Polo shirts types
The polo shirt is an ingenious invention. Comfortable and elegant at the same time, airy but still suitable for the office. In its original form, the polo shirt was invented by the French tennis player René Lacoste in 1933, when his sports colleagues were still wearing long-sleeved shirts with the sleeves rolled up. Since then - a year or two has passed in the meantime - a lot has changed. The tops are now available in a wide variety of designs. We show you the most common types of polo shirts.
What types of polo shirts are there anyway?
Table of contents
- Ladies vs. men
- Short sleeve vs. long sleeve
- Polo shirts with breast pocket
- Poloshirts without collar
- Polo shirts with stand-up collar
- Polo shirts without button placket
- The fits
Probably the most important distinction when it comes to polo shirts is that of gender. Logical. Women's and men's upper bodies are very different in some respects. Accordingly, polo shirts for women need a different cut than the models for men.
Polo shirts for women are more or less like an X-shape: Wider around the chest, narrower around the waist and wider again around the hips.
Men's polo shirts, on the other hand, are more like a V: wider at the top, narrower at the bottom.
The polo shirt that René Lacoste made fashionable in the old days had short sleeves. Tennis is, after all, a sport that involves a lot of movement and a tendency to sweat. Short sleeves are much more comfortable. But since polo shirts are now worn not only for tennis but for every conceivable occasion, there is now also a long-sleeved version. Just like the short-sleeved polo shirt, the same applies here: Casual but elegant at the same time.
Polo shirts with breast pocket
Nobody knows exactly what the purpose of the breast pocket is. They are rarely used actively - after all, it doesn't look very elegant to have a biro or a notepad stuck in it. The pockets are probably only used as a teasing gimmick. No matter. In any case, this accessory is also available for polo shirts. The breast pocket does not offer much added value. So with or without is a matter of taste. Your decision!
Polo shirts without collars
A polo shirt without a collar? The fashion designer with the green reptile as his company logo would surely turn over in his grave. Of course, you might ask why you need a polo shirt without a collar. You could just as well take a T-shirt. But then you wouldn't have a button placket again. So polo shirts without collars do have their justification. And there seem to be enough buyers, otherwise they would have been discontinued a long time ago.
Polo shirts with stand-up collars
Who doesn't know them: polo shirt wearers who turn up their collars. This is where opinions differ. Is it allowed to stand up the collar or not? For all those who like their collars to stand up, but don't want to get into discussions with other people, there are polo shirts with stand-up collars. There's no other way. The best thing is that you don't have to reach for your collar every ten minutes to check whether it's still standing up. But whether the standing collar is absolutely necessary is a matter of taste. Your decision!
Polo shirts without button placket
Apparently there is nothing that does not exist. These polo shirts lack a button placket. Why? Good question. Because it looks good? Well. We'll bypass this point and say - as always - it's a matter of taste. Maybe the button placket is missing just to allow more air to reach the chest. That can be quite pleasant when hiking, for example. But the whole thing hasn't quite caught on yet.
The fits
People are "blessed" with a wide variety of body shapes. Anyone who spends time in the pool can tell you a thing or two about this. Manufacturers have taken this fact as an opportunity to produce their polo shirts in different fits. So that everyone can find a model that suits their physique. Here we show you the different fits.
Slim-fit
Slim-fit polo shirts are tightly cut, i.e. figure-hugging. Those of you with a nice beer belly should stay away from this fit. This is because this fit emphasises it. Not for nothing does the name of the cut loosely translate as "suitable for slim". Since the sleeves are much shorter than in the classic version, "slim fits" are ideal for those who like to show off their biceps.
Custom-Fit
So-called "Custom-Fit" polo shirts are cut slightly looser than the Slim-Fit version. However, the sleeves are the same length, which means they are also significantly shorter than the "classic fit". This naturally leads us to the question: For which figure type are custom-fit polo shirts suitable? In view of the combination of short sleeves and at the same time a casual cut, we would say for all those who like to show off their arms, but leave the composition of their belly to the imagination of the person in front of them.
Classic-Fit
"Classic-Fit" is - as the name suggests - the classic version. These polo shirts also have an airy cut, but unlike the "custom fit", the sleeves reach almost to the elbow. The good thing about classic fit? Anyone can wear these shirts to just about any occasion.
Oversized
Recently, it has become trendy for T-shirts to reach almost to the knees. This option is now also available to polo shirt wearers. Oversized polo shirts are usually available in either a "custom fit" or a "classic fit". The only difference is the length of the shirt. Especially for the particularly muscular or otherwise voluminous among you, however, this fit offers an advantage that is not to be sneezed at. This eliminates the problem of conventional polo shirts becoming a belly-free top due to certain curves.
