal and can be worn into chillier months.<\/p><\/div>\n

Given that polos are most commonly a warm weather staple, 100% cotton \u2014 with its cool, comfortable, breathable properties \u2014 is the most typical and most recommended fabric for these shirts. Cotton polos come in two main kinds:<\/p>\n

Pique<\/strong>. The original polo fabric, pique is knitted in a woven pattern that lends the material a textured surface. The fabric has some heft and heaviness, but the holes in the weave keep it breathable, and it resists showing your sweat. The sleeves typically terminate in a ribbed band\/cuff. With a little more substance and structure, the pique polo is a bit more formal and professional.<\/p>\n

Jersey<\/strong>. A jersey polo is made from the same kind of fabric used in t-shirts, and has the same flat, smooth, soft, stretchy feel. The sleeves of a jersey polo tend to end in a simple hem, rather than a distinct band. Lighter in weight, the jersey polo is cool but will show your sweat more, and is less durable. Its lightness and relaxed drape also give it a more casual vibe.<\/p>\n

Pique and jersey polos each have their own look and feel; overall, I reach for the jersey kind for comfort, and pique when I\u2019m doing something a notch up in formality.<\/p>\n

Fit<\/h2>\n

When it comes to wearing a polo shirt with style, the most important thing, as it is with all garments, is to really nail the fit<\/a>. Here are two criteria to check:<\/p>\n