# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/161 "2014-07-31T18:43:07Z")
> [@skylyn12](#): > > A nice thin dress shirt (roll up the sleeves if it is hot) or even a short sleeved dress shirt (for casual events) look so much better than polos. > > Guys in their polos always look fat and shlubby. Double that when they tuck them in. Polos also seem to wear poorly and look ‘pilly’, faded and gross after just a few washes. I don’t know if you can blame the shirt for someone looking fat and shlubby - if you already are it can emphasize this, but if you aren’t it doesn’t magically make you so. The rest of your criticisms are more about the quality of the shirt itself, rather than polo shirts in general. I have had some that look faded, shapeless and pill after a few wearings; all the ones I have now have looked great for years. ---
**Author:** ![skylyn12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@skylyn12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylyn12)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/162 "2014-07-31T21:18:27Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I don’t know if you can blame the shirt for someone looking fat and shlubby - if you already are it can emphasize this, but if you aren’t it doesn’t magically make you so. The rest of your criticisms are more about the quality of the shirt itself, rather than polo shirts in general. I have had some that look faded, shapeless and pill after a few wearings; all the ones I have now have looked great for > years. You don’t believe that some clothing can emphasize or demphasize a person’s shape? What fabric are these magical polos that still look good years later (after being worn regularly) made of? ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/163 "2014-07-31T21:21:22Z")
Polos hang on me weird and I don’t like how they look, but I bought a bunch of them to wear at work since most days I just run into other coworkers, so jeans and polos it is. Other times, I’ll wear slacks and a dress shirt with a blazer, or even a tailored suit if we have a guest in the building. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/164 "2014-07-31T21:34:06Z")
> [@skylyn12](#): > > What fabric are these magical polos that still look good years later (after being worn regularly) made of? I have a half dozen Haggar polos that are 63% cotton and 37% polyester, and they are softer than most tee shirts. They are not the coarse knit like a Lacoste polo. I bought them at Sam’s Club 3-4 years ago, and they still look great. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/165 "2014-08-01T02:56:06Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > My Hard Rock Cafe – Ho Chi Minh City polo shirt is among my prized possessions. I also have a couple of team polo shirts from my elephant-polo days, but only one is still wearable, as the other suffered a tragic laundry accident. I’ll wear the good one until it’s falling off in shreds. ---
**Author:** ![skylyn12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@skylyn12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylyn12)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/166 "2014-08-01T12:17:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have a half dozen Haggar polos that are 63% cotton and 37% polyester, and they are softer than most tee shirts. They are not the coarse knit like a Lacoste polo. I bought them at Sam’s Club 3-4 years ago, and they still look great. Are you sure they still look great? Put one on and get some honest feedback from someone you trust. Or take selfie outside in direct sunlight 🙂 I have a few polos from jcrew that I thought looked great too, until one summer (after a few summers worth of wear) I saw myself in a picture with one on and realized how bad they looked… I have a hard time imaging such a cheap brand of shirt (no offense) would look good after more than a few times through the washer. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/167 "2014-08-01T12:36:33Z")
> [@skylyn12](#): > > Are you sure they still look great? Put one on and get some honest feedback from someone you trust. Why is their judgement better than mine? They look great to me, and that is all that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/168 "2014-08-01T14:59:53Z")
> [@skylyn12](#): > > A nice thin dress shirt (roll up the sleeves if it is hot) or even a short sleeved dress shirt (for casual events) look so much better than polos. > > Guys in their polos always look fat and shlubby. Double that when they tuck them in. Polos also seem to wear poorly and look ‘pilly’, faded and gross after just a few washes. Why not just rock a dress shirt (not an oxford) for work? You can add a tie if needed (polos can never, ever be worn with a tie) or just unbutton the top button or two and roll up the sleeves for warmer days (or casual days)? Did you just advocate for short-sleeve dress shirts with a TIE over a polo? Wow, nerd city. ---
**Author:** ![skylyn12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@skylyn12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylyn12)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/169 "2014-08-01T17:58:31Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Did you just advocate for short-sleeve dress shirts with a TIE over a polo? Wow, nerd city. Of course not. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/170 "2014-08-01T18:14:37Z")
Eh, just wear a wife-beater t-shirt with a bow tie. A nice, unsettling mix of formal and casual. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/171 "2014-08-01T18:19:12Z")
> [@skylyn12](#): > > A nice thin dress shirt (roll up the sleeves if it is hot) or even a short sleeved dress shirt (for casual events) look so much better than polos. > > Guys in their polos always look fat and shlubby. Double that when they tuck them in. Polos also seem to wear poorly and look ‘pilly’, faded and gross after just a few washes. Why not just rock a dress shirt (not an oxford) for work? You can add a tie if needed (polos can never, ever be worn with a tie) or just unbutton the top button or two and roll up the sleeves for warmer days (or casual days)? I’m not willing to go through five dress shirts a week, that requiring sending to the cleaners or my wife ironing. Nor is it necessary. I’m willing to look fat and shlubby. Perfectly willing. I’ve reached the age and station in life where I honestly don’t give a crap how my employees see me at work. When I have to dress up and wear and suit and tie, I will do so without complaint. On other days, it’s a t-short or a polo. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/172 "2014-08-02T02:30:03Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Did you just advocate for short-sleeve dress shirts with a TIE over a polo? Wow, nerd city. > [@skylyn12](#): > > Of course not. Short-sleeved shirt with a tie over here generally screams “English teacher.” But hey, give the guys a break. It’s HOT over here. (Plus their arms are usually too long to make it easy to find long sleeves that are long enough. Oh how I know.) ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/173 "2014-08-02T03:45:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I have decided that the [polo shirt](http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2130297&cp=1760781.1760809&ab=ln_men_cs1_polos&parentPage=family)(irregardless if it is made by Ralph Lauren) is the worse article of clothing in common usage today. Disagree. > [@](#): > > Polo shirts are too fancy to be casual and too casual to be fancy They’re not fancy. They’re casual. Anyone who disagrees misunderstands what a polo shirt is for. > [@](#): > > Depending on your age, build and whatnot, they make you look like some combination of a preppy frat jock named Chip, a gay dude (also possibly named Chip), a middle-aged soccer dad (Chip Sr.) or a Best Buy employee (Hello my name is Chip) Nah. They’re the low end of business casual. They work on a casual Friday or paired with shorts on the golf course. > [@](#): > > You can’t wear them to a job interview Agreed…but so what? > [@](#): > > They are generally too casual for any work environment where people wear dress pants Yep. A polo won’t work with slacks. With khakis though they’re fine. > [@](#): > > They look nerdy tucked in and sloppy when untucked Tucked into a pair of khakis, as long as the polo fits reasonably well (not too loose, not too much gut) they look fine. I do wear them myself untucked once in a while; I agree it looks a bit sloppy but I do think a polo tucked into jeans looks silly > [@](#): > > If you are wearing them casually with jeans or shorts you might as well wear a collarless t-shirt Have you never golfed? A polo with khaki shorts (tucked in) is fine. I do wear once in a while them with jeans, always untucked, and will grant that this is not the classiest look in the world. But I don’t find it horrible, and it’s certainly better than jeans plus a wife-beater > [@](#): > > If you need to get dressed up you might as well wear a long-sleeve dress shirt Yep. But at least I don’t wear a polo to get “dressed up”. When I wear it it’s to meet the most casual end of business casual. > [@](#): > > The extra large logos which appear to be the style just make you look like an extra large douche Don’t know what you’re referring to. Yeah, a huge logo on a polo would look douchey, no disagreements. Most of mine have no logo or a small one. > [@](#): > > They only ever really seem to look good on the 6’2" super thin catalog model out on some golf course in the Hamptons where the photo shoot took place Nah. Polos are actually pretty flattering on most men when they fit properly. The only non-flattering types are where there’s a huge gut or where some young dude pops his collar or something. /I wear polos //my boss wears polos ///they’re good for golf and the casual end of business casual ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700/174 "2014-08-02T18:37:26Z")
> [@skylyn12](#): > > You don’t believe that some clothing can emphasize or demphasize a person’s shape? I believe that - however, what I’ve seen MUCH more often is people wearing a garment incorrectly, then blaming the garment for how awful it looks on them or how uncomfortable it is. This happens with dress clothes all the time. > [@](#): > > What fabric are these magical polos that still look good years later (after being worn regularly) made of? I’m currently wearing a gray Ralph Lauren polo I bought at Marshalls about five years ago, and during nice weather it’s worn every couple of weeks. The label says it’s cotton, but it’s a medium weight soft weave. It’s currently paired with Levis and Chuckie Ts, but it’s also been paired with wool dress slacks and leather cap-toe oxfords and gone over without a hitch on office casual days. I’ve also got some that are a very light, breathable synthetic that look pretty much like new. The worst polos for fading, shrinking and wrinkling have been the thicker, rough textured Izod type, and the only one I’ve currently got was free and remains unworn two years on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polo-shirt-is-the-worse-piece-of-clothing-ever/508700.md?page=8)