The versatile polo the staple summer wear

The perfect polo

Before we go about exploring the various styles out there, a word or two about the fitting is in order. Because the perfect polo is the one that fits you well!

By well, we mean that it must not be loose; and neither should it be strictly skin tight or too clingy. Rather, it should feel snug. The sleeves should be up to mid-biceps (perfect for showing off your guns!), and the overall length of the top should fall just a little bit below your beltline.

You may experiment a little bit with prints and patterns, but when it comes to polo shirts, your best bets would be on solids, mainly for two reasons: it's hard to go wrong with solid-colours, and it's easy to pair with other stuff in your wardrobe.

A white polo and a black polo can take you a long way and should always be in your closet; but literally almost any colour in-between these two is great as well, from the lighter hues to the brighter ones.

Now, with these basics in mind, we can jump right in to the different ways of 'sporting' a polo.

Keeping it casual

When we think polo, we may immediately think of sportswear, for obvious reasons. Or, we think of athleisure or casual wear — the most popular style when it comes to polo.

Indeed, very few things can translate to a laidback, carefree attitude more than a polo, and these options are enough to prove that.     

Polo with shorts:Don't let the blazing sun bother you. Instead, embrace the warmth with a nice and comfy polo and a pair of shorts, sneakers, and sunglasses. 

A simple white polo, for example, goes hand in hand with flat-front shorts of any colour. If you want, add a little razzmatazz to it with blazing colourful sneaks.

Polo with jeans:  If shorts are not your thing, then Option-2 would be a pair of jeans — ripped jeans, of course, if you want to go all casual, or a more sober one, if the occasion calls for it.

In terms of footwear, sneakers are still great, in addition to a variety of slip-ons. Just don't forget to ditch your regular socks and replace them with no-show socks, which are useful for summer anyway.

Polo with skirts: Polo shirts are not only versatile, but also unisex as well, and most of the options in our style guide work well for all genders. But specifically, for women, an additional option is donning polo with skirts. The skirt can be of varying lengths, from the mini to midi to the longer ones, and the top can be tightly tucked in or let loose.

Colour blocking — where you use blocks of solid and usually bright colours — is still going strong, and the polo-and-skirt combo allows you to do myriad experiments with this style, making bold statements.

When you mean business

The versatile polo won't let you down in many corporate environments — except the very formal ones — and given the weather, it will be your good friend, because who likes wearing a tie every day to work all throughout summer? Moreover, if you are working from home, polo shirts are an excellent choice for those Zoom meetings.

Even James Bond wears polos occasionally! Check out how suave and sharp Daniel Craig looks in Casino Royale donning a polo shirt.

On one hand, the weather calls for a light and breathable outfit. And on the other, you want to be taken seriously in a place of business. Hence, a simple tee shirt will not help. In such instances, business casual is the way to go, and polo shirts are a great fit for that in a number of ways.

Polo with chinos: Just make sure that both your polo shirt and chinos are of a proper fit; otherwise you will end up looking sloppy. Tuck it in for a sharper look. Finish it off with a pair of loafers, and there you have it — an easy and basic form of business casual.

Polo with blazers: Now, you have an important presentation and want to make a good impression, or you have an appointment of a working lunch with an important client. But because of the weather, you feel that a formal shirt and tie or a full-on suit would be too stiff and uncomfortable and simply drain out your energy. Enter polo!

Paired with a pair of chinos and sleek loafers, throw in a blazer on top, and complete the getup with an elegant pocket square. Worried whether the blazer would be too much in the blazing summer? Well, not quite, considering that there will be air conditioning where you will go, that you are wearing only short sleeves under the blazer (as opposed to long sleeves), and that compared to formal attires, polo shirt is much more comfortable.

This option is one of the dressiest when it comes to polo shirts — rocking the business causal look, giving a sleek, sharp, professional vibe without the fuss of going completely formal.    

So, there you have it, from a lazy breakfast at a cafe to a regular day at the office or when attending important meetings, to an after-work event, polo shirts will not let you down in terms of both style and comfort in the humid weather.

Model: Rabbi