Polo shirts are a wonderful option if you work in an environment where you are not expected to dress in a button-down shirt daily. You can wear a polo shirt for several different occasions if you combine it with the right outfit. For example, if you’re permitted to wear chinos, a crisp polo shirt is a terrific option to complement your outfit.
But is a polo shirt considered business casual? Not only are polo shirts deemed business casual by many employers, but they also give a versatile alternative for your wardrobe that is both comfortable and simple to style. Polo shirts can be worn to the workplace throughout the year if you choose the right accessories.
In this article, you’ll discover how to dress a polo shirt to be business casual, as well as what to avoid while doing so.
Polo Shirt Styling Tips
The polo shirt is a classic article of clothing that is both basic and ageless. When you choose this as a more elegant alternative to the typical T-shirt, you can simply dress it up or down by adding important items to complement it.
Here are some of the greatest ways to wear a polo shirt.
Wearing A Polo Shirt With Shorts
As soon as the weather becomes too hot, put on your polo shirt and shorts and step up your game. With denim or chino shorts, you can create a simple ensemble that will have you looking effortlessly stylish. Choose monotone hues to produce a simplified and timeless look, or experiment with a different color combination. Leave the polo shirt untucked for more informal occasions and make sure it is well-fitted.
Polo Shirt And Blazer Ensemble
Whether you’re going to a casual dinner with your friends or working in business casual attire, a polo shirt and a blazer look great together. Pair a white or black polo shirt with a dark suit to make a statement for more formal occasions. Try wearing a polo shirt with a splash of color to add some excitement to the day and make you stand out from the crowd.
Polo Shirt And Chinos
Chinos are a terrific clothing option for finishing off an ensemble with a polo shirt since they fall between semi-formal and smart casual. Maintain a professional and sleek appearance by tucking your top half into your slacks, and finish the style with white sneakers, loafers, boat shoes, or derby shoes to complete the outfit.
Smart Casual
Wearing a polo shirt with pants and a blazer can give any smart-casual ensemble a more laid-back feel. In contrast to the standard T-shirt, the polo can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Don’t hesitate to infuse a splash of color into your outfit to make it stand out. Darker colors such as navy, grey, and charcoal are great combinations for a refined look.
Different Types Of Polo Shirts
Here are the various types of polo shirts
Knitted Polo Shirts
Knitted polo shirts are appropriate for both the warmer and colder months. The fact that they are made of cotton or wool gives them a nice and comfortable feel that looks fantastic when worn with a suede jacket and thin tapered pants.
Polo Shirt With Short Sleeves
With a short sleeve polo shirt, you can show off your muscles while being stylish. These clothes are ageless in their style, and they look great when paired with everything from jeans to chinos to suit trousers to dress pants.
Depending on your mood, you can dress it up by pairing it with loafers or down with sneakers and jeans. You can wear this fashionable item in a variety of ways; all you need is a little self-confidence, and you’re good to go!
Polo Shirt With Long Sleeves
Although polo shirts are most often seen during the summer months, this does not imply that they are only worn during the summer. Long sleeve polo shirts look great as the weather lowers, and they can be worn in various ways depending on the occasion.
If you want to keep it casual, mix it with chinos, shoes, and a leather jacket. It’s an elegant combination that will look amazing on everyone, no matter their age or gender. On days when you don’t know what to wear, the polo shirt is an outstanding clothes option. It’s simple to dress up or down and can be worn throughout the year.
Classic Cotton Polo Shirts
This iconic piece of clothing was created in the late 10th century and was the world’s first article of clothing to have a button-down collar. This item of clothing transformed menswear as we know it now; so, why not wear one with pride?
When it comes to the fit, make sure the buttons don’t sit too low on the shirt; otherwise, it will seem to have a V-neck. Choose a polo shirt that complements your style, and don’t be scared to experiment with different colors.
If you need even more ideas, take a look at this tutorial from Alex Costa on YouTube.
Styling Mistakes To Avoid When Wearing A Polo Shirt
If you’re wearing a polo shirt, you should avoid the following stylistic mistakes.
Wearing A Polo In Formal Situations
Although polo shirts can be dressed up, you should not think that you can wear them instead of a shirt in every situation. As a result, it should only be worn with a suit if the environment is genuinely smart casual. We’ve also seen it done with a tie, which is another no-no.
Yes, it would be the cloth you wore to all of your physical education sessions. In addition, although it can have worked fine during your mid-day volleyball practice, it will appear out of place for the rest of your adult life.
Don’t Grab For A Cotton Piqué
If you wear it today, you’ll come across as if you’re wearing your tennis outfit with jeans rather than anything else. So when it comes to polo shirts for daily use, save the cotton piqué for sports and stick to one of the cottons mentioned earlier mixes.
Keep The Collar From Being Popped
Don’t let the collar come undone. This ‘trend’ is no longer in fashion today. It should not be worn with a tie since ties should only be worn with shirts.
When Should A Polo Shirt Be Worn?
Polo shirts are not only deemed business casual by many employers, but they also serve as a wardrobe staple that is both basic and easy to dress, making them a great option for any occasion. Polo shirts can be worn to work all year round if paired with the appropriate accessories.
Here’s when you should don a polo shirt.
As Autumn Approaches
Polo shirts are also a terrific transitional garment when the weather starts to chill and the arrival of fall draws closer. Not only will you keep your trendy business casual appearance, but you will also be comfortable while wearing it.
To make the transition from summer to fall, change out your chinos for a pair of thicker pants. This sophisticated outfit is suited for any season, and it’s easy to layer as you travel to work in the chilly fall air. Darker, neutral shirts are a good choice for transitioning into autumn fashion.
During The Scorching Summer Days
Polo shirts are a great option for the hot summer months when you need to keep your appearance professional but not overdressed. While caught in traffic on a lengthy journey or working tirelessly at the workplace, cotton and other soft textiles will keep you comfortable and relaxed. It’s never a bad idea to dress in polo shirts and light-colored pants as the weather becomes warmer.
Chino pants are also a popular option for a good reason: not only are lightweight materials suitable for hot, humid climates, but they also look wonderful when paired with polo shirts and other casual tops. If you’ve been dreading heading to work throughout the summer, consider incorporating polo shirts into your summer work wardrobe this season.
On Days When You Want To Be Dressed Up But Not Too Formal
Polo shirts are a wonderful option for men’s business casual dress since they are comfortable and versatile. Their versatility allows them to be worn with various work-appropriate outfits. Consider the possibility that your workplace prefers a dressier business casual appearance. Several polo shirts in your chosen colors or designs will suffice in this situation.
Polo shirts look well with various bottoms, from formal pants to chinos. This top will look well with your favorite work jeans on days when you want to be a bit more laid back and relaxed. Although you will still be dressed professionally for work, you will be comfortable.
When Attending Events With A Relaxed Attire
Let’s say you’re lucky enough to work in a particularly informal workplace. Polo shirts are an excellent alternative in this situation, even if you don’t have to dress up. In addition, these shirts look fantastic when combined with jeans. Even if you are authorized to dress in more casual apparel at work, a polo shirt will allow you to keep a professional approach while doing so.
Wearing a darker-colored pair of jeans will give you a more informal appearance that is nevertheless suitable for the office environment. For your pants, dark blue and black washes are also good options to consider.
You can also play around with your favorite polo shirts to see what works best. Also, keep in mind that you can get away with using solid colors or playful designs in a more relaxed environment.
Things To Keep In Mind When Purchasing A Polo Shirt
The polo shirt is a casual shirt between a t-shirt and a formal shirt in terms of style. In addition, it is a terrific item of clothing that can be worn for an occasion that is neither official nor informal at the same time. “Business casual” has come to represent the pinnacle of today’s professional fashion.
When putting up an outfit for your squad, there are three important considerations to keep in mind: the material, the knit, and the shirt’s fit.
Material
Polo shirts are composed of various fabrics, ranging from natural to synthetic in composition. Last but not least, performance mixes are widely employed in polos that are specifically developed for sporting activities. Silk and silk mixes are an option, but they are not recommended because they show perspiration rapidly and lose color when they get wet.
Given that polo shirts are often worn in warm weather, 100% cotton is the most frequent and suggested fabric for these shirts due to its cool, pleasant, and breathable features, making it the most popular and recommended fabric.
Fit
When it comes to wearing a polo shirt with style, the most important thing to remember is getting the perfect fit. This is true for all clothes, not just polo shirts. As a result, here are two variables to think about:
The lowest section of your trousers’ hem should not reach farther than halfway down the fly or back pockets of your pants. No higher than the hips and no lower than a few inches below your waistband/belt are acceptable measurements. When worn untucked, the shirt should be long enough to tuck in but not too long to be uncomfortable.
Sleeves should come to around halfway down your bicep and should not be longer than two-thirds of the length of your upper arm to be considered appropriate. In general, the shirt should be tailored to your physique, but not too tightly. It should be a little tighter in the arms and chest area, then a little looser at the waist.
Knit
When buying a polo shirt, the fabric composition is equally important. Pique knit and jersey knit are the most common knit designs for polo shirts nowadays.
A pique design gives the cloth a rough surface that is easy to clean. The cloth has a certain amount of weight and structure to it. A more formal and professional look is achieved via pique knit polos.
Unlike t-shirts, jersey knit polo spares are flatter, smoother, and more elastic. Jersey knit polos are lighter in weight and have a more relaxed drape, making them more appropriate for a more casual look.
Conclusion
Polo shirts are ideal for wearing in the summer with light chinos for a more casual look that is yet stylish. The cotton pique polos are also stylish and professional, although they can feel a little heavy on a really hot day. Always check to see that your polo shirt is wrinkle-free and clean before wearing it. We hope that this guide will assist you in styling your polo shirts to meet the standards of business casual attire.
FAQs
How many polo shirts should a guy have in his closet?
Polo shirts are a flexible wardrobe essential that can be worn for casual and smart-casual situations, depending on the occasion. Style experts suggest that men possess five shirts, three of which are short sleeves and two of which are long sleeves.
What is the proper way for guys to dress in polo shirts?
Polo shirts can be worn in various ways for a variety of different events. For an athleisure vibe, pair them with sweatpants, with shorts for a relaxed but trendy summer appearance, with chinos all year round, or beneath a jacket for the ultimate smart-casual ensemble.
Do you think polo shirts are attractive?
Men’s polo shirts that are clean and well-fitting can be an important element of an appealing look. Although popular, they are frequently linked with ‘frat boy” and ‘prep school” clichés. To avoid this, don’t pop the collar and pick your polo shirts carefully; knitted polo shirts have a more streamlined, designer appearance.
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