How to Wear a Polo Shirt, According to Hollywood’s Top Stylists (2024)

FAQs

How do you make a polo look professional? ›

Looking professional in a polo shirt is about focusing on three key elements: fit, fabric, and colour. The polo shirt should fit well, not too tight that it restricts movement, but not so loose that it appears baggy.

For a classic long-sleeve polo outfit, partner yours with selvedge denim and crisp white sneakers for evening events, layering it with a lightweight jacket and a heavier coat come winter.

Situation- For any business casual event or formal event you should tuck in your polo T-shirt. It is the golden rule. It is required to bridge the final gap between semi-formal and formal. If the event is not work-related, you are going with your colleagues for a chill-pill, you leave your polo tshirt untucked.

There's a big debate that often takes place between those who wear polo shirts, however. Should you button up your polo shirt? If your polos have buttons you want to make sure you at least leave 1 or 2 buttons undone. Don't do the top button up as revealing more of your neck frames your face.

Looking to dress things up? Tuck your polo in and layer a sports coat or blazer. Add a pair of loafers or leather lace ups. The tucked in look can feel a little tricky to pull off if you haven't done it before.

Smart-casual settings

To achieve a smart-casual look, wear a polo shirt with tailored trousers or dark jeans. Adding a blazer can elevate the ensemble, making it appropriate for business-casual environments or evening events.

The perfect polo shirt should not be too wide, but also not too tight. At best, the fabric should flow around the body. Choose the width of your polo shirt so that it doesn't look like oversized, yet at the same time doesn't look like a slim-fit shirt.

There is no hard and fast rule about whether or not to button the buttons on your polo shirt. But if you can't decide, default to leaving them unbuttoned. It creates a “V” shape that gives your neck the appearance of more length (v-neck shirts take advantage of this same effect).

The bottom of your polo shirt should end around the midpoint of your pants zipper. If it's too long, your polo will start to bunch up. If it's too short, it won't look flattering, even on us shorter men.

What color polo shirt is best? ›

Black and navy should be the first colors you choose for your polo. These will give you the most versatility with the rest of your wardrobe and will work with any skin tone and body type.

Dos and Don'ts When Wearing a Smart Casual Polo Shirt

Do feel free to tuck it or leave it untucked. A polo shirt can be worn both ways. Tucking will give you a more formal look, while untucking is more casual. Don't wear it with a tie.

Jeans are a casual option that goes well with polos, especially if you're looking for a more relaxed look. Dark wash jeans can add a touch of sophistication to your outfit, while light wash jeans create a more relaxed vibe.

The most usual way of wearing a polo shirt is untucked. But polos can also be worn tucked-in for a slightly dressier and more polished look. This works especially well when layered under a blazer or sport jacket.

Since polo shirts are popular for their breathability and comfort, you shouldn't wear shirts beneath them.

The Polo SA brand is easily recognizable thanks to the iconic pony logo, however it is often confused with the international Polo Ralph Lauren brand. The distinguishing feature is the direction in which the pony logo is pointing; Polo SA points right and Polo Ralph Lauren points left.