There is no form of athletic wear that looks classier than a polo shirt. Collared, with a placket neckline and three buttons, these shirts are normally worn to play golf or tennis. They are dressy enough for a country club but casual enough to wear while participating in sports.
Polo shirts have never really gone out of style. They have gone through several incarnations over the years. There are a few different ways to wear a polo shirt. There are some current trends of which you should be aware if you are a polo shirt enthusiast.
History of the Polo Shirt
People used to wear white long sleeve shirts and long white pants to play golf or tennis. Famed tennis player, René Lacoste designed the very first polo shirt which he wore to a US Open championship in 1926.
Known As “the Crocodile” by fans, Lacoste quickly capitalized on his invention by decorating his shirts with a crocodile logo.
With its short sleeves and breathable material, the shirt was much better for playing sports that involve moving one’s arms. When turned down, the collar had a dressy look; when turned up, it offered the wearer neck protection from the sun.
Today, you will see polo shirts worn on many different occasions. They come in long and short sleeves and are worn by both men and women.
Polo Shirt Trends in Men’s Fashion
Short sleeve polo shirts can be worn with any kind of pants. They will show off those hard-earned biceps during the day and will look great when worn with a jacket to go out at night.
You might not think that a combination of a sweater and a polo shirt would work, but knit polos shirts are trending. Fashion magazines report that men are pairing them with sunglasses and suede jackets for an old Hollywood look.
Tennis and golf have long been the chosen sports of the upper crust. However, polo shirts are very comfortable to work out in and regular folks will wear them with sweats to go to the gym. They look fashionable together as long as they are both the proper size for the wearer.
Polo shirts and chinos have gone together almost ever since the polo shirt was invented. The pairing makes for a classic preppy look.
Polo Shirt Trends in Women’s Fashion
Polo shirts have always been in style for men, but they have gone in and out of style for women. 2021 saw a trend towards retro fashion that used Polo shirts quite a bit. Prada and Loewe introduced new versions of the shirt last year.
Women generally wear their polo shirts with all three buttons fastened. They can be worn with jeans, slacks, or a skirt.
When worn with the collar up, they can make a person appear taller and thinner. Polo shirts were originally designed for men and some women will wear them with pants suits.
Polo shirts originally had a crocodile in the upper left-hand corner, but today’s shirts have a variety of embroidered images. Click here for some examples.
Some people create their own designs or crests and have them embroidered on a polo shirt. There are on-demand printing companies that will allow you to upload a design to their website and have it embroidered on a polo shirt.
Comfortable and versatile, polo shirts will never go out of style. If you can think of something new to do with this iconic top, you may just be the next big thing.
