What should a man wear with a polo shirt?

The first ever garment to feature the logo on the outside was the Lacoste crocodile polo shirt. In 2023, the French brand founded by René Lacoste will celebrate its 90th anniversary. The prototype of the short-sleeved T-shirt with a collar and a button placket that we are accustomed to was a thick cotton polo shirt that was used at the end of the 19th century in Manipur (a native principality within British India), and later in Britain itself.

In England, the outerwear was slightly modified - a collar and buttons were added to the sleeves, which were worn rolled up. Tennis players went out on the court in this form until 1930, when French tennis legend Jean Rene Lacoste introduced his version of the top with short sleeves and a starched collar. The first polo set was made for the personal use of a tennis player. And mass production of polo shirts was launched only in 1933, after René Lacoste merged with the largest knitwear manufacturer in France, André Gillier. At that time, he founded a brand under his own name - Lacoste. All polo shirts without exception were decorated on the chest with a logo in the form of a small crocodile.

Why a crocodile?
The whole point is that the company's logo is associated with the nickname of its founder. For his strong character, tenacious grip on the court and unusually shaped nose, Rene Lacoste's friends nicknamed him "crocodile". Therefore, the future founder of the trademark had no doubts about what would be the calling card of his brand.

The polo shirt was destined for a bright future. Since its inception, it has never gone out of fashion and has become one of the most practical items in men's and women's wardrobes. And today, the polo is considered the most versatile piece of clothing ever invented by man. It goes well with everything in your wardrobe and can be used for any occasion. And in terms of style and appeal, the polo is 10 steps ahead of the regular T-shirt.

From this publication you will learn:

1. What do polo shirts go well with?
2. How to wear a polo shirt?
3. How to choose a polo shirt by size and style?
4. Types of polo shirts, and what are their differences?

1. WHAT DO POLO SHIRT GO WELL WITH?

Who would have thought that the polo, which was created as an alternative to the long-sleeved tennis shirt, would become a wardrobe staple in half a century, perfectly leveling the difference between urban casual and elegant casual clothing styles.

It is not for nothing that they say that a polo shirt is a balance between comfort, individuality and style. It is compatible with almost any clothing, and works perfectly with the three fundamental styles of clothing: classic, romantic and sporty (and, accordingly, with all the others that are derivatives of the basic ones). The main thing is to choose the right color and stick to one empirical rule.

The "right" color is the one that matches your color type. And the rule of thumb is to avoid monochromatic color combinations when choosing a top and bottom. In other words, if you don't want to end up with a boring look, stay away from choosing the same color for your polo and pants.

The polo and jeans ensemble is considered a "classic". This duo looks amazing, but there are other options for creating equally stylish informal and formal looks.

If you want to look a little conservative, combine a polo with classic straight trousers with arrows, choosing shoes without a fastener, for example, loafers or lace-up shoes - oxfords, derbies.

Pair a polo with denim items if you want to get a stylish casual look. Any jeans (skinny, straight, wide, flared), shorts and capris will work well. For footwear, use sneakers, trainers, slip-ons, sneakers, high-tops.

For the office. If you spend most of your time in the office, but are a fan of a stylish and democratic polo, combine it with a jacket or blazer. And to comply with the dress code as much as possible, tuck the polo shirt into the trousers and button up all the buttons except the top one. As for shoes, you can wear derby shoes. And if you like to experiment, finish the look with white sneakers, bringing a little dynamism to the image.

Polo is perfect for active summer recreation, be it: a picnic, a bike ride, a yacht ride, a city tour. For these and other outdoor activities, you can wear a polo with shorts, cropped jeans, saks, light linen trousers. Any comfortable option will do as footwear, for example, a topsider, sandals, flip-flops, moccasins.

2. HOW TO WEAR A POLO SHIRT CORRECTLY?

With classic trousers and a suit, a polo shirt is worn tucked in. But there is an exception to this rule.

• If you think that wearing a polo shirt untucked with trousers improves your look, wear it untucked.
• A fairly tight and short polo shirt can be worn untucked even with a suit.

In other cases, the T-shirt can be worn at your discretion: loose, tucked in, unbuttoned, fully buttoned or partially buttoned. Each of the options creates its own outfit. The main thing is the combination: what you wear the polo with will determine your image.

A polo shirt with the buttons undone gives a fresh, sophisticated look and can make you look like you just stepped off the golf course.

This garment looks good in multi-layered looks. For a casual look, wear a polo under fitted denim or a bomber jacket, and for a more sophisticated look - under a jacket.

Plain polos without a logo but with an unusual placket design or an extra pocket look very impressive. These and other decorative elements add uniqueness to the product and make the appearance more stylish.

3. HOW TO CHOOSE A POLO SHIRT BY SIZE AND STYLE?

The key to wearing this shirt elegantly is getting the fit right. This depends on how accurately you choose the size and style, which in turn depends on your body type.

There are three styles of polo shirts:

1. Classic style (classic) - a looser cut, as well as a wide and long sleeve that can reach the elbow. The T-shirt itself is also quite long. This model is designed for large (full) and tall men.
2. Standard style (custom) - narrower and shorter than the classic. Cut - straight or slightly fitted. Sleeves are of medium length. This polo suits men with a standard or athletic figure.
3. A slim fit is an even narrower model that sits flat on the figure or is form-fitting. The length of the product is short, the sleeve is approximately to the middle of the bicep or slightly higher. The slim polo looks great on men of athletic build.

As with any other clothing, the most important thing is to choose the right size. A polo should not be too tight, too wide or too long. When choosing a T-shirt, pay attention to the width of the shoulders, the volume of the torso, the length and volume of the sleeves, as well as the overall length of the product.

1. Shoulder width. Just like a classic shirt, the shoulder seams of a polo should run exactly along the shoulder bone. If they fall onto the shoulders, it’s not your size.
2. Torso volume. Even in a fitted version, the T-shirt should not fit tightly around the torso - there should be some freedom.
3. Sleeve length. The optimal sleeve length for a polo is the middle of the biceps (+/- 2 cm). Structurally, the bottom of the sleeves ends with a knitted elastic band, which should touch the biceps, and not fit tightly.
4. Sleeve volume. Check how easily your finger fits between the sleeve and the body. If it takes a lot of effort, it is not your size.
5. The right length. Note that all polo styles always have a slightly longer back than the front. This design allows for a better look if you plan to wear the shirt tucked in. The length of the product along the back should not fall below the middle line of the buttocks, and the length along the front should not exceed the middle of the trouser fastener. Both sizes can be slightly higher, but not lower, otherwise the product will look baggy (that is, the size is not yours).

What do you need to know about polo collars?
They come in soft and hard. The first ones are made of elastic knit. During use, the edges of the collar often curl and look sloppy. The second ones are made of the same knitwear as the main polo fabric. Such collars do not lose their shape because they are stitched in the style of a shirt.

4. TYPES OF POLO SHIRTS AND WHAT ARE THEIR DIFFERENCES?

There are as many varieties of this T-shirt as there are polo manufacturers in the world. "Promo", "Standard", "Premium", "Prince", "Trizar", "Redford"... from Prado, Giorgio Armani, Missoni, Michael Kors.

Some differ only in the decorative trim on the placket. Others have slits on the sides, trimmed with braid. Others have a three-button placket in the same color as the shirt. And others have a collar and sleeve edges that contrast with the main color of the T-shirt. There is a "Navy Polo" - clothing that is not susceptible to wind. And there is a "Dinner Polo" - a product made of the most delicate knitwear with a fine texture and trim. These and other polo models are varied, but they all follow some general rules for polos.

• Firstly, a polo is always strict and restrained.
• Secondly, a polo can be only with short or only with long sleeves.
• Fourthly, polos can be sports (for golf, tennis, rugby) and for everyday wear.
• Fifthly, the composition of the fabric, the presence of decor and design elements determine the season of the clothes and the degree of formality of the future image.

So, by sleeve type there are: long-sleeved polo shirts and short-sleeved polo shirts.

A long sleeve polo is a regular polo with long sleeves, like a jumper or button-down shirt. The cuffs can be: elasticated from a knitted rib, semi-rigid stitched from the main material, and rigid from the main material with buttons. Long-sleeved polos are typically heavyweight items. They are made from jersey, which is heavier than cotton but lighter than a wool sweater or pullover. The garments are ideal for a cool day.

Short-sleeved polos are among the most common. The collar can be elastic or rigid, turn-down or stand-up (with buttons). The placket can contain from two to four buttons. Short-sleeved polos look great on athletic men, effectively emphasizing a trained body.

In addition to the fact that polos are available in various colors, prints, designs and sleeve lengths, clothes can be selected by the type of fabric. For everyday wear, use: polo pique, wool, linen, silk and cotton products. And for sports - polo made of sports knitwear. Let's dwell on the most popular options in a little more detail.

Polo Pique

Pique is a dense cotton fabric. The material has a unique relief structure reminiscent of a waffle. Double knitting technology of pique allows manufacturers to combine threads of different colors to create an original design. Pique is breathable, so it is perfect for the warm season. The material is durable and quite elastic. The second name of pique is marcella. It looks very elegant.

Cotton polo

They are made from cotton with a small amount of synthetics. They are quite durable, stretchy enough, breathe well, and absorb moisture well. These are the most affordable products.

Linen Polo Shirt

Linen polos are informal and are usually associated with spring and summer. They can be cheap or very expensive. However, it should be noted that the cheapest linen polos are significantly more expensive than the cheapest cotton and/or synthetic polos. The best linen polos are very durable.

Silk Polo

A comfortable, light and pleasant to the body T-shirt. Pure silk itself is not used, but diluted with linen or cotton. Depending on the composition, it can have a matte or glossy shine. Looks expensive.

Sports polo

Used for its intended purpose - to play polo, tennis or golf. Made from sports jersey - breathable, elastic and durable fabric that wicks away sweat well and dries quickly. The sports polo has short sleeves, a straight or slightly fitted cut, a short fastener with a stand-up collar.

Rugby Polo

Durable, wear-resistant, long-lasting. Capable of withstanding force, speed, aggression - all those factors that are inherent in a contact sport with increased injury risk. They have their own signature style - wide horizontal stripes of different colors with an emblem or team logo on one side of the chest. Rugby sports polos have long sleeves that protect the body from friction and strong elastic cuffs. And sports-style T-shirts are made with short sleeves.

Summing Up

So, a polo, as an item of outerwear, occupies a middle position between a shirt and a T-shirt. Like a T-shirt, it is sewn from knitted fabric and is put on over the head. At the same time, like a shirt, it has a collar, a button-down fastening and a long sleeve with buttons.

• Looks strict and elegant.
• Usable for any occasion.
• Can be worn loose or tucked in.
• Pairs well with casual and formal attire.
• It's way ahead of the average t-shirt in terms of style and appeal.

The question: "What shoes to wear with a polo?" is also not difficult. Traditionally, shoes are chosen to go with the bottom. If you combine a polo with a jacket and classic trousers, choose borg shoes or loafers. In tandem with jeans - sneakers, slip-ons, sneakers, high-tops. Topsiders and moccasins will be comfortable for lovers of cars and long walks. Textile slippers - in summer ensembles with shorts, and sneakers and trainers in sports looks. All this allows us to call the polo the most versatile and practical item of outerwear, worthy of being a mandatory element of the basic wardrobe.