Business or Casual: When and How to Wear a Men’s Polo Shirt

by Fransic verso
1 comment
Polo Shirt

Of the various timeless menswear staples, few are as versatile as the polo shirt. It is a classic piece which is suitable for many occasions because it can make an otherwise casual outfit more elegant and serious. It is not, however, a quick fix that can be thrown on with anything to somehow instantly upgrade your style. You have to know how to wear it.

Get it right and you can even get away with wearing one to work. This is a far cry from the polo shirt’s origins as a sports top for tennis players.

At the same time, they are not so formal that they would look out of place if you wore one while hanging out with your friends on the weekend.

Here is some advice that will make sure you can pull off your polo shirt wherever you wear it.

Wearing it to work

While suits are still the norm in many offices and industries, lots of employers today have relaxed their requirements, and rather than having a specific dress code, they are happy just for their employees to dress in clothes that look smart, professional, and appropriate.

Enter the polo shirt

The first thing you will want to think about when wearing a polo in a professional setting is the colour. This is generally not the place for self-expression, so it is best to avoid bright, vibrant colours such as greens, reds, yellows, and pinks.

While your polo shirt will still look more formal than a T-shirt in these colours, the bright colour can come off as immature or attention-seeking. Instead, opt for a neutral tone such as black, white, grey, or blue.

These look a lot more elegant, serious, and mature

The next thing you will want to consider is what to wear them with, and particularly what is on your lower half. This one is fairly straightforward because even the nicest polo shirt in a neutral colour is not going to make your jeans or sweatpants look professional.

You should only wear your polo at work with the kinds of bottoms that you would wear around your workplace with anything else. Basically, that comes down to tailored trousers or chinos.

The trousers should be in a neutral tone too, but try to make it a different one from your shirt. Unless it’s black, the same colour on top and bottom rarely looks good.

Something like a light blue or white polo shirt with a pair of khaki chinos is a great look which is often formal enough to get away with at work while being more comfortable than a suit.

Wearing it casually

Here, you can be more creative with the colour and what you pair it with. Jeans or shorts are surefire pairings that will make sure no one mistakes you for being on your way to the office or the golf course.

A pair of white sneakers and accessories like a basic watch and some sunglasses always look good, too.

Conclusion

Most men own a few polo shirts, but many are not taking full advantage of their versatility. Now you know how to style them for work and play, you can get even more out of these simple wardrobe staples.

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1 comment

Hammad Mohsin October 7, 2024 - 12:23 am

A polo shirt is a versatile wardrobe essential that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Polo shirts are great for casual, relaxed settings like weekend outings, casual meetups, or a stroll in the park. They’re more polished than a t-shirt, making them an ideal choice for effortless style. Networking events or informal meetings outside of the office can be ideal settings for a well-tailored polo shirt.

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