The Best Polo Shirts for Men, According to Stylish Guys

I only started wearing polo shirts in the last five years, says Jason Stewart a DJ, co-host of Since whenAnd Substack Writer. You get the comfort of a T-shirt with the respect of being a person who at least tries. For Stewart, any polo shirt straight off the hanger has an effortless feel. His solution: lots of washing to break it in just to the right. A slightly worn collar, perhaps the slightest fraying at the hem, these are the details that make the potentially stuffy style feel lived-in. When I spoke to Stewart, he was wearing his favorite polo shirt of late, a Uniqlo pique number. I can wear it on a hike or wear this same shirt tucked into a suit and get compliments, he says of the shirt, which comes in a number of strong neutral tones including black, gray and a subtle sage green.

For a little less expensive, try the Luxe Touch polo shirt from Banana Republic Factory. It is available in standard and large sizes in a range of colors and is made from 100% cotton with a special anti-odor feature and breathability. At just $20 each, it's affordable enough to buy in multiples and expand your summer rotation.

Ask a baby boomer dad in your life for a clothing recommendation and chances are he'll point you in the direction of LLBean. And who can blame him? The brand has been the destination for affordable quality in almost every category for decades. Polo shirts are no different. LLBeans are designed not to wrinkle, fade, shrink or pill. They are also available in high and regular sizes. The big question is: to monogram or not to monogram?

Winston Jones says that if you think you don't like polo shirts, you're just wearing them in the wrong color or fabric. Her advice: Look for something with bandaged arms, a bandaged bottom, and a bit of texture, like this lovely option from Mango. If you're between sizes, Jones suggests sizing down for a fitted feel (her favorite look). Pair it with pants and you have a quick-to-put-together outfit.

When it comes to polo shirts, Xavier Donnellycreative director at Hotels in Ash, is picky about two things: length and material. I like knit polos and long-sleeved polo sweaters, says Donnelly. I prefer them to have a ribbed trim at the waist and sleeves. And I hate it when they're too long. This vintage-inspired option from Abercrombie meets both of those specifications and makes a great starter polo before investing in one of Donnelly's other favorites, like his Cashmere Long Sleeve Polo from Ralph Lauren or his number bright pink from Loewe.

Sometimes you're in a tough spot, and sometimes you're not, Stewart says. If you're looking for a longer polo that can do both, he suggests looking to the high section at J.Crews, where all kinds of colors and styles are frequently marked. This one has a faded look that gives it a worn look right out of the bag, as well as a subtle texture thanks to the pique knit. Bonus tip from Stewart to avoid looking too much like a John Hughes character in your shirt: Add an ugly hat or shoe to the mix if you want to give off a preppy image.

I knew Christophe Echevarriafounder and creative director of both Backstock and Weber And Academy, would have a strong point of view on what makes a polo shirt truly great. It turns out that two details can make or break a polo shirt, he says: buttons and sleeve length. I like thick polo shirts with pretty mother-of-pearl buttons and a sleeve that's not too long, he told me. Reminiscent of his old style of chinos and polo shirts, Echevarria loves wearing this staple with chinos or even camo shorts. I love casual polo shirts like Oobe's and denim cuts, he says. The Oobe has a slightly longer length than some of the other polos on this list, although Echevarria told me he's not sure whether or not a polo should be worn tucked in.

A bad polo shirt can make you look like you work at an insurance company. The right polo shirt should make you feel like a classic movie star like Paul Newman, Harrison Ford or one of the kings of cool, Steve McQueen, says Jake Bell, who writes the daily Substack. Who do you know? and specializes in branding, artistic and creative direction, as well as content creation. For him, the good polo shirt often comes from Noah, especially this top with a simple embroidered crest on the chest. It would look great with a vintage college sweatshirt, he says. If $128 is more than you want to spend on a polo shirt, try eBay or Poshmark, where pieces from the brand often show up.

Cody Min is the founder of the creative studio Astronaut Monastery and a lifelong polo wearer. I have always worn polo shirts of varying quality. My grandmother gave us a polo shirt for Christmas from a Macys sale, he told me. Every year it was different, and sometimes a little random, but we always enjoyed the surprise. Today, his favorite polo shirts come from Juniors, an independent brand based in Philadelphia. They make an absolutely killer all-cotton crepe polo shirt that breathes incredibly well in the summer but retains its shape. It has a perfect knit hem that stays tucked in and perfectly slims the body. His default is to wear polo shirts with pants in summer and a safari jacket during the cold months. But no matter the weather, he tucks in his polo shirt.

Another of Bells' favorite polo shirts is this slim polo shirt from Stone Island, which he says will make you look like one of the guys having a few pints while watching Manchester United. It highlights the fine stripes on the collar as one of the details that are worth it. Please note: this polo shirt has a logo on the front and in the center. The badge logo used to be monochromatic, so more subtle, which is my only complaint, Bell explains.

If you're ready to take your polo game to the next level and splurge, Bell recommends this cashmere polo from Todd Snyder. He recently visited the brand's Williamsburg store to try one out. I was skeptical about cashmere for summer, but it's incredibly breathable and lighter than cotton or pique, he says. Their polo shirts really fit you perfectly. It features a Johnny collar so you don't have to worry about buttons.

Years of wearing the uniform as a schoolboy transformed James Hirschfeld, co-founder and CEO of Paperless post, a true polo connoisseur. The material should be a fine cotton pique or wool and cashmere knit to avoid the back-to-school uniform feel, he says. I'm pretty lightweight, so it's important to me that the arms aren't cut for a bodybuilder and the length isn't too long (since I wear them untucked). Brunello Cucinelli makes Hirschfelds' ideal polo shirt, but this pick from Zanone is just as elevated, well-cut and decidedly not a school uniform.