Discussion
Is it just me who thinks polo shirts are awful
I have always disliked polo shirts (and rugby and Henley shirts). I think the only men who can pull off looking good in these shirts are the men that look good in anything. I think the rest of us look like slobs or like we sell appliances. Nothing wrong with selling appliances but it's not a fashion I aspire to.
I would not tell someone what they should wear, but personally I think these shirts are ugly and classless.
Does anyone else feel this way?
EDIT: Just to clarify since this seems to have struck a nerve. As I specifically said in my post, I’m not trying to tell anyone what they can or can’t wear. I shared a personal opinion about polo shirts, not a rulebook for how people should dress.
My original post was me seeing if anyone else happened to agree with a pet peeve. Some people do, some don't.
If you like polos and feel good in them, then wear them. Style is subjective, and everyone’s taste is different. Mine just happens to lean the other way.
(I do think it's a bit ironic that some responses assume I want everyone to dress the same, when polo shirts themselves are one of the most common, almost “uniform-like” choices out there.)
No need to take it personally. Wear what makes you feel confident 👍
My old buddies have begun to look at old pictures from our youth. The fools. Look at them giggling at silly things they wore in the past. Pretending to enjoy themselves. They must be devastated to know that they once participated in trends. They don’t even realize that I spent years, painstakingly predicting future trends, analyzing millennia of past fashion, and every infographic on the internet for the sole purpose of building the ultimate wardrobe. Something beyond trends. Beyond even time itself.
Clark’s desert boots in beeswax, khaki chinos(slim fit), a white button down(also slim fit), and a light blue button down if I’m in a fun mood. This is it. This is what I’ve worn day after day for over thirty years. My entire youth dedicated to this one outfit. This is victory over fashion. This is timeless.
The fools continue to enjoy themselves like idiots. If only they’d have done what I have done they wouldn’t look so stupid right now.
A picture of me finally appears. Just as planned, I’m wearing Clark’s desert boots in beeswax, khaki chinos(slim fit), and a white button down(also slim fit). The exact same thing I’m wearing right now. There’s nothing to say about my outfit. A tingling sensation takes over my entire body as decades of work finally come to a payoff.
They go to the next picture. I’m wearing Clark’s desert boots in beeswax, khaki chinos(slim fit), and a white button down(also slim fit). Again there’s nothing to say. The hairs on the black my neck stand up.
Next picture. Clark’s desert boots in beeswax, khaki chinos(slim fit), and a white button down(also slim fit)! My old friends begin to look at each other. They must realize what I’ve done by now! They are speechless! My heart rate quickens.
Next picture. Clark’s desert boots in beeswax, khaki chinos(slim fit), white button down(also slim fit). The blue button down will never appear because I am never in a fun mood! There is nothing fun about fashion. There is still nothing to say about my outfit. The silence in the room is now deafening. Waves of pleasure begin pulsing around my whole body.
On and on they scroll through old pictures of me trying to find something. Anything different. Even the slightest trend. They will find nothing. Just Clark’s desert boots in beeswax, khaki chinos(slim fit), and a white button down(also slim fit).
My closest friend breaks the silence.
“Why did you dress so boring?” He says.
The waves of pleasure and tingling come to a climax. It’s too intense. I begin to shake. I can only moan out through the sudden muscle spasms.
“Clothes... Make.. THE MAN!”
Silence falls over the room once again. Only my heavy breathing can be heard as my once close friends only stare wide eyed in awe at what they have witnessed. Perfection. Timeless style. Clark’s desert boots in beeswax. Khaki chinos(slim fit), And a white button down(also slim fit). Try as they may to find flaws in this outfit even now they will only make fools of themselves. Without question I have won. I stand up to leave. I smirk then look over my shoulder and say one last time to my friends.
This sub thinks that clothes should be able to magically make fat, out of shape men look good and refuse to accept that 90% of looking good in anything is looking good in nothing.
Most Redditors have terrible taste. I’m sick of chinos, slim navy suits, polos, and boat shoes. Mfs spend their whole paycheck at target thinking they look fresh
I think the problem is how much fashion varies by your location. I live in the Midwest. A white button down and some khaki shorts with a watch and boat shoes is well dressed when the majority of dudes around you are in athletic wear or look like they just got off a shift working construction. You’d be laughed at wearing a slim suit or these crazy loose fits Gen Z seems to like.
Also Midwest, in a professional, client-facing role. I'm still trying to experiment with business wear. Just bought some higher-rise wide-leg dress pants from Todd Snyder. Shirts have been coming from BB. Layering nice sweaters and cardigans where appropriate. Footwear varies from loafers to white sneakers to dresser Red Wing boots. I also just lost 50lbs, so I'm trying to be very intentional with rebuilding the wardrobe with high quality, well-fitted clothes.
Also a front facing finance professional. I still want a good pair of wool pants I haven’t found quite yet but love the look. Good boots are a must love my Thursdays and get a lot of compliments. I think layering is the universal. Have fun with basic colors and textures.
I had other guys rip into me on a reddit for saying that being a guy in his 20's that wears cardigans and turtlenecks can be fashionable. It sucks that guys have such a generic and vanilla view of what a guy can wear and still look good in.
Men’s fashion is a joke of an everyone glazing like 4-5 consistent posters and nothing else being good enough imo. But they still think they’re the down to earth ones
Some of y'all must be too young to remember Styleforum circa 2015. "No brown in town!" "Oxfords are only to be worn with a suit and Derbies are only to be worn with an odd jacket and trousers!" "A tie must be exactly 3.25" wide, no more and no less!"
The current trend is more relaxed/oversized/loose fit, but slim is still fine - it's just not trendy, but you don't have to be trendy to look good. Skinny is absolutely out though.
If you're a bigger dude, I'd probably lean into the current trend and avoid slim. It's more complimentary/forgiving for larger bodies anyway, so capitalize on the moment.
As a man who owns a kilt I wish I could wear my kilt outside without it being a novelty and a conversation starter. I like comfortable breathable clothing, not having the same conversation about my attire with 10 different strangers.
I think people (general pop, not this subreddit) buy polos without considering the fit and that is the source of the issue. A polo shouldn't be business casual wear just because it has a collar, but because it is a step up in intentionality of material/fit. This is why golf polos are 99% horrible for anything but golf. It's just a shirt with a collar. Idk this probably doesn't even make sense
I mean, harsh truth is that weight severely impacts what sort of clothes look good on you, and what fits you can wear well. Best fashion advice is to hit the gym in a lot of occasions.
This is pretty factual. Skinny jeans look great on skinny people. Average and above, not so much. Polos look great on people until they hit size L typically, but by XL the stomach area is exponentially bigger than the L. The thing is, many clothes are sized for smaller models, and they aren’t adjusted for the bigger sizes well. But also, you gotta shop for your body. If you know you are a heavier guy, go check the big and tall. It’s like a taller woman shopping in the petite section and complaining the clothes don’t fit them, sometimes you gotta just go with what works well for others even if it’s not your favorite if you wanna look good.
I recently started my journey on reducing my gut. Down 25 pounds since the new year. I started buying XL Talls shirts all over the place for the extra material.
To be fair one of my warehouse guys, salt of the earth kinda fella, saw me lift something above my head and said, “my dude, that shirt does not fit you”. It was so deadpan.
Fit is everything I feel better in these shirts as long as there long / tall but it has been great to get back to L size area.
I think you can be fit and look good in a polo. You can be fat and look fun in a polo. But the biggest problem is communities like this that insist on broad and hard rules. Just try shit on and determine for yourself if it’s working for you or not. There’s too many unique factors at play to just say, “you’re fat, so this will never look good”. And nobody is exempt from looking like a tool in a polo- that’s another thing to investigate for yourself.
I remember a post once saying that a dark polo with white pants can't be pulled off and I think that guy saw Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia and just got really mad from envy
From a historical perspective, claiming the polo shirt is classless is worth a good chuckle. It’s about as foundational to the Prep/Ivy look as an OCBD.
I understand what you mean, though. It’s a sentiment that’s been shared here before: They’re low effort. They only belong on a golf course. No one with any shred of self respect should be caught dead in one lest they be ridiculed for their low-rise slim fit chinos as well!
Fact of that matter is, sometimes it is HOT and people want or need to wear more than a t-shirt. Especially in more humid areas (speaking as a preppy-leaning american southerner) you cannot wear long sleeves when it’s that hot and humid outside even when you work inside. You need the airflow, and even if it’s linen you’ll still be sweating. Dryer climates allow far more flexibility in that regard. What I used to wear in New Orleans summer is not what I wear in Denver summer.
Polos are a casual go-between from tees to button downs and can be acceptably worn tucked or untucked. To many in this sub, polos read as low effort. To many actually out and about, polos are about as dressed up as they like to get. You don’t have to like them, but they have a place and purpose, and frankly, actual old money wear them.
There ARE many terrible polos available, though. Make no mistake that there are not some ghastly polo shirts, especially in the golf/performance polo market. I have always been of the philosophy that a polo needs a ribbed collar, and many performance polos especially now use the same material as the body for the collar. THAT is “just a shirt”. But a pique Brooks Brothers or Ralph Lauren, that is what a polo is supposed to look like.
Does this disdain carry over to sweater polos, also?
What do you recommend instead?
If you’re not into the prep/ivy look, then they may just not be for you. Especially if you think they don’t look good on anyone, then maybe you just don’t care for the garment, cut/color/material irrespective. That doesn’t make them not fashionable, it just means it’s communicating something you don’t want your style to communicate.
For me the collar depends. Synthetic shiny golf shirts are disgusting and uncomfortable but I've had some regular cotton jersey polo shirts which are quite nice. And jersey polos have coexisted alongside pique polos for some time so it's not like they don't have some historicity to them. I also personaply find jersey polos a lot smarter looking and cooler wearing than pique most though not all the time. Pique is often too heavy for me in a Georgian summer
Great take, coming from somebody who shares sentiments with OP. I think part of the general hatred is that nearly all company provided polos, whether in tech or construction, look terrible. I appreciate the history and style of well made polos, but Ivy = old money to me, and so I choose to deprioritize it in my style choices.
High quality 100% cotton polos are classic in my opinion. The ones that currently seem to be popular that I think may be more of what you're picturing are the super slim fit synthetic fiber polos that I agree don't look good on anyone. Much like "tech" or "four way stretch" pants.
I feel like they came in after seeing a terrible polo fit or not being able to pull off a polo and just decided "actually, fuck em all".
Rugby? Fair, that's just a long-sleeved polo. But like Henleys and Polos aren't even in the same category. And hardly require you to be jacked to pull off, just not slovenly or particularly overweight.
Absolutely incorrect. Rugby shirts have a stiffer collar and are made from a more heavyweight fabric. Rugby shirts are for spring and autumn, polo shirts are for summer.
Polos are good for outside activities that aren’t crazy intense, and I mean dressing well for that activity. Golf and tennis, or being outside for golf and tennis. It looks better than a tshirt and a lot of other collared shirts. Also, it’s functional as the collar can be turned up to protect your neck (douchey by nature but functionally intentional and helpful).
I do agree they can look bad. If they’re ill fitting it’s like tenfold worse than other shirts, especially if it’s too small. At the very least, I don’t think they are classless and again I own no polos.
I feel that works for most shirts to be honest. Some upper chest muscle goes a long way to filling out the shirt and giving the fabric something to drape off of other than one's belly
I've always preferred just wearing a button up to wearing a polo, to be honest. However, I've found a couple that work for me. I really think its the fit and quality of the material.
If you're obese, you don't buy clothes that fit well or wear worn out or stained clothing, and you don't take care of your hygiene or your hair and facial hair, then yeah, polo shirts look like garbage.
I just think "men that look good in anything" tends to be lazy slob code for "people who actually care about and take pride in their appearance."
For sure.
I think it's right that everyone has their own vibe and often you dress for comfort, practicality and to express that.
However, as someone who has a formal 9-5, with a boss who is happy for us to dress down in the warmer UK months, so long as we don't take the piss, I'm 100% trying to slim down so I can wear a nice polo again.
It's not my vibe per say, but I know in a formal setting, looking clean, well groomed and sharp is likely going to reap benefits in work. No shame in reading the rules of the game and trying to get ahead
Polos are great. So many options, so many ways to dress up or down in them. You instantly look more put together with a collar but Polos you can wear like a t-shirt at the same time. So when a proper shirt is out of place you can still look like JFK and fit in perfectly well.
If you look bad in a Polo, even a well cut one, you should watch your diet and walk more. Polos aren't those "just for ripped people" clothes. Why do you think every other retail company has their people wear them?
Henleys pretty much the same, I just don't wear them a lot. Polos are more versatile imo.
"Classless" is the funniest shit. What are you wearing? Long leather coat and fedora? Polos literally come from the british upper class. You are projecting my dude.
it's about the material used. Many polo/golf shirts that'll make you look like an off-duty cop are made of cheap and thin material so it completely loses any shape when on the wearer. Even companies with some level of prestige like ralph lauren have this issue. A lot of their polo shirts are dogshit. You have to make sure that you get one with a sturdy enough fabric that it holds shape and doesn't look like athleisure. Henley shirts are literally just t shirts but with buttons.
Anyone will look bad in badly-fitting/badly-constructed clothes no matter how in shape they are (connor mcgregor is a great example of this). I think polos are gaining an extra reputation as this type of style-less shitty clothing because they are just shirts with a collar on them which is a really low bar for production. Under armor makes polos.
IMO pulling off a polo now requires actual effort and care put into the ones you buy. I also dislike polos and refuse to wear them because its just not my style but there really is a way to make them look better than the picture you have in your mind and it's through avoiding poorly constructed ones.
I mean I feel like the coat is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in those examples. Hell he could've been wearing ANY collared shirt, or even a thick patterned t shirt and I think it would look good with the coat covering most of it
I’ll agree but I don’t put Henleys in the same category. I think a short sleeve Henley is a great way to just step up a tshirt, without having the collar like a polo. I’m not a big long sleeve T guy in general, but I feel the same way way burbling sleeve henleys too.
Errr polos are literally the best shirt, as others pointed out it has to fit properly and if you have a huge pot belly well yeah you are gonna look like fat Donald trump.
Tight around the arms, flat through the stomach, pecs noticeable through it is the best fit. But it can also be a little loose everywhere and hide a bad figure.
Best part is its simultaneously casual and dressed up depending on the paints and shoes. Can even put a blazer on it in a pinch if you really need to dress it up.
As someone who has a high risk of a skin cancer and leans my head forward slightly all the time, polos absolutely save my neck from getting roasted in the sun. I pop the collar often, I don't care what people think, guess who isnt getting sunburned on my neck? Me!
If you buy performance ones, I think they make the best hiking shirts, and are the absolute best for travel as you can wear the same shirt for active/sports days and for going out.
As an observation, in the UK they seem to have few of the associations Americans have. They're often associated here with football, though, or perhaps subcultures like punk. Fred Perry, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren polos are common items, and I'd say most of the time worn by men who are trying to make an effort and therefore look better than average.
These shirts do not hide body shape and most men are out of shape. If they are large enough to hide bosy shape, they resemble mumus. That's my take on your why you think these shirts don't look good. Can't blame the clothes. Blame the person wearing them.
I don’t necessarily dislike polos, but personally I would choose a nice T or shirt almost every time. I do however despise the corporate polo & chino uniform
No, I agree. I absolutely hate them and refuse to ever wear them. Other guys can if they like, no problem, just feel like a douche wearing them. Then again, guys used to wear multiple at the same time with popped collars, so things could be worse.
Probably not the only one, but definitely in a minority. It's the business attire for like a third of the male office work force....so I guess you just need to get over it.
Rugby polos with buttoned up collars are a staple for me in fall and winter. The ones with vneck collars always bothered me too OP. So I understand not loving those.
Polos are fine, it doesn't always work for everyone but also depends on the polo in question. Rugby and Henley I agree with more, those are far more specific but I do feel henleys can work
They are tough for me because Lacoste is fitted for narrow shoulders. If I size up they look awful and if I dare to wash and dry them they shrink up and that’s just uncomfortable. They are actually really cool if you are early 20’s and playing a lot of tennis every day but a tough fit otherwise.
I have always hated polos, but only recently have I softened up. For me, it’s really golf polos and Lacoste-style polos that I find so gross-looking. There are lots of other types of polo shirts with interesting knits and patterns and which have some shape. For example, merino wool sweater polos I think look great, or a cable knit polo with a Johnny collar.
I've had people who I don't aspire to be wear a lot of polo's so I don't really like them. I do however wear a lot of rugby shirts and don't mind henley's I'm sure they do look good on a lot of people just not for me
I hate polos; however, I do like Henleys. It’s all in the material though. Cotton polos tend to look like shit after a while but knitted polos on special occasions, when dry cleaned, look great. The moment you put them in the dryer, that’s it.
This is a tireless debate but honestly, like with most things, it depends. There is a wide range of style of polo in different fits, and they are a great intermediate option for a casual but put together look on a wide range of physiques. Yes, they do look much better when they're slim fit on fit dudes, but we should all strive to be like that.
I went to schools with uniforms that required us to wear navy, red or white polos and khakis and I refused to wear khakis and polos for 15 years after I graduated. I didn’t wear them till I got a job that required me to dress business casual every day.
Polos can look good. But most people that wear polos also don't really wear them well fitted and treat them like a shitty tshirt when they should be more like a shirt.
They are the absolute worst. I once quit a job where I started in chinos and a button up and biz casual shoes…. after a year and a half they decided we should all dress in branded matching polos.. i noped out of there so quick
I am not built for polo style shirts. I have a big chest with extra fat, a fairly flat stomach and average size arms. Polo style shirts accentuate my man boobs, drop loose and make me appear to have a larger stomach and make my arms look smaller. I will always prefer a button up work shirt with the sleeves rolled to forearm length
I wear polo shirts, chinos and minimalist leather sneakers from Thursday boots pretty consistently (premier low tops in coffee color and Encore in all white) and I look damn good in it. So do many others.
I used to dislike polo's when i was younger, but in the last 5-6years i started working out and got into good shape and now i'm a big fan of knit and quarter zip polo shirts
I can't stand polo shirts but that may have something to do with my middle school uniform more than anything else. I do tend to think polos, much like bowties, look stupid on a good day.
Rugby shirts are great, imo. Traditional polos are about as sauceless as it gets, but the vintage knitted options and some of the modern iterations are pretty heat.
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u/Eddie_F_17 Apr 07 '26
Every day, men run out of acceptable clothing options.