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We recommend shirts from Polo Ralph Lauren and Faherty. Tubular Polo Shirt
WHEN A DRESS shirt feels too much and a T-shirt is not enough, polo shirts are your safest type of shirt to bet on. “For something that is essentially a T-shirt with a collar, I’m always amazed at how a polo can elevate any look,” says Matthew Congdon, the SVP of Design & Merchandising at Mack Weldon.
The best polo shirts for men should work with a variety of fits, from formal to business casual, which means it can be easily dress up or down. For more casual options, we recommend they feature performance features—like moisture-wicking materials or stretchy elastane—to keep you comfortable when you're on the move.
A shirt's ideal fit depends on the style. For dressier polos, our experts recommend a streamlined silhouette that's slim (but not tight) to show off your upper physique, and a tapered short sleeve that still lets your guns breathe. For more casual shirts (like sweater polos), we recommend a boxier, more relaxed fit that's breezy, but still stylish.
Overall, the best polo shirt should touch your body from shoulder to waist without binding. And a faux pas for the polo shirt's fit is that it should never fit too loose. After all, no one wants a shirt that looks like it's swallowing you up.
For this story, we consulted with MH fashion director Ted Stafford, who has more than 20 years of experience trying and testing polo shirts. To get a feel for how these men’s polo shirts really felt and how they held up, we vetted our options by taking notes of their fit, fabric, comfort, style, design details, versatility, and performance such as stretch, moisture-wicking, and breathability. We examined whether they fitted well and true to size, whether their fabric could withstand hours of movement in different temperatures, and whether they could be worn for more than one occasion. Our testers also include a diverse range of body types to help us ensure an unbiased result for selecting the best polo shirts for men.
Ahead, we tested over 50 men’s polo shirts in the past two years from trusted menswear brands and men's online clothing stores to find the best ones to buy now.
Of all the polo shirts we've tested this past year (and trust us: we've seen a lot), Bugatchi's polo climbed to the top of our rankings for its flattering fit, timeless style, and its breathable fabric. First, let's talk about looks. Our fashion director Ted Stafford likes the polo's pipping around the collar and arm bands, which adds pops of color without being too flashy. We also like its classy three-button style, and its relatively slim fit. In short, this polo will look good for years to come, decreasing your cost per wear.
Like some of our favorite menswear essentials, Bugatchi's polo has some performance features. It contains a hint of stretch that moves as well as some of our favorite workout shirts, while its pima cotton is cozy, but breathable. We've worn this during hot afternoon commutes and found that it kept us cooler than most other cotton polos we've tested. If you're going to invest in one polo shirt this season, let it be this one.
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We'd be remiss not to include Ralph Lauren, one of the OG makers of polo shirts. And the beauty of owning one of the shirts: you know it'll never go out of style. We especially love Polo Ralph Lauren's Performance Shirt, which takes the brand's classic polo and infuses it with athleisure features like stretch fabric, a breathable knit, and UPF 50 for extra sun protection. We've worn this just about everywhere, from the links, to barbecues, and everywhere in between and found that it looks great in just about any casual setting.
Plus, we also love its roomy fit, which is back in style and just adds an extra layer of comfort. In other words, if we could live in this polo shirt, we would.
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If you're looking for a breezy shirt to wear to the pool or beach, this Terry Pocket Polo from Todd Snyder has got you covered. It's mostly made with terrycloth—the same fabric found in luxury hotel towels—which feels incredibly soft, and dries quickly. We've thrown this shirt on after a poolside dip and found the roomy fit to be extremely cozy and breathable.
We like the contrast piping along the collar and chest pocket, which adds a retro flair to our looks. Our fashion editors prefer wearing these with bright swim trunks or equally roomy shorts for a foolproof tropical fit. Take note: even though this polo is very elevated, it's for vacations only. Don't try to pull this off at the office.
Sweater polos are back. These thicker knits are cozier than their OG counterparts, and are a scotch more casual as well. We especially like this one from Madewell, who is also making a comeback with its relatively affordable, easily wearable fits. The brand's Johnny-Collar shirt comes in four colors, though we especially like the geometric blue style, since it plays well with our office chinos and off-duty jeans. The button-less style is very much in right now, and means you can easily throw this on like a Tee-shirt. In our experience, you can really use this as an everyday top come summer.
We like the 100% cotton material, which is incredibly soft, but also shrinks a bit after the first wash. Though because this comes in a relaxed fit, we found that it still fit us pretty well after cleaning it. Just make sure to hang dry it immediately after the washing machine to help keep its shape.
Lots of sweater polos we've tested have a relaxed fit. If you prefer a slimmer (but not tight!) option, we recommend this one from Billy Reid. It's cut closer through the sleeves and sides to streamline your silhouette. In other words, the cut will help you look taller and leaner.
Billy Reid has become one of our favorite menswear brands for its slightly elevated take on classic pieces. This polo shirt has a premium feel compared to mall brand shirts. The cotton fabric has a bit of heft without adding too much bulk, and the collar is sturdy enough wear under a work blazer. In short, this looks great with just about everything in your closet.
Polos usually have a preppy, Golf-ready vibe. If you want a shirt for the bars, rather than the country club, try this buttonless option from Abercrombie. It's sleek, sexy, and feels right at home with your night-out fits. That's because of its subtle plisse fabric, a striped texture that elongates your body and makes you look taller and leaner.
Its slightly higher hem means you can wear this untucked for a laidback-but-still polished look. We were surprised to find how expensive it looks, especially at this price point. That's probably because of its unique fabric, made of a cotton blend, that has a luxe sheen to it. In other words, Abercrombie's sweater polo is worth its weight in gold.
Is it a polo? Or is it a cardigan? The answer is: Yes. Corridor's button-down shirt melds the best of both styles for a distinct look that works with a variety of fits. We like the tight cotton stitching that switches between green and beige. The result: a vertical stripe finish that looks great on most guys. And because this was handmade in Peru, no shirt looks the same.
Corridor's polo buttons all the way down, like a cardigan. We've worn this unbuttoned over our favorite undershirt for a layered look. On hotter days, we've worn it on its own with the top two buttons undone. Either way, we found this shirt looks great for casual hangouts, or vacation fits.
A bunch of menswear brands have been churning out polos with performance features. But few do it as well (or with style) as Faherty. Its movement pique polo looks like a classic polo, but houses some modern specs. It has a hint of stretchy elastane, which allows the shirt to move like a second skin (hence the name). We like the modal-cotton blend fabric, which is soft and breathable, while still looking polished enough for the office.
Our editors have worn this on golf courses, in meeting rooms, and found that it worked well in both settings. That means you've got an extremely versatile shirt. And thanks to its old-school silhouette, you know it'll always be in style.
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One of the signature details of a polo shirt is its buttons. There can be two or three buttons—the more, the more formal the shirt looks. They can contrast or blend in with the color of the fabric, for style purposes. Most importantly, there can be no button at all—replaced by a buttonless Johnny collar or a zip.
You want to have a few solid-color polos in your arsenal—preferably white, navy, black, or gray and a couple of seasonal colors. Beyond that, you can then invest in some more detailed polos like a stripe, any graphic pattern, color-blocking, or just a few contrasting stitches here and there. These make for great vacation shirts, layering options, and night-out shirts, whereas the solid-color polos are better for more formal occasions.
Determine the purpose of your polo shirt. For casual wear, soft comfort and a flattering fit are keys. For business casual and formal wear, stick to classic colors like black, white, or deep navy and a button-down or spread collar as well as a tailored fit. For athletic and outdoor activities, make sure your polos are made with moisture-wicking, quick-drying, stretchy, or even UV-protection fabrics. For traveling, a polo shirt would be stretchy, wrinkle-resistant, breathable, and versatile enough to be dressed up or down. Lastly, polo shirts are all-season-friendly, but you’ll want lightweight, breathable fabrics for summer, and thicker, heftier materials for colder weather.
While polo shirts have always (and will always, mark our words) been in style thanks to their timeless cuts and formidable versatility, the ways to style them have changed for the better: so long the polo you choose looks appropriate with the bottoms you have and with the occasion you’re attending to, it’ll work.
For instance, in formal settings, a solid-color, slim-fit polo shirt will look extra classy with chinos or dress trousers. For vacations, a relaxed-fit polo shirt can be worn with matching or contrasting swim trunks and sweat shorts for a casual vibe.
Additionally, think about whether to tuck in polo shirts to look more elevated or formal. A straight-hem polo, for instance, is made to be tucked in. A loose-fit polo, on the other hand, looks much better untucked. And when it comes to the hem, you want it to hit just below the waist so you can easily tuck it in but doesn't dangle below your hips.
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Ted Stafford is the Fashion Director of Men’s Health. He oversees all style and fashion content for the brand, and also styles their fashion stories. His active lifestyle informs his passion for translating great designs into real-life style, a favorite part of his job. Prior to joining Men’s Health he worked at GQ magazine and Calvin Klein
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