Are your polo shirts too boring? How fashion is reinventing the classic.

The inventor of the modern polo, 1920s French tennis champion René Lacoste, would have had trouble identifying such outer designs. The Lacoste shirt was developed from the large-collared style worn by polo players in India in the 19th century – hence the name. A stylish yet functional top for the court, the Step Up is made from a pique cotton, breathable ribbed fabric.

In the year In 2022, Polo will play a different role, telegraphing a highly individual style. From streetwear to tailoring to high fashion, menswear brands are putting their own spin on the shirt. Mr. P makes versions with puffy collars and piping accents, while Maison Margiela riffs on checkered fabric that’s clung to her waist like a picnic blanket (it looks better than it looks, which is why it’s sold out). JW Anderson, a creature not known for his tennis prowess, is printed with elephant art.

London-based designer Nicholas Daley, whose Jamaican-Scottish heritage informs his menswear, has collaborated with classic sportswear brand Fred Perry on a series of polos. It has a pair of zip-up pockets and a corduroy collar; On the other side, “Fred Perry” is emblazoned across the back in a bold, pop font.

Mr Daley, 32, said he wanted to “reinterpret the classic Fred Perry branding” and “focus on the little details – from the antique brass zips to the topstitching.”[ing]- It helps to increase the production. Such details, combined with bold stripes and colors — khaki and maroon stand out — result in the all-time polo, “You can wear it during the day and down to a business meeting.” [in] That night mosh pit” Mr. Daley teamed up with “a hunting waistcoat, wine bag cargo pants and a hand crocheted bucket hat made by my mom”.

Many designers play with polo’s standard three buttons. Some designs feature buttons that go down to the navel, a trendy style known as “full placket.” Others remove all traces. With office-appropriate iterations in the armory and the right fabric, with buttoned collars and cuffs, the dress-shirt DNA is infused into the polo’s genetic make-up. Meanwhile, sleeves are usually double-breasted tights (like Mr. Evans’ splotchy polo) or elbow-grazing oversize. And, with fabrics from woven silk blends to cable wool, you can say pique is passé.

Rhys Moore, 66, chief executive of a perfume company in Ridgefield, said the new range of fabrics is “definitely part of the appeal”. Polos by Atlanta brand Onward Reserve in a quick-dry, moisture-wicking blend. These polos’ “stiff” collars and fine striped prints make them sharper and more work-friendly than regular cotton, he said.

Atlanta-based Sid Mashburn updated the polo by adding a collar. [you would] A dress shirt.” The result? Collars that stand on their own and “look great under a jacket”.

Mr. Mashburn thinks spiffier polos like his soft cotton-cashmere designs are ideal because many men are loathe to give up comfort when they return to the office and social events. “They wear more than a T-shirt or a sweatshirt without getting irritated,” he says.

Steve Schuck, owner of Austin men’s store Stag, says they can be fun and attention-grabbing, too. Woven from Japanese rayon, the polo mandarin is finished in orange brown and white checks, while the New York barque suggests a high argyle print. Mr. Shook said such fast-selling styles were circulating in menswear as a “throwback to the Italian Riviera of the late ’50s, the ‘talented Mr. Ripley’ look.”

Andreas Kloe, 42, a partner at a law firm in Malmö, Sweden, found Polo’s inspiration in director Anthony Minghella’s 1999 film “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Like debonair victim Dickie Greenleaf (Judas Law), he considers poulos a warm-weather “hang out” staple, and he’s been endearing people from resort company Terry this summer. Pool bar.

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