It’s a lovely day and you are going to be busy with a variety of activities-meet your friend for lunch at a nice downtown cafe, do some shopping, then join co-workers for drinks at a quay-side bar. It s going to be on the hot side, so you want to wear a shirt that’ s breathable, lightweight, and comfortable but still looks smart and stylish. Well, we have just the item of clothing for you, this is a day that’s just made for womens polo shirts, they tick all of those boxes and then some!
So, besides being the preferred uniform for people who love to ride a horse while hitting a ball with a long stick, what exactly defines a polo shirt?
The term polo shirt is used to define a unique mixture of two classic shirt styles-the very casual neck-less T-shirt, and the more formal traditional button-up Oxford dress shirt. The polo shirt is made of knitted cotton called piqué and can be recognized by a soft, floppy collar and a placket with just two or three buttons. This design is perfect for sports like its namesake polo, as well as for tennis and golf, where you want to be comfortable, look sharp, but not be too overly fancy. The piqué fabric is very breathable for enjoying the sun in, absorbent to mask perspiration, and elastic so it’ s easy to swing that mallet, club, or racket!
While named for the eponymous sport, the polo shirt really found its popularity in the game of tennis. The famous French tennis star René Lacoste began wearing the style while playing in the championships of the 1930’ s. The polo shirt of today is the go-to garment for people who want to maintain a casual look while still retaining an air of prestige.
When you are shopping for the perfect polo shirt, it’ s important to get the right fit. The main criteria are as follows:
- Body Length – The bottom hem should reach down to about three inches above your belt line and be no higher than your hips. A great way to test this out in the fitting room is to check to see if it’s long enough to tuck into your trousers without riding up when you bend over, and covers your belt when wearing it untucked, but doesn’ t reach down past your hips.
- Sleeve Length – The polo shirt’ s sleeves should end at a point about midway down your bicep for the perfect look, not too long, not too short! They should also be loose enough to allow comfortable movement when swinging those sticks around!
- Overall Fit – The Polo shirt should ideally be just a little bit tight around the chest and arms before it tapers down to just a bit loose around your waist, providing a close fit to your body without being too tight.
Polo shirts are classically monochrome without stripes or other patterns. Pastel shades are the favourite, and any hue will do, it all depends on your personal preference. The polo shirt is the perfect choice for any smart casual occasion, it looks great at a family reunion or an office party, it’ s always in style!