I always thought of polo shirts as something for golf courses or school uniforms, nothing to do with me, until I borrowed one off a friend for a car boot sale because everything else I owned was in the wash. Comfortable, didn't need ironing, and I didn't spend the whole day pulling at a neckline. That was the end of my snobbery about them.
Colour wise I steer towards navy, a soft stone or a proper bottle green rather than anything too crisp or too pale. White looks brilliant on the hanger and shows every bit of tea, foundation and whatever your day throws at it within the hour. A knitted polo in a heathered grey or a muted rust is the easiest thing to wear without thinking about it, and it hides a multitum of creases that a cotton pique one won't forgive.
These sit well with jeans, obviously, but the combination I reach for more in autumn is a knitted polo under a collarless coat, with the collar just peeking out at the neck. In summer I wear one with a cotton skirt and flat sandals and it looks like I've made an effort without having made any effort at all. They're also handy layered under a sleeveless jumper on days that can't decide what season they're in, which round here is most of them.
Before you buy, check the collar holds its shape rather than rolling flat after one wash, that's the thing that tells you whether it'll still look smart in a month or start looking like a crumpled bit of old school uniform. Have a feel of the placket too, the bit with the buttons, because on cheaper ones it can pull and gape across the chest no matter what size you've gone for. With knitted styles specifically, stretch the hem gently in the shop. Some spring back fine, some give up and go wavy by the second wear, and you want to know that before you've handed over your money, not after.
They struggle a bit in the height of summer if the fabric's too thick, and in proper cold they're more of a layering piece than something that'll do a job on their own, so don't expect one to replace a jumper when it's genuinely freezing. Spring and early autumn are really where they come into their own, worn alone on a mild day or doubled up when it turns.
Next time you're looking at one, check the collar first, how it sits and whether it keeps its shape when you fold it back, because everything else about how smart the shirt looks depends on that.
Yellow Polo Shirts We Love Right Now
Yellow Short Sleeve Polo Shirts That Make Outfits Feel New
Yellow Cotton Polo Shirts: What We’d Buy Now
White Short Sleeve Polo Shirts We Think You’ll Love
The White Ribbed Polo Shirts Shortlist
The Edit: White Cotton Polo Shirts
The V Neck Polo Shirts We’re Eyeing Up This Season
The Best Looking Striped Polo Shirts Out There
Slim Fit Polo Shirts: Our Current FavoritesAlso worth a lookKnitted Polo ShirtsKnitted polo shirts look neat as anything on the rail, close knit, proper collar, that little row of…See the collections →
The Silk Polo Shirts on Our Wishlist
Short Sleeve Polo Shirts: The Edit
Ribbed Polo Shirts That Tick Every Box
Red Short Sleeve Polo Shirts That Make Outfits Feel New
The Only Red Cotton Polo Shirts You Need to See
Where to Find the Best Purple Cotton Polo Shirts
Polo Shirts With Real Wardrobe Staying Power
The Best Pink Short Sleeve Polo Shirts to Shop Now
Pink Polo Shirts That Go With EverythingAlso worth a lookShirtsA good shirt sits flat across the back and skims the chest without pulling at the buttons, so from across a room it reads crisp rather than strained.See the collections →
Our Shortlist of Pink Cotton Polo Shirts
Orange Short Sleeve Polo Shirts We Rate
Our Top Orange Polo Shirts Right Now
The Orange Cotton Polo Shirts Shortlist
Navy Polo Shirts on Our Radar
Our Go To Navy Cotton Polo Shirts
Long Sleeve Polo Shirts: Our Honest Shortlist
Knitted Polo ShirtsKnitted Polos That Go With Everything
The Jersey Polo Shirts We Keep Going Back ToAlso worth a lookT-ShirtsThe one I reach for is the one already on the chair from yesterday, not folded, just there,…See the collections →
Gray Polo Shirts We’re Adding to Basket
Gray Ribbed Polo Shirts Edited Down to the Best
Easy Gray Cotton Polo Shirts for Everyday Wear
Shop Our Favorite Green Short Sleeve Polo Shirts
Handpicked Green Polo Shirts We Keep Coming Back To
Green Long Sleeve Polo Shirts to Wear With Your Favorite Jeans
Green Cotton Polo Shirts That Go With Everything
The Floral Polo Shirts We Keep Going Back To
