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Almost every guy we know has a polo shirt (or seven) in his warm weather wardrobe. They’re a summertime smart casual staple with no plans of going anywhere, anytime soon.
The good news, there’s more styles than ever, and just as many ways to wear them. As for these guys knowing how to wear a polo shirt in lots of different ways? Ah, not so much. We’ve seen too many “same ol’ same ol'” outfits that we figured it was time for a primer on how to wear every polo shirt in your closet, in a few different ways.
We’re going to show you how to wear three kinds of polos:
the bright, solid-colored polo shirt
the contrast tip collar polo shirt
a fun, patterned polo shirt
First up? The bright polo.
For a classic summer look, a bright pique polo is the obvious frontrunner, and you can’t go wrong with the original.
How to wear a polo shirt in a solid, bright color five different ways:
A bright red polo is a good option all summer long, and even transitions perfectly into autumn’s changing leaves scenery.
Below, how to wear a polo shirt in a bright, solid color five different ways:
DINNER AND DRINKS
Wear it well: Make sure your attitude is just as refined yet relaxed as this look. In colder weather (and a heavier suit), opt for a knit polo instead of cotton for a Mad Men vibe that feels like a soft tee but looks much more luxe.
Much like absolutely everything involved with suiting – fit is paramount. To avoid looking sloppy, make sure your polo fits your frame without being skin tight.
TRAVEL DAY
Wear it well: Skip a belt, set your watch to the time at your destination and store your flight must-haves in this bag.
WEEKNIGHT OUT
Wear it well: Cuff the jeans and watch out for hat hair.
FAMILY LUNCHEON
Wear it well: Push the sleeves up on the sweatshirt and go sockless (or rock no-shows.)
DAY AT THE PARK
Wear it well: Skip the socks and keep your jacket unzipped.
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What about if you’re a less flashy guy that still wants to stand out?
How about a subtle contrast tip collar polo shirt?
Blending the formality of a collar with the comfort of a tee, the polo remains a sportswear classic. The contrast-tip style polo’s rise to popularity began in the 1950’s.
While the original polo was de rigueur on the tennis court and golf course, the contrast tip polo was adopted by young men of the time simply as a style staple.
If they were already transitioning this athleisure style from the sports court to the streets way back then, you can bet it’s still a worthy investment now. For the most versatility, opt for one in a cotton piqué, like the style below.
Below, how to wear a polo shirt with contrast tip collar five ways:
A piqué polo with a contrast tip is the perfect, classic way to infuse athleisure into your daily wear.
Casual workplace
Wear it well: Keep it neutral for the office, but pair it with a pop color bag. And tuck it in!
Out with the guys
Wear it well: Keep the polo untucked and roll up the chinos to show off fun kicks.
Date night
Wear it well: Take all the best styles of the 50’s and put the together. Make sure to tuck in the polo and cuff the jeans.
To lunch with friends
Wear it well: Wear the complimentary color to the contrast tips on your shorts.
To the beach
Wear it well: Coordinate the contrast tips with your swimwear!
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And finally, how to wear a patterned polo shirt* five ways:
Jeff Goldblum was crowned our Most Stylish Man of 2017 by the loyal SG crowd (you can read more about the whys here). In the meantime, it’s worth asking, “How can I dress as cool as Jeff Goldblum?”
It comes down to having a closet full of favorite pieces that you wear over and over again in a variety of ways. Most of his pieces are pretty basic, but one place he adds visual interest is in his collection of polo shirts. He’s stepped out more than once in a printed polo, be it stripes, sailboats, or even zebra.
The simple yet polished style of a polo can translate from work to weekend, and the printed polo is no exception.
Below, 5 days, 5 ways to wear a polo shirt just like the Most Stylish Man himself:
Monday
Wear it well: Suit up a la Jeff Goldblum by skipping the shirt and tie in favor of something a little more fun, like a printed polo and statement shoes.
Tuesday
Wear it well: Borrow Jeff Goldblum’s high contrast black and white blazer and trouser combo for you next lunch date.
Wednesday
Wear it well: Play with color like Goldblum does here – dark green is practically a neutral.
Thursday
Wear it well: Channel both of these Jeff Goldblum looks with light denim, fun high tops and a colorful chino.
Friday
Wear it well: Modify this all black everything look from Goldblum with a pop of pattern under your jacket.
// Shop #SGapproved Polo Shirts //
How should a polo shirt fit
A polo shirt should be worn closer to your body, so you’re not forced to tuck it in to your pants just to restrain the otherwise billowing material. Without extra fabric to worry about, the shirt should hit your pants right around the waistline, meaning it looks good tucked in or hanging loose.
How to style a polo shirt
If you want to do the tuck/un-tuck thing so you can showcase your belt, we’ll allow it, with one caveat: your collar cannot be upturned. Those moves compounded would punt you into d-bag territory, and I don’t want that for you.
Beyond that, don’t make too much effort with the styling of the shirt. You want it to look unstudied, not “I worked on this for ten minutes in front of the mirror to get it just so.”
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Gabi Meyers went from Team SG's first-ever intern to a trusted fashion editor and stylist. She currently lives in Chicago with a very cute dog.
