Polo Shirts: Fabric, Fit and Keeping the Collar

FASHION · GLOBAL

Polo Shirts: Fabric, Fit and Keeping the Collar

Piqué and jersey, sizing, why collars curl and how to wash them

A polo shirt is a simple garment where two things go wrong repeatedly — the fit through the body and the collar losing its shape. Both are decided by the knit and by how it is washed.

Piqué and jersey

Piqué is a textured waffle-like knit that holds its shape, breathes well and hides creasing. It is the traditional polo fabric and the more durable of the two.

Jersey is smooth and flat, drapes closer to the body and looks more formal, and it shows every line and creases more.

Cotton breathes; a small amount of elastane adds comfort and shortens the garment's life. Polyester blends hold colour and trap heat.

Fit

The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder, and the sleeve should end around mid-bicep. The hem should cover the belt and no more, since polos are worn untucked as often as tucked.

Work from the garment measurements laid flat rather than the size letter, since sizing varies between brands and markets.

Why collars curl

Heat and agitation. Tumble drying is the main cause, and hanging a wet polo by the shoulders stretches the collar under the weight of the water.

Wash cool, and dry flat or on a hanger only once most of the water has gone. A collar stay or simply folding the collar down flat while damp keeps the shape.

Washing

Cool, inside out, with the buttons fastened so the placket does not distort. Skip fabric softener, which coats cotton and flattens the piqué texture.

Iron the collar from the underside and the placket flat.

When to wear one

A polo shirt sits somewhere between a t-shirt and a proper shirt. Worn with the collar flat, untucked with chinos or shorts, it reads as smart casual, and most dress codes describing themselves that way accept one.

A slim fit in a plain colour dresses up considerably further than a loose one covered in logos.

Buying online

Sizing differs between markets even within one brand, so check the size chart for the country you are ordering from rather than assuming your usual size travels with you.

Caring for the logo

Embroidered logos survive washing indefinitely; printed ones crack and flake with heat. Wash inside out on a cool cycle and skip the tumble dryer entirely on anything with a printed logo.

Colour

Dark and bright colours fade fastest in sunlight and heat. Dry in shade rather than direct sun.

Buy a second of anything that fits well, since makers revise their patterns quietly.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Lacoste BR? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Lacoste BR — official site

Visit this site