There are these two garments whose terms are sometimes mixed: the popover and the polo shirt (or "polo shirt").
What are the differences between these two shirts? Let's see that. Source: Suitsupply
The popover
The term "popover" describes a shirt with a half-button placket, which is therefore put on from the top. That's where its name comes from: popover = " to pop the shirt over your head ".
A Pini Parma flannel popover .
The popover has its roots in the Ivy League style of American students . It was Gant who launched this type of shirt in the 1960s as a more casual variation of the classic shirt.
Thus, the popover shirt can be made in a multitude of materials (flannel, oxford, etc.) but also with collars (buttoned, open, closed, official, etc.).
Officer collar, textured cotton/linen blend... a very casual popover .
The polo shirt, or polo shirt
This garment was popularized by the extravagant Gianni Agnelli, illustrious executive of Fiat and pioneer of sprezzatura, who loved to wear it to be elegant and casual on the beaches of Capri.
Jackie Kennedy and Gianni Agnelli in polo shirts Swann&Oscar blog
The polo shirt is characterized by a polo material
On this Zampa di Gallina polo shirt , we can clearly see the characteristic pique cotton of the polo on the one hand and the stiff shirt collar on the other.
In this sense, the polo shirt is a specific type of popover.
Good to know
*It is interesting to note that the term "polo shirt" also historically refers to OCBD
*We can also note that, ultimately, each brand names its products as it wishes:
- The G. Inglese brand, a pioneer in polo shirts, calls all its partial throat shirts polo shirts. So, some of their polo shirts are in pique cotton... and others are in linen or poplin (strictly speaking, they are more popover).
- Suitsupply on the other hand does not use the term "polo shirt" but always speaks of "popover". They have popovers in knit, denim, etc.
The range of polo shirts at G. Inglese.
In idea, it's a bit like with the terms "jogpants" and "sweatpants" whose use is rather free.
Some style tips
Popover and polo shirts often fall somewhere between formal and casual. Adapt your outfit accordingly.
In themselves, they can be worn in the same way as a shirt: outside the pants for a casual look if the length allows it, inside the pants for a more structured effect.
On the look below in summer fashion with rolled up sleeves, open buttons, with Bermuda shorts and sandals:
In contrast, here is a popover integrated into a style with more tailoring influences:
