The polo shirt is a simple piece of clothing. Every man has a selection in their closet. It can be a classy alternative to a T-shirt or it can look sloppy and ill-fitting when not selected properly.
The ubiquitous polo shirt can be the perfect garment for many events that don’t fall into either the casual or formal designation. It’s great for summertime dates, backyard BBQs and when you’re not exactly sure where your plans will take you.
It can also be seen as the boring drab uniform of elementary school students, pizza delivery guys, or corporate drones. It is often looked at as something one puts on when an event calls for a collar and you can’t be bothered with buttoning up an Oxford.
The truth is that polo shirts are extremely versatile and can be worn with style and panache.
History
The tennis great Rene Lacoste created the ideal tennis shirt. The tennis attire of the day consisted of flannel trousers, a dress shirt, and even a tie. These clothes were heavy, hot, and cumbersome. Not an ideal fit for an active sport like tennis.
Lacoste first wore the shirt at the 1926 US Open, which he won. The shirts proved so popular that in 1933 He began to manufacture the shirt for the masses.
So how do you wear a polo shirt with style?
Fabric
Polo shirts are most commonly worn in warm weather. Cotton with its cool comfortable properties is the most recommended fabric for these shirts.
Pima cotton, Egyptian cotton, and organic cotton are all popular fabrics for stylish polo shirts. These fabrics are known for their softness, durability, lustre and breathability. There is a reason that cotton is still the number one choice when it comes to polo shirts.
Synthetic fabrics have appeared in recent years, providing fast-drying properties. These fabrics are easy to care for and retain their shape well. Some of them are not as breathable as cotton and can be uncomfortable to wear in hot weather.
Fit
When it comes to wearing a polo shirt with style, the most important thing is to get the exact right fit.
The length should not hit further than halfway down your pants fly or your back pockets. It should be no higher than your hip and no lower than a few inches below your waist. The shirt should be long enough to tuck in and short enough that you can wear it untucked and not have it look like a nightshirt.
The sleeves should be about midway down your bicep. Overall the shirt should fit close to your body. The better shape you are in the closer the fit, but you don’t want it skin tight.
You can easily dress up a polo shirt by upgrading your slacks and shoes, and even adding a sport coat. Whether you dress it up or dress it down, polo shirts are easy to wear and flexible and are part of every well-dressed man’s wardrobe.
