How To Style Polo Shirt?
A polo should be worn with a comfortable, soft, and unstructured jacket, ideally with a natural fabric such as linen or cotton. Jackets made of structured wool will clash, too, with the casualness of the Polo. Choose a polo with a unicolor or subtle pattern; stripes or bold patterns are not appropriate and casual to wear with outerwear.
What Is A Polo Shirt?
A Polo shirt also referred to as a tennis or golf shirt, is a shirt that has short sleeves with a placket neckline with two to three buttons. Polo shirts are generally composed of cotton and other blends. They are essential for any wardrobe and are a staple of golf, tennis, and school outfit.
Polo shirts take their name from the polo athletes who played in India in the 19th century and Great Britain in the twentieth. Since then, the polo shirt has been an integral part of numerous trends in fashion. In the 2000s, the shirt was a major element of male fashion, appearing in offices as business casual menswear. Women put it on with a high-pitched collar for a more preppy style.
How to Wear Polo Shirts With Style?
1- Fabric
There aren’t a lot of specifics to learn about polo shirts. However, it’s useful to know the different types of fabric it comes in, especially its two main varieties.
Polos are made of different materials, ranging from synthetic to natural. They are often the blends of performance used in polo tops specifically designed to be worn by athletes. Silk blends and silk are a good alternative, but they’re not advised since they display sweat quickly, lose their color when they become wet, and look somewhat silly. Polyester or cotton/poly mix prolongs the garment’s life but is less breathable, more expensive, and smelly.
Since polos are often a staple for warm weather, 100% cotton- – with its cool, comfortable, and breathable characteristics -is the most popular and recommended fabric to wear these shirts. The cotton polos are available in two types:
Pique. The original polo fabric Pique is knitted using a woven pattern, which gives the fabric a smooth surface. The fabric is hefty and bulk, but its holes help keep it dry and do not show sweat. The sleeves are typically finished as a ribbed band or cuff. With a little more weight and structure, the pique polo can be somewhat more professional and formal.
Jersey. It is constructed out of the same fabric as t-shirts and is the same smooth, flat, and soft feel. The polo sleeves are usually finished in the form of a simple hem instead of having a distinct band. The lighter-weight jersey polo is fashionable, but it can show sweat more and is less durable. The lightness and lose drape give the impression of being more casual.
The jersey and pique polos come with their style and feel. Overall, I prefer the jersey polos for my ease of wearing and for wearing pique when doing something that’s a step up in formal attire.
2- Fit
When you’re looking to wear the perfect polo shirt, the most important factor to remember, just like with every garment you wear, is to nail the shape. Two criteria to be able to test:
- The length: the bottom of the hem of your shirt should not go further than halfway in your pants’ fly pockets or back pockets — not more than your hips and no less than a couple of inches below your waistband or belt; The shirt should be long enough so that you can tie it up and short enough to wear it loose without appearing like a nightgown.
- Sleeves: Should extend about midway towards your bicep. Not more than 2/3 of the upper arm.
The overall fit of the shirt should be near your body slim but not overly tight. It could be smaller around your arms and chest and taper down until your waist.
The better shape you’re in, the more snug the Polo will be; however, you should not make it to be too tight. It’s still possible to slip a couple of fingers between the sleeves.
Polo Shirt Dos And Don’ts
Don’t
- Wear an undershirt. The Polo is designed to be worn as a base layer on the body. However, an undershirt can add bulk beneath it. It can also peek through the neckline or collar. If you are wearing an undershirt, select an undershirt with a neckline that will not be noticeable.
- Layer polos upon polos. One Polo at a Please.
- Unzip the collar. The trend has since retreated; however, if you were in the mood, do not. It’s still considered to be a bit sexy. If you have to remove the collar during a brief event to protect your neck from the sun, you are free to do so.
- Select a shirt that has pockets, except when secured. The pocket on the front of the Polo might add some visual appeal, but it rarely is used, and it tends to lose its shape and sag, which can affect the crispness of the shirt. Don’t generally use pockets, except for those that feature flaps that are secured by buttons to keep them shut.
- Choose a shirt with a logo of a big size. Although we generally advise you to stay away from logos of corporations on clothing, a logo on the chest of shirts has been among its trademarks since the beginning, which makes them normal and more acceptable. Suppose you find one that doesn’t have a logo, then great. Otherwise, look to find ones that have logos that are elegant and small in size instead of imposing and garish.
- Wear a polo with a long-sleeved design. There are a variety of long-sleeved polo shirts, and although they could be able to make them look stunning however, I’ve never seen one that has. The Polo’s origins are that it is a short-sleeved shirt to wear in warm weather and for sporting activities. To extend the sleeves is against its fashion origins and is a bit odd, similar to the short-sleeved dress shirt that is ill-advised.
- Choose an athletic polo to wear for casual wear. Polos specifically designed for sports such as tennis or golf are made of synthetic performance fabrics and cut for easy movement. They’re ideal for playing on playing on the court or course but should not be worn in any other way than they are.
Do
- At a minimum, one of the buttons. If you have all the buttons unfinished, it is sloppy and messy. The latter is generally a good choice. A button-up shirt makes the shirt significant and can be, ironically, somewhat more of an “anti-establishment” look if that’s your goal.
- It is your choice to tuck or untuck according to the event. A polo shirt can be worn in either direction. Tugs naturally is a more formal appearance, and untucking looks more casual. If your shirt is longer in the back but shorter than the front, It was meant to be worn tied.
- Make sure you have a collection of basic, solid shades like black, blue, and white. It’s not a bad idea to wear a few polo shirts in these classic hues. Polos with stripes or contrasting colors on the sleeves’ bands or collar isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but they should be read as more casual, trendy, and youthful.
- Then, you can expand to vibrant and interesting hues. It is important to choose colors that are a bit different such as purples, pinks, and reds. You can also find greens and blues.
Tips For Wearing Polo Shirts
You can get the most value from your polo attire by following these simple guidelines:
- Find the proper size. Polo shirts should fit properly, not too tight, and not too loose. If you’re looking to show off your bicep, then go for a slim-fit shirt.
- Put your Polo on its own. Polos are casual clothes, so don’t wear one over the blazer. If you must wear a blazer, it’s appropriate to put it over the button-down shirt or dress.
- Make sure you dress smartly. Polos look best with more elegant jeans, chinos, or khakis. Avoid wearing them with casual clothing like joggers and sweatpants.
- Explore the various knits and fabrics. Polos are typically made of cotton, keeping you warm, while jerseys allow for more breathability and sports, as well as linen for a sleeker and more elegant appearance. Choose the fabric you prefer and match the other clothes in your closet.
How To Wear A Polo Shirt In 7 Fresh Ways
In a pseudo-statistical sense, the Polo shirt is among the most worn-in wardrobe items that aren’t likely to make men in hot clothes. It’s a calm background player that is safe and reliable but not much to get excited about.
It turns out that the Polo was not in a quiet way for long: it was evolving to make a grand return. Don’t forget the simple piques and slogan stag-do numbers. The polo shirt has been doing serious shape-shifting and is eager to take over every part of your closet. Again.
“The polo shirt has become shorthand for lazy, unthinking style in recent years,” says Paul Higgins, a menswear stylist who has worked with brands such as Reiss, Diesel, and Aquascutum. “Now though, more considered design options mean that wearing a polo shirt is no longer an unimaginative sartorial choice.”
1- Lose The Buttons
Unless you’re part of a tribute band to the indie genre and you’re in a tribute band, the collar of the polo shirt ought to be able to be opened as a default. The open collar of a polo shirt isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s fashion-conscious for a style that doesn’t have buttons on the collar. The benefit of this easy change is that removing these fastening gadgets stops the Polo shirt from emitting stag-do images. The result is a substantial dose of Riviera fashion.
Wear an open-collared polo shirt with loafers and chinos, and you’re living the old-fashioned Jetsetter life. Wear it with low-tops and wash jeans, and you’ll be riffing on the normcore style with a subtle reference to menswear from clubs.
To ensure that your clothes look stylish, opt for collars with an open design. Fittings that are on the more fitted side keep in keep in mind. The collar can sag if the polo shirt has too lot fabric.
2- Mix & Match With A Suit
In this age of casual wear and casual wear, the classic suit has suffered a little beating in the popularity stakes. A polo shirt might be perfect for the tailoring industry, a fresh coat of paint metaphorically
“Taken individually, the suit and polo shirt are pretty standard parts of a man’s sartorial line-up, but together they’re a classic example of how using your existing pieces in inventive ways can reap the rewards,” Says Higgins.
The process of claiming these benefits is easy. Beginning with a grey, navy, and black dress, you can wear a polo shirt instead of your suit and tie. It’s not difficult to decide on color because a tan polo that mimics the color of your suit can work equally well as a design that is contrast.
If you want to go extra-sophisticated, make sure your polo shirt, trousers, and blazer bring something new for the dining table. “Try teaming a pair of cream trousers, a taupe blazer, and a khaki green polo shirt together, then slip into some brown horse-bit loafers for the perfect smart but stylish summer look.”
3- Seek Out Stripes
If the sheer amount of retina-spearing bright menswear making the streets is any indication, minimalistic style is gone. That means, also polo shirts are getting the anti-subtle treatment, with a variety of patterns prominently and loudly proclaiming their presence.
“Bold polo shirts offer a mixed bag, but choose the right one, and your outfit will be noticed for all the right reasons,” says Higgins. The advice is simple: Vertical stripes will be the most reliable option. “Bold, block stripe polo shirts are just to raise interest and can be paired with chinos, jeans, trainers, and loafers without too much effort.”
Suppose you are worried about looking like a presenter from a children’s TV show and must choose only two colors for your Polo. Those who are more adventurous should consider the three-color stripe. To ensure that you’re not encouraging performing optical tricks, don an easy-going pair of light-wash jeans and basic white trainers.
4- Go Beyond The Pale
In the summer months, everyone has some added glow: We’re talking about tans and not sticky foreheads that need to look free. It’s the ideal time to brighten up your game of Polo (and every other) game.
Begin with a grey, white, or stone Polo. Instead of anchoring the look with dark trousers, go for white, cream, or stone chinos, then put your feet in stylish sneakers made of leather.
In general, the darker your complexion, the more subtle the shades you’ll be able to pull off, and you’ll have to be aware of this when choosing the right Polo. If you’re lighter and prefer white polos paired with lighter hues, then a pair of sand chinos is good, with the right amount of contrast.
5- Pair With Pleats
Despite being worn and misused by stag and holiday parties, The polo shirt has been a classic of the men’s wardrobe for a long time. You can easily rekindle some of that vintage appeal by acquiring pleated trousers to help you with your mission.
“Wearing a polo shirt with a pair of pleated trousers references some of the all-time menswear greats such as Cary Grant and Fred Astaire,” says Higgins. “Tucked into pleated trousers, the polo shirt shakes off its reputation for being the lazy man’s off-duty wardrobe item of choice.”
There’s no guarantee that you’ll be dry and home, but not yet: the polo-shirt style is a must-have to keep you from being a matchmaker with grandpa. You should opt for pleated trousers that are towards the slimmer end, opt for a polo shirt that has some aesthetic appeal (textured or slub weave or printed), and pick trainers over fashionable shoes.
6- Try Terry Towelling
The terry-toweling polo shirts aren’t a new thing. It’s right up alongside braces and pork pie hats: it’s old-fashioned. However, an unfathomable drop in popularity since its peak has made it prime to be picked by new generations of males.
Although it’s a polo-shirt-shaped towel, it’s got more class and prestige than your typical Aristocrat. It’s an extremely simple method to make your appearance more sophisticated without even doing anything.
The best thing about the toweling Polo made of terry is that it is simple. Wear a light pink design with block-colored pants (navy or white work) with a pair of leather sandals, and you’ll create outfits for the holidays that appear like they’re easy to pull off.
7- Pick Out Piping
Due in no small measure to the youngest fashion influential Prince George, piping (once only seen in school uniforms) is back in the fashion world of men and provided polo shirts with a needed adrenaline boost.
“Despite being a pretty simple concept, piping at the collar and cuffs of your polo shirt offers a big impact wardrobe-wise,” says Higgins. “Nodding to old-school style, piping will simultaneously smarten up off-duty looks and make sure you stand out in a sea of identikit dressers.”
Also, the piped polo shirts know how to be nice and can be worn well with shorts, just as jeans. They can also be worn tucked in or untucked the way you like. Pick a white or navy style that riffs on the familiar fashion.
FAQ’s
What goes well with a polo shirt?
Polos look best with dressier jeans, chinos, or khakis; stay away from wearing them with joggers or sweatpants that are more casual.
How can I make my polo shirt look better?
Wear your untucked polo with khaki flat front shorts, canvas sneakers, a field watch, and a pair of aviator sunglasses for the ultimate laid-back ensemble. To avoid seeming like you’re wearing a corporate or school uniform, replace the shorts with dark denim or chinos to add a little more sharpness.
What pants go best with polo shirt?
For maintaining the overall impression of the style, neutrals work best. Great pairings include black pants with a light grey polo, grey pants with a white polo, and white pants with a blue polo. A blazer may even look good worn over the top without being out of place.
How do you style a polo casual?
Polo shirts are the perfect piece of clothing for casual settings. When worn with jeans, sweatpants, or shorts, they look fantastic. For a laid-back Miami attitude, you can also choose to wear a wide variety of shoe types like loafers, sneakers, boat shoes, and espadrilles.
Should I tuck polo into jeans?
Dark jeans or chinos are excellent choices for an elegant-casual look. You can wear your polo tucked in for a more polished appearance, again depending on the situation. Make sure that the shirt’s style is appropriate for wearing it untucked if you plan to. Polo shirts often have a longer back so they may be comfortably tucked in.