Years ago, after watching Borg vs McEnroe, I did what any easily influenced filmgoer would do and ordered a Lacoste polo of my own on eBay. To this day, I wear it with denim and the occasional trouser. And, of course, I’m not alone. The humble staple of suburban CPAs and private-schools has long been a foundational piece of menswear, serving as the de facto uniform for a number of Waspy sports and outings — not to mention just being a reliably nice-looking shirt to wear to work or on a date.
As with most basics, there are a lot on the market. All the better to take a discerning eye to the style and hear from the men who wear them best. To come up with this list, I talked to self-professed sporty coastal elites as well as everyday stylish guys with an eye for affordable yet high-quality clothing. Their picks, though varied, all read cooler than the polyester polo your dad wore to his senior prom. Haven’t worn a polo in a while? Consider this your invitation to talk a walk on the preppy side.
Under $50
“I only started wearing polos in the last five years or so,” says Jason Stewart — a DJ, co-host of How Long Gone, and Substack writer. “You get the comfort of a T-shirt with the respect of being a person who is at least trying.” For Stewart, any polo straight off the hanger has a bit of a try-hard feel to it. His solution: lots and lots of washing to break it in just right. A collar that’s a little worn-in, maybe the slightest fray to the hem — these are the details that make the potentially stuffy style feel lived-in. When I talked to Stewart, he was wearing his favorite polo of late, a Uniqlo piqué number. “I can wear that on a hike or wear this same shirt tucked into a suit and get compliments,” he says of the shirt, which comes in a number of strong neutrals, including black, gray, and a subtle sage-y green.
For slightly less, try the Luxe Touch polo from Banana Republic Factory. It comes in regular and tall sizing in a whole swath of colors and is made of 100 percent cotton with a special anti-odor feature and breathability. At just $20 a pop, it’s affordable enough to buy in multiples and build out your summer rotation.
Ask a boomer dad in your life for a clothing recommendation and there’s a high likelihood he’ll point you to L.L.Bean. And who can blame him? The brand has been the destination for affordable quality in almost every category for decades. Polos are no different. L.L.Bean’s are designed not to wrinkle, fade, shrink, or pill. They also come in tall and regular sizing. The big question is: To monogram or not to monogram?
Winston Jones says that if you think you don’t like polos, you’re just wearing them in the wrong color or fabric. His advice: Look for something with banded arms, a banded bottom, and a little bit of texture, like this handsome option from Mango. If you’re between sizes, Jones suggests sizing down for a fitted feel (his preferred look). Pair it with trousers and you have a quick and put-together outfit.
Under $100
When it comes to polos, Xavier Donnelly, creative director at Ash Hotels, is picky about two things: length and material. “I like knit polos and long-sleeve polo sweaters,” Donnelly says. “I prefer that they have a ribbed trim at the waist and the sleeves. And I hate when they are too long.” This vintage-inspired option from Abercrombie satisfies both of those specs and is a great gateway polo before investing in one of Donnelly’s other favorites, like his cashmere long-sleeve polo from Ralph Lauren or hot-pink number from Loewe.
“Sometimes you’re in a tucked situation, and sometimes you aren’t,” says Stewart. If you’re in search of a longer-length polo that can do both, he suggests looking to J.Crew’s tall section, where all sorts of colors and styles are frequently marked down. This one has a washed look that helps it appear broken-in straight out of the bag, as well as some subtle texture thanks to the piqué knit. Bonus advice from Stewart for avoiding looking too much like a John Hughes character in your shirt: “Add an ugly hat or shoe to the mix if you want to rough up the preppy image.”
I knew Christopher Echevarria, founder and creative director of both Blackstock & Weber and Academy, would have a strong point of view about what makes a polo truly great. Two details, it turns out, can make or break a polo, according to him: buttons and sleeve length. “I like a thick polo with nice mother-of-pearl buttons and a sleeve that isn’t too long,” he told me. Reminiscent of his former caddying fit of chinos and polos, Echevarria loves to sport the staple with chinos or even camouflage shorts. “I love a casual polo like this Oobe one and a denim fit,” he says. The Oobe has a slightly longer length than some of the other polos on this list, though Echevarria told me he’s agnostic on whether or not a polo should be worn tucked in.
Under $150
“The wrong polo can make you look like you work at an insurance company. The right polo should make you feel like a classic movie star like Paul Newman, Harrison Ford, or one of the kings of cool style, Steve McQueen,” says Jake Bell, who writes the daily Substack Who Do You Know? and specializes in branding, art and creative direction, and content creation. For him, the “right” polo often comes from Noah — specifically this top with a simple embroidered crest on the chest. “This would look great paired with a vintage collegiate sweatshirt on top,” he says. If $128 is more than you want to spend on a polo, try eBay or Poshmark, where pieces from the brand often pop up.
Cody Min is the founder of the creative studio Astronaut Monastery and a lifelong polo wearer. “I’ve always worn polos of varying quality. My grandmother used to get us a polo for Christmas from some Macy’s sale,” he told me. “Every year it was different, and sometimes a bit hit or miss, but we always enjoyed the surprise.” These days, his favorite polos come from Junior’s, an independent brand based in Philadelphia. “They make an absolutely killer all-cotton crêpe polo that breathes insanely well in the summer but holds its shape. It has a perfect knit hemline that stays tucked in nicely and tapers the body perfectly.” His default is to wear polos with trousers in the summer and a safari jacket in the cold months. But no matter the weather, he’s tucking his polo in.
Another favorite polo of Bell’s is this slim-fit one from Stone Island, which he says “will make you look like one of the lads catching some pints watching Manchester United.” He points to the pinstripes on the collar as one of the details that makes this one worth it. Just note: This polo has a front-and-center logo. “The badge logo used to be monochromatic, so it was more subtle, which is my only complaint,” says Bell.
If you’re ready to take your polo game to the next level — and to splurge — Bell recommends this cashmere polo from Todd Snyder. He went to the brand’s Williamsburg store recently to try one on. “I was skeptical about the cashmere for summer, but it’s incredibly breathable and actually lighter than cotton or piqué,” he says. “Their polos really hug you in the perfect way. It features a johnny collar so you don’t need to worry about buttons.”
Years of wearing a uniform as a schoolkid have turned James Hirschfeld, co-founder and CEO of Paperless Post, into quite the polo connoisseur. “The material needs to be a fine cotton piqué or wool-cashmere knit to avoid the back-to-school-uniform feeling,” he says. “I am on the slighter side, so it’s important to me that the arms aren’t cut for a bodybuilder and the length isn’t too long (since I wear them untucked).” Brunello Cucinelli makes Hirschfeld’s ideal polo, but this pick from Zanone is similarly elevated, well cut, and decidedly not a school uniform.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
