Wearing a polo shirt: discover our advice

When choosing a polo shirt, as with a shirt, it is worth keeping a few rules in mind to avoid any inadvertent missteps.

Wearing a polo shirt is not always as straightforward as it seems. Far from being limited, the options are in fact numerous. And it is precisely the versatility of this piece, its history between sport and elegance, that sometimes blurs the rules around how to wear it.
Some classify the polo shirt as an elegant, formal piece, while others quickly relegate it to the realm of casualwear. In truth, both views are valid. To know how to wear a polo shirt well, it is important to understand its history, which makes it one of the defining garments of the twentieth century, but also a real conundrum for the uninitiated.

The polo shirt: a multifaceted history

There would be little point in retracing the complete genealogy of the polo shirt here, but we can nevertheless briefly revisit the key stages of its emergence, from British India to hip-hop via France.

Originally, the polo shirt was the garment worn for the sport of the same name. Polo, an elite equestrian sport imported from the steppes of Central Asia, captivated both the British in India and their local dignitaries. Faced with the region's intense heat, players, under the influence of the Maharajah of Jodhpur — to whom we also owe the eponymous trousers — quickly adapted their attire to the climate. Sleeves became shorter, as did the length, and the collar was fastened to the body of the shirt to create the "button down shirt" or "original polo shirt".

But a few elements were still missing before the polo shirt took the form we know today. It was French tennis player Jean-René Lacoste who gave it its definitive aesthetic, as we owe him the use of piqué cotton and the stiff ribbed collar that prevents it from lifting on the court. This new polo shirt was unveiled during the Australian Open in 1926.

In the 1930s, the polo shirt as we know it today would be marketed and gradually begin to appeal to sportspeople, actors, presidents and high society: a casual yet smart piece.

A few decades later, the polo shirt would be worn by numerous subcultures (such as hip-hop), which would reinvent it in different ways without ever entirely losing its original essence.

Our advice on wearing a polo shirt

The main risk worth highlighting when wearing this otherwise highly versatile garment is creating a slight mismatch in an outfit. A few mistakes to avoid:

An overly formal look

It is true that a well-made, well-cut polo shirt can look very elegant, especially given the dominance of the t-shirt.

But it is still essential to respect its casual vocation, avoiding, for example, wearing it with Oxfords and a double-breasted suit to your cousin's wedding. Instead, embrace relaxed elegance by wearing it untucked from trousers with chinos and a pair of trainers, for example. A small reminder of its sporting origins.

Fit and fabric

Wearing a polo shirt conveys a sense of effortless ease, a quiet elegance. This is why piqué cotton, the polo shirt's original fabric, is particularly recommended: it clearly distinguishes the polo shirt from shirts. A slim fit can suit all body types, but a regular fit remains truest to the spirit of this distinctive piece, and is what makes it more versatile.

And with a blazer?

The very definition of casual chic, the polo shirt can of course be worn under a blazer, tucked into trousers and without a tie. For a more versatile look, leave the last button undone.