How To Wear a Polo the Right Way
Polo shirts are staples of the modern man's wardrobe. In fact, polo t-shirts have been popular for decades, first appearing as tennis-exclusive shirts and quickly expanding into the official wardrobe selections for sports like golf. Over time, polo shirts became synonymous with the smart casual style both on and off sports fields.
Nowadays, they’re considered to be a cross between a button-down and a dress shirt. Ralph Lauren popularized polos as good menswear options for casual occasions when you want to avoid baggy shirts or sport a more formal look. They strike a great balance between a laid-back style and a professional take on men’s fashion.
You can find quality polo shirts in dozens of colors, fits, and styles. For many guys, this can be a little overwhelming! If you want to know how to wear a polo the right way, you’ve come to the right place.
8 Tips To Look Your Best in a Polo Shirt
If you want to look slick and stylish in any polo shirt, you should keep the below eight tips in mind when buying your shirts and when wearing them.
1. Choose the Right Materials
For starters, always choose the right polo shirt materials. Polo shirts are available in lots of different fabrics, such as cotton, silk, and silk blends. These aren't necessarily recommended, since they show your sweat stains and can lose color as they become wet.
You should also stay away from polyester or cotton-polyester blends. These may extend the life of a polo shirt, but they look and feel cheap and can smell after a while.
A better choice is tasc’s proprietary bamboo and cotton blend. This unique blend is comfortable, moisture-wicking, and ultimately breathable. That means you can rest assured that our polo shirts will stay comfortable and cool throughout the day, even if you wear them in the hot summer sun.
2. Find the Perfect Fit
Choosing the right polo fit is also important to mastering men’s style. You should check two specific criteria when making sure a given polo shirt fits properly:
- Shirt length. Ideally, your polo shirt's bottom hem should only reach halfway down your pants fly or back pockets. It should be no higher than the hip and only a few inches below the waistband or belt. In other words, you need to be able to tuck your polo shirt in or wear it untucked, depending on your preferences
- Sleeve length. Polo shirt sleeves should reach midway down the bicep and not be any longer than 2/3 down your upper arm
Remember, polos look great if they stick closely to your body without being too tight. This gives them a fitted, tailored appearance, especially around the chest and arms.
3. Polos Look Best Without an Undershirt
To make your casual outfit really stand out, wear a polo without an undershirt. The best polos can be worn freestyle, particularly if you pick a nice color that complements your skin tone and accessories.
4. Experiment With Patterned Polos
While most polo shirts come in plain colors, others may come with patterns like crossed lines, checkers, or something else.
You might want to experiment with patterned polos from time to time. If nothing else, you can spice up your wardrobe or enjoy casual Fridays at work with the right patterned polo tee.
5. Polos Are Perfect Golfing Apparel
Also key to wearing a polo correctly is wearing it on the right occasions. While you can wear it to other sports, it’s perfect for golf games with your friends or your boss. Polo shirts are ideal since they can be tucked in without feeling restrictive. Plus, they look and feel great if they’re made with the right materials!
Pair your polo golf shirt with a golfing visor, some tailored slacks, and some soft spike shoes, and you'll have a great golfing ensemble ready to go the next time you need to play your way to the top of the corporate ladder.
6. Polos Are Typically Worn During Spring or Summer
Here’s a good rule of thumb: Don’t wear a polo shirt in cold weather. Not only do polo shirts fail to insulate your body heat against the bitter winds of the latter half of the year, they also can look out of place next to sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and other cold-weather outerwear.
Instead, it’s better to wear polo shirts in the spring and summer months, when the weather is warm or refreshingly cool. Polo shirts also go well with other spring and summer clothing staples, such as shorts and sneakers.
7. One Button Buttoned Is the Rule of Thumb
Many polo shirts have a row of vertical buttons that run down the center. The question is: How many buttons should be buttoned up?
Ideally, one button should be buttoned. Even if you have a bit of chest hair, you should never clasp more than one button on a polo shirt if you want to look as stylish as possible. Part of the appeal of polos is that they break apart a bit down the chest, showing a little skin without being immodest.
8. Rock a Polo With the Right Shorts, Slacks, and Shoes
Of course, there’s more to wearing a polo shirt than just selecting the right fit and style. You also need to choose the right accessories and other clothing articles to go with it!
Good news: Stylish guys can wear a lot of stuff and look great in polo shirts. Let’s take a look at a few combo examples:
- In terms of footwear, boat shoes are excellent fits for casual or semi-casual affairs. White sneakers, Converse, loafers, and similar shoes are also top-tier if you want to look smart casual and be comfortable enough to walk around downtown
- Preppy shorts that fall just above the knee look great, particularly in the spring and summer
- You can wear jeans if you absolutely must, but khakis, chinos, or tailored slacks look a lot better. Remember, the point of a polo shirt is to look smart casual, not overly casual
- A good watch and a pair of sunglasses should round out just about any outfit and make you look great no matter what you plan to do for your day
Naturally, remember to keep the color of your polo shirt in mind when choosing your shorts, shoes, and other articles. Complementary colors that work well with your polo tee’s main shade will make you look better than ever.
For example, if you have a white polo, other light colors will go well with it. Dark long sleeve polos should benefit more from darker accessories.
You can wear blazers with polo shirt styles, but only if it’s cool enough out.
The Perfect Polo for Every Man
Ultimately, wearing a polo the right way means:
- Choosing the right fit and style for your build
- Selecting the perfect color
- Pairing your polo shirt with complementary articles, like smart shorts and shoes
Of course, you’ll need to pick out the perfect polo for your build or unique style preferences. Tasc Performance can help!
Our selection of quality men’s polo T-shirts is perfect whether you want to put together a golfing outfit or wear a polo in style at the movies or on a date. More importantly, our polo T-shirts are made with the same focus on sustainability and organic materials as our other offerings. Check out this selection today!
Sources:
Polyester clothes stink after exercise; cotton, not so much | ScienceDaily