Ode to the Polo Shirt
The menswear world is rightfully obsessed with “staples” and “classics,” those items that have been worn for generations and are simple and dignified enough to work in many situations, paired with many other items. These menswear staples aren’t secrets, with men across the spectrum loving—and wearing—things like chinos, button-downs, and desert boots their entire lives. But among these classic items, few are as versatile and beloved as the polo shirt.
Illustration: Louie Chin
Perhaps that’s because the polo shirt itself was born out of necessity. Prior to the 1890s, polo players wore woven shirts that were sturdy but restrictive. But in 1893, polo players at the Hurlingham Club of Buenos Aires began wearing soft-collared, knit shirts, with tails. Cool and flexible, these shirts were a big upgrade. By 1920, Argentine polo player Lewis Lacey opened a shop selling these knits with an embroidered polo player on them. In 1933, Rene Lacoste, a French tennis star nicknamed “le Crocodile” had adopted the shirts, creating one with a logo of his reptilian nickname on the left breast, that he eventually sold to the masses. From there, the polo shirt only grew in popularity, eventually turning into the staple they are today.
And if you think about it, this growth makes sense. The right polo shirt is slim, but not fitted, allowing wearers to toe the line between sporty collegiate style and dressed up adulthood. As such, its become a hallmark garment not only of menswear aficionados, but also of numerous subcultures, from Ivy Leagues and preps to English Mods. The polo shirt looks right under a blazer or coatless on the golf course. Even outsiders like ravers and skateboarders have dabbled in the polo shirt, brining a hint of rebelliousness to the item too. That kind of chic versatility is rare, rightfully earning the polo shirt legend status in the annals of menswear history and beyond.
