To avoid missteps, check the following points:
1
The polo shirt is an extremely connoted piece that can quickly make you switch to a "daddy's boy" or false "bad boy" style.
2
Originally used to protect the neck from the sun, the raised collar is nowadays very frowned upon, at your own risk...
3
Since the polo shirt is a sportswear-inspired piece, it must highlight your build. Specifically, the piece must outline your shoulder line without molding you, and obviously must not be too big. The sleeve must be well adjusted at the biceps.
4
Avoid all fanciful! No acid colors, stripes or oversized logos. Stick to a sober and solid color here: white, heather gray and navy blue are excellent choices.
QUALITY CRITERIA
The material must be 100% natural, no exceptions allowed. The ribbed edges must be sewn neatly and must not curl. Check the strength and regularity of the overlock seams.
Finally, pay special attention to the quality of the collar, which should be slightly stiff and thick. Nothing worse than a polo collar that turns up!
WHICH MODEL TO CHOOSE?
While the model popularized by Lacoste remains the market leader, many designer alternatives have appeared. Some more formal polos, with a deeper buttonhole and long sleeves, have appeared at high-end shirtmakers and designers such as Marchand Drapier or G. Inglese.
WHAT MATERIAL TO CHOOSE?
While the most commonly used material remains pique cotton in the entry-level range, all materials are permitted, including chambray, linen, silk and increasingly merino wool!
THE ORIGINS OF POLO
Chauvinist friends, this garment is typically French, its inventor is none other than the famous tennis player René Lacoste.
In the early 1920s, tennis was essentially an aristocratic sport, with players wearing only long-sleeved shirts.
Lacoste, then number one, invented a shirt with shortened sleeves and buttonholes, which it unveiled for the first time in 1926. The knit of this piece, a pique cotton jersey, absorbs perspiration better while being lighter and more comfortable than the shirts of the time.
Having enjoyed significant success on the tennis courts, the polo shirt has become popular as a symbol of sporting success, fitting into a chic sportswear aesthetic with a preppy twist.
