Polo Shirts

The polo shirt has become a wardrobe staple of men everywhere, and an American institution of its own right. They originated in the world of sports, and are frequently called tennis shirts or golf shirts. Polo shirts are very versatile, and depending upon how they are worn and what they are worn with, can be appropriate for both business and casual environments.

What are Polo Shirts?

Polo shirts are knitted pullovers, with rolled collars and buttons found at a v-neck opening. Their comfort and huge variety in designs make them very popular. Business executives can be seen wearing them in the board room or on the golf links, while local hipsters might pop the collar and head out for a night at the club. While originally intended as a men's style, today these T-shaped shirts are just as popular with women. Even children wear them as part of a school uniform, or as an alternative to t-shirts.

Types of Polo Shirts

Polo shirts come in many different knits, colors, and cuts. They are typically made from 100% cotton. Polo shirts can vary in the strength and flexibility of the cottons used to make them, which offers unique qualities to the shirt. The most common knits are the:

Pique – mesh, typically uses a waffle design. This is a durable and raised knit, which was originally used in the first polo shirts

Interlock – smoother and provides a firm texture along with good elasticity

Lisle – a two-ply cotton yarn of long staple fibers which derives its name from an early spelling of Lille, France. The fibers are combed and twisted tightly to make it silky soft.

History of the Polo Shirt

The polo shirt was actually originally created for the game of tennis. The 7-time Grand Slam French tennis champion René Lacoste conceived the idea after becoming frustrated with the dress shirts and ties tennis players wore during his time. In 1926, Lacoste won the U.S. Open Championship while wearing a white, short-sleeve polo shirt made from a knitted fabric that was intended to wick moisture away from the body. What was to become the first piece of performance sports clothing was quickly adopted by other ‘gentleman' sports such as polo, rugby, and golf.

This style of shirt continued to grow in popularity until a prominent clothing brand borrowed its name from the shirt and began marketing the polo shirt as part of its clothing line. In doing so, it made the style exploded in popularity and became a piece of Americana. Today, polo shirts have infiltrated just about every aspect of life, and they are commonly worn by men, women, and children.

By Doug Vanisky

Polo Shirts

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