# Why no vertical stripes on "polo" shirts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597 "2013-08-30T17:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597/1 "2013-08-30T17:41:16Z")
Vertical stripes are common on long sleeve and short-sleeve button down shirts. However, I never see them on short-sleeve “polo”-type shirts. (Collared with 1, 2 or 3 buttons down to the chest). To clarify, I’m talking about strictly vertical stripes. Obviously checker-type designs include vertical stripes, but I’m not talking about them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597/2 "2013-08-30T19:00:52Z")
A quick Google image search shows plenty of polo shirts with some vertical stripes, but I agree that I rarely see them. Probably because nobody really wants to look like [this guy.](http://media.philly.com/images/referee2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597/3 "2013-08-30T19:32:23Z")
In the mid to late 80s, they were ubiquitous. IIRC, they were predominantly a Polo/Lauren style, but, of course, others followed/copied. Of course, the stripes were several times larger than the pic linked above. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597/4 "2013-08-30T20:01:35Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > …Of course, the stripes were several times larger than the pic linked above. I assume you meant smaller? How much larger could stripes be? ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597/5 "2013-08-30T20:26:31Z")
I have a polo shirt with vertical stripes. It’s funny looking. I never wear it. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-vertical-stripes-on-polo-shirts/667597/6 "2013-08-30T20:45:15Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I assume you meant smaller? How much larger could stripes be? Maybe about [this large](http://s7.landsend.com/is/image/LandsEnd/428061_AG13_LF_75L?fmt=jpeg,rgb&qlt=80,1&op_sharpen=0&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.5,1,3,0&icc=sRGB%20IEC61966-2.1,relative&iccEmbed=1&rgn=0,0,2000,3000&scl=5.882352941176471&id=d20u21http://). Any larger and you only have room for two colors and that’s just a sorta weird duotone shirt. For some reason all these striped shirts make me think of carhop uniforms from drive-in restaurants. The look seems a bit dated. Maybe it’s time for a fashion comeback?