Ever since unruly tennis legend Rene Lacoste lower off the forearm sleeves on his button-down shirt to get an edge on courtroom, the tennis shirt (later to be generally known as the polo shirt) has been some of the widespread clothes within the menswear wardrobe. Once we consider the polo we would forged our thoughts to the pique cotton choices offered by Lacoste and Ralph Lauren, color blocked and nonetheless primarily grounded of their sporty origins with a mesh end to wick away the sweat.
However just lately designers have championed new methods to put on polo shirts, together with a reassessment of textured kinds. Your dad most likely wore a knitted polo shirt within the Seventies and his dad earlier than him within the Fifties. It appears to leap generations, the Nineteen Nineties had been certainly too busy leaping round in cargo pants. Now it’s not considered a stuffy heirloom from a bygone period however somewhat as one of many best methods to carry timeless class to your outfit.
The knitted polo is difficult to outline – most fashionable polo shirts are made out of a cotton knit anyway however for essentially the most half it’ll have loosely ribbed sleeves and hem, tender, three-buttoned plackets (or no buttons in any respect) that fly out wider than your atypical polo shirt, a taper to the waist and a lower increased than an everyday polo simply above the waistband of your trousers. The material will cling slightly to your higher physique and have a markedly completely different really feel – tender and soft versus the exhausting carrying pique.
It would look slightly like one thing your gran might conjure up together with her knitting needles (menswear designer of the 12 months 2018 goes to nana). If it’s one thing you can think about Alain Delon or Dickie Greenleaf in you then’re on the best tracks. And that needs to be all of the proof you want of its timeless attractiveness.
How To Fashion a Knitted Polo Shirt
“Knitted polo shirts are great for event dressing,” says Chris Hobbs, mens style editor at Matchesfashion.com. “I’m not really a full suit and tie kinda guy but if the occasion calls for a blazer then I’d most likely layer a knitted polo underneath.
“Dunhill’s contrast-placket versions have a 1960s vibe in two colourways that are very much in my palette, while Berluti’s have a tailored fit to them made from 100 per cent silk that they style on the runway with cropped trousers. If the summer continues way into September then I’d be quite happy tucking one of them into shorts for the office too.”
Tucking into chino shorts lends the knitted polo the air of Armie Hammer in Name Me By Your Title, however like Armie ensure that to go for a impartial beige so the shirt can actually stand out. The deep V of the collar and the excessive lower of the sleeves on some choices additionally make them a flattering form for these with a toned higher physique (the Rock has been seen rocking the model just lately).
Put on with slim tapered or pleated trousers to maintain the silhouette trim or floaty broad legs to faucet into that Fifties Hollywood chilling on the lot vibe, with a luxe suede jacket excessive as we transfer into the chillier months.
The Finest Manufacturers For Knitted Polo Shirts
Reiss
British premium retailer
River Island
Excessive avenue style behemoth River Island excels at protecting all of the model bases from streetwear to reasonably priced tailoring. So whereas the textured knitted polo shirt isn’t its specialty it provides sufficient of the model for it to be price a gander. Enter the gathering with the navy cable knit possibility with a decent stretchy match and cloth that may cling to these well-earned positive aspects from the gymnasium.
Dunhill
Dunhill began life at the start of the twentieth century because the go-to vacation spot for motor automotive equipment (it did a fine-line in driving goggles). Steeped on this classic custom however repackaged for the up to date gentleman, its knitted polo shirts are available silk and with chunky lengthy contrasting plackets, which extra intently evoke the Seventies than something 20 or 80 years prior.
Ben Sherman
Based within the Nineteen Sixties, Ben Sherman together with Fred Perry turned an emblem of the period’s teddy boy and mod kinds. Like at the moment’s Instagram influencers, each subcultures dressed to impress when out in town, and the model continues to create items that evoke the time’s sensible informality. Its knitted polo shirts faucet into this with daring jacquard patterns that come out behind a natty impartial colored blazer.
Wax London
Purportedly impressed by summers in Italy, you possibly can virtually odor the recent pasta and wine whenever you have a look at Wax London’s fashionable tackle the knitted polo shirt. Harkening again to the unique basic 1950’s summer season leisure polo, you’ll discover this shirt will likely be a well-worn and adaptable piece for years to come back.
Percival
Premium unbiased menswear maker Percival is likely one of the greatest British manufacturers to have emerged this decade, with a basic aesthetic that lives lengthy within the reminiscence (trendy Brits Invoice Nighy and Martin Freeman are followers). It’s textured weave or knitted polo shirt is thicker than different decisions on this record making it vital in your transitional wardrobe with a novel, cycling-inspired design.
Far Afield
Based mostly within the seaside metropolis of Brighton, the clothes from Far Afield are as sunny as British menswear will get. Nestled within the knitwear part of its website, the knitted polo shirts are daring and breezy with contrasting vertical stripes together with a long-sleeved knitted polo shirt that includes a heavy cotton-crepe yarn that couldn’t be extra ‘nouvelle vague’ if it had a half-smoked cigarette dangling from its pursed lips.
King & Tuckfield
Whereas many of the manufacturers on this record are impressed by mid-century model – the Fifties resurgence doesn’t appear to be will probably be abating anytime quickly – King & Tuckfield actually ran with the look from its very beginnings. With not an excessive amount of in the way in which of trimmings bar an elegantly easy contrasting trim on the collar, its textured knitted polo shirts give attention to a refined ribbed sample and the luxurious really feel of the 100 per cent merino wool.
Cos
Coming in all silky easy by way of the aspect door is minimalist Scandi model Cos which takes the excessive fashion-for-the-masses-manifesto of its guardian firm H&M and add a sprinkle of extra premium high quality into the combo. Decide up a silk-cotton mix advantageous knitted polo shirts to slide stylishly into your work wardrobe or strive an open-collar knit shirt for when buttons are simply not wanted.
Mango Man
Not as apparent a excessive avenue vacation spot as its rivals Topman and
Canali
Who knew Italians might make garments? Alright, sarcasm doesn’t translate effectively on-line however the high quality design and craftsmanship that goes right into a Canali knitted polo shirt is one thing we will all see plain and clear. With a geometrical test design panel on the entrance, it bridges the hole between the Fifties model and the variations from the Seventies.
Lacoste
We’re dishonest slightly bit with this one, however it could break our coronary heart to not embody the legendary French clothier. Whereas the pique polo is the trendy go-to for Lacoste and its up to date model no-longer evoking the textured Fifties, it does provide the throwback Parisian model with its clear and chic silhouette wanting ace as a alternative for a button-down beneath a blazer. It makes use of the Thirties period of its founder as the important thing touchstone.
Ralph Lauren
Once more the long-lasting Ralph Lauren knitted polo shirt doesn’t fairly match into our thought of the knitted polo however Ralph would get mad if the croc was in and he wasn’t. Ralph Lauren does provide some polo shirts that match into the period in query although, together with long-sleeved jumpers which have the distinction tipping and broad opening placket you’d count on in a knit.
Zara
One other bastion of quick style,
Subsequent
Alright, your mum may store at Subsequent, however that’s no purpose to show your nostril up on the excessive avenue big, so subsequent time she pops in certainly one of its shops ensure that she nabs you certainly one of its knitted polo shirts whereas she’s there. In 100% cotton and a textured melange impact, it has actually nailed all the standard and Fifties design you’d need from the model.
