# The polo shirt is the worse piece of clothing ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 3, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700 "2009-09-03T00:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/101 "2009-09-04T20:20:59Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y’know that little tag, the one that says “Dockers”? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. > > Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I’ve seen your type before: > > Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. What’s this guy making such a big stink about striped shirts? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without them, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we’re too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, unraveling his first striped shirt right now, right now, in a local department store and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees in the dressing room? Doesn’t HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about fancy shirts and BlackBerries, you’d better think again. This is about that kid’s right to wear a shirt without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe that turns you on, **zweisamkeit** ; maybe that’s how y’get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over. She’s a. . . she, but other than that, your point still stands. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/102 "2009-09-04T20:24:33Z")
Not only do I wear Polo shirts both at work and at home nearly all the time (usually t-shirts for yard work or outdoor/hiking etc, and spordically button down shirts when I have to get dressed up (think weddings/formal dinners and the like), but I prefer to wear POCKET POLOs (the pocket, on the left chest, nicely holds coins, receipts, tickets for concerts, commuting tickets, etc. thus reducing the non-zero chance of these falling out of my pants pocket). Alas, these are hard to find so I pounce on them if I see any on sale (at reasonable prices, of course). Looking back at old photos from the 1950s, it looks like polo shirts and button down short sleeves where what the urban/suburban professional wore when not in a suit and tie, and perhaps this lead 3 or 4 decades later snowballed into Business Casual, and the death of the dreaded tight collar and tie - if so, Huzzah! (For the record, I dislike turtle necks also). So, looking over the prior posts in this thread, we can readily show the OP’s original premise is gravely flawed, that the polo shirt is in fact, while not the greatest piece of clothing ever, rather a pretty neat type of shirt… ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/103 "2009-09-04T20:25:10Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > She’s a. . . she, but other than that, your point still stands. Oops. Substitute “funny boy” with “funny girl” and “joy-boy” with “whirl-girl”. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/104 "2009-09-04T20:27:31Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y’know that little tag, the one that says “Dockers”? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. > > Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I’ve seen your type before: > > Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. What’s this guy making such a big stink about striped shirts? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without them, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we’re too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, unraveling his first striped shirt right now, right now, in a local department store and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees in the dressing room? Doesn’t HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about fancy shirts and BlackBerries, you’d better think again. This is about that kid’s right to wear a shirt without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe that turns you on, **zweisamkeit** ; maybe that’s how y’get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over. Well, I’m convinced. I’m not sure what my opinion was before, but it definitely is now. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/105 "2009-09-04T20:35:33Z")
I once went into a Ralf Lauren store and didn’t even pick out the polo shirts that I wanted. I just told the salesperson to give me one of each EXCEPT colors like bright pink. I ended up with about twenty new ones. That was a good day. I have a light blue Ralph Lauren one on now and I generally only buy Ralph Lauren polo shirts. I only have about 8 of them now but I love them. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/106 "2009-09-04T21:02:43Z")
I hate them on my husband, but only because I hate the way they look on him. (He’s got extremely broad shoulders and a short, thick neck- polos make him look like he’s got no neck at all.) I’d much rather see him in a nice Henley, or even a regular t-shirt. For myself, I have a couple of collared t-shirts that I like very much, even though they’re pseudo-polos, I guess- they have collars, but no buttons and they are a much thinner knit than the dreadful polo fabric. They also are cut a little lower and more fitted than normal polos. I would love to see more of them in stores. In general, I think of polo shirts as a safe, but boring and often unflattering choice. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/107 "2009-09-05T00:37:27Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Besides, douchebags wear _pink_ polos, not just any polo. I actually have a pink polo shirt. From Madrid Bar in the Patpong red-light district, commemorating their 30th anniversary in 1999. (Pink is not considered effeminate here; it was the color of King Chulalongkorn, who was born on a Tuesday. Pink is that day’s color.) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/108 "2009-09-05T00:56:14Z")
I suddenly feel like a [modern-day prophet](http://threateningloveletters.blogspot.com/2009/07/blame-barbie-and-ken.html). I _knew_ you were my people. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/109 "2009-09-05T02:44:17Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y’know that little tag, the one that says “Dockers”? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. I have one pair of Dockers. They have no tag. They’re knock-offs of US Army [Model 1932](http://us.dockers.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3712522&cp=2271557.3691949.3691950&EDID=SF4BWO-LJR5-YGIFI-DTTA-XW74-v1&pg=1&f=SizeGeneral%2FSQ000000500QS38W+X+30L&s=D-StorePrice-DOC&ab=CME_080409%3Amainspot&parentPage=family) khakis. They even make a polo shirt look good. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/110 "2009-09-05T14:20:27Z")
I just had a scary thought: the people who don’t pop their collars are at higher risk to die from melanoma, leaving the douchebag gene predominant. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/111 "2009-09-05T14:37:15Z")
I like polo shirts. I’m a ‘‘polo and khakis’’ girl more than a ‘‘t-shirt and jeans’’ girl. I look good in a collar for some reason, especially a collar with v-neck [like this.](http://www.clothingwarehouse.com/blue-generation-womens-polo-shirt-bg4704.html) I don’t know if the ‘‘douchebag’’ connotation also applies for females, but I’m definitely not a douchebag, or preppy, or any of those things. I’m just a girl who likes polos. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/112 "2009-09-05T15:35:35Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Every male person in this town between the ages of 12 and 25 looks as if he’s wearing a uniform. Cargo shorts, T-shirt, flip-flops or crocs. Perhaps athletic shoes for church or a job interview. > > If I was a guy that age, and wanted to get laid more often, I’d put in a little more effort and find some nice clothes. Even a polo shirt would be a start. At my school, the uniform is a polo shirt with cargo shorts and brown flip-flops. Checkered shorts are also becoming popular. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/113 "2009-09-06T23:46:16Z")
Once I reached a certain level of success in my business - mostly consulting with powerful people in finance - I dared to start wearing more comfortable clothes in my office. I still wear a business suit if I go to your office. For several years now, I’ve worn polo shirts to work pretty much every day all summer. Interesting irony: One day one of my more successful clients, earning about $3,000,000 a year at a bank said “Man I admire you. I can’t wait until I can start my own firm so I can wear jeans to work.” ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/114 "2009-09-06T23:51:29Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I actually have a pink polo shirt. As a hetero man I don’t have any pink shirts or ties. I do have a few that are “light red”, however. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/115 "2009-09-07T00:02:13Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Seriously. A striped dress shirt is now “douchebag wear”? Sheesh. The full outfit, really, is a stripped shirt, untucked, with jeans and square toed rubber sole dress shoes. A blazer is optional. It’s still pretty specific, I’d agree. But that’s why it annoys some people. It’s so common or at least was a few years ago. Everyone wearing the same thing over and over, with none of the individual pieces either particularly nice or well suited for one another. It’s like, fucking wear something else for once! Buy a shirt with a checkered pattern. Tuck it the fuck in. All in all it’s a very narrowly defined look to get up in arms about. ---
**Author:** ![andiepandie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@andiepandie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andiepandie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/116 "2009-09-07T01:18:53Z")
My 33 y.o. boyfriend wears t-shirts 99.5% of the time, yet only owns about six (off the top of my head I can think of the “You have died of dysentery” one, two with Leafs/hockey logos, one with the Wonder bread logo, the plain navy blue one, and the Gargamel one), wears them until they’re practically falling apart, and then won’t go shopping unless there’s essentially nothing left. Oh man, if he started wearing polo shirts I would be rejoycing in the streets! I convinced him to buy ONE a few years ago to wear to an event that was a little too unformal for a suit and tie (which he will don when absolutely necessary), and every time he pulls it out to wear it feels like Christmas. It’s all relative, man 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/117 "2009-09-07T01:44:36Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Irregardless?!?! GAH!:eek: Yep. I stopped reading right there. Pet peeve word#1. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/118 "2009-09-07T03:48:02Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > As a hetero man I don’t have any pink shirts or ties. I do have a few that are “light red”, however. You might as well come out of the closet (just like your clothes did). Pink Ralph Lauren Polo shirts look really good on tanned males in the summer. Admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/119 "2009-09-07T04:50:17Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > As a hetero man I don’t have any pink shirts or ties. I do have a few that are “light red”, however. > [@Shagnasty](#): > > You might as well come out of the closet (just like your clothes did). Pink Ralph Lauren Polo shirts look really good on tanned males in the summer. Admit it. I’ve very hetero, thank you very much. :mad: (Not that there’s anything wrong with being gay.) Pink does not mean effeminate over here. But maybe I’ll not wear that particular shirt while I’m standing in line at US Immigration on my next visit. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/120 "2009-09-07T04:56:10Z")
An orange one is the best if you live in Tennessee: you can go hunting on Saturday, go to the Vols game on Sunday, and go back to picking up trash on the side of the road for your DUI sentence on Monday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700.md?page=7)