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The best men’s polos aren’t like the polos you wore back in middle school, high school, and maybe even college.
We’re here to help you rethink how you wear your polo and the brand’s you turn to for that summer staple.
The polo shirt tends to get a bad rep. Too preppy, not versatile, too stuffy, etc. Yet, modern polos are made the right way, for the right time (any time at all this spring and summer, in fact).
Today’s best men’s polos have a dash of edginess mixed with a touch of the familiar and classic. Polo shirts were once worn during actual polo matches, so it’s tough to stray too far from that athletic past.
Still, our favorite polos are refreshing in their approach, use of versatile fabric, and ability to upgrade any outfit. You’ve got to find a polo that fits the right way — slimming (but not overly tight through the chest and across the shoulders), with sleeves that hug (not strangle) your biceps.
Start with our picks, then keep dreaming up ways to incorporate the best men’s polos into your summer wardrobe.
Relwen Stripe Pique Slot Button Polo
It’s fitting that Relwen would make a heck of a great polo — after all, the brand takes traditionally rugged and classic styles (like the field jacket or the CPO jacket) and updates them in unexpected ways.
In the case of the Stripe Pique Slot Button Polo, that means the dressier four-button polo placket is updated with bar tacks and woven tape, plus horizontal buttonholes for added reinforcement. The 100% cotton fabrication is breathable and comfortable — far from a traditional pique weave. $98
Proof 72-Hour Merino Polo
The best men’s polos are different in a few key ways — notably, the fabric and fit. With the use of functional, comfortable merino fabric, we think Proof hit the mark with their 72-Hour Merino Polo. It was designed to be worn through multiple outfits and adventures across a 72-hour period.
Choose from a range of neutral, wearable colors (we like olive the best), then be ready to break out this polo on a long cross-country flight — followed by happy hour at your destination, naturally. $72
Faherty Brand Garment-Dyed Polo
Faherty Brand has perfected the art of making casual, laidback-yet-versatile menswear. It all starts with the custom-sourced, expertly washed fabrics the brand uses across all categories — including in the making of this garment-dyed polo.
It’s sharp, but almost more like a T-shirt than a traditional polo. So you should feel free to wear it with easygoing staples like slim light wash denim and broken-in suede chukka boots. $88
Alex Mill Rugby Polo
The recently relaunched Alex Mill line demands your attention, in the best way possible. Based in NYC, Alex Mill is making clothes for the everyday guy who wants to step up his style — but in ways that are subtle, not too over the top.
Along those lines, the Alex Mill Rugby Polo is made with soft slub cotton and features casual details like a chest pocket. Think of this polo like a grab-and-go upgrade over your old T-shirt — it’s every bit as cool, but with more polish. $85
Flint and Tinder Supima AirKnit Polo
Every guy needs a navy polo in his arsenal of the best men’s polos — consider it another Lean Wardrobe essential a la dark denim or a white Oxford shirt. Heck, the navy polo has probably never looked better than when worn by Mr. Daniel Craig as James Bond in “Casino Royale” more than a decade ago.
And while the rest of us can only wish to look that iconic, the Flint and Tinder Supima AirKnit Polo, with a flattering fit and breathable fabric, can help you get part of the way there. $58
Grayers Hartford Nep Jersey Polo
Much like its counterparts at Faherty Brand, Grayers reimagines classic silhouettes with its own image in mind — hence the use of textured slub fabric to make the Nep Jersey Polo.
Consider it the answer the next time you’re wondering what to wear to a breezy evening of rooftop drinks. Try it under a denim jacket with tan chinos and brown leather loafers. $68
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