Spring has finally arrived! For a gentleman, polo shirts form an essential part of your warm-weather wardrobe. Whether you’re dressing up a pair of shorts and some white sneakers or espadrilles on vacation, or dressing down some nice chinos and loafers, or even a casual blazer, the right polo can give an air of ease and sophistication to many different looks. We’ll explore the five best men’s polo shirts for 2024, so you can add some relaxed versatility and variety to your wardrobe.
What to look for in a polo shirt
Before we dive into the best men’s polo shirts, you must first consider a few key points to wearing this piece like a gentleman.
- Small or no logo. Big logos (or too many logos) are a bit flashy and hard to pull off. You’re usually better off keeping it simple and sleek.
- Smooth or lightly textured fabric. Heavy pique knits can get hot quickly, but some finer pique knits offer a subtle texture to add some depth to your look. Smoother knits can work well for dressier outfits, and some casual-leaning polos offer lightweight weaves or are even made from performance fabric, both of which can keep you cool on a hot day.
- Shirt-fabric or high quality ribbed collars. Cheap ribbed collars end up floppy and out of shape in hot/humid weather, which can look sloppy. For most situations you want to keep your collar clean and put together.
- Start with a couple in your basic neutral colors you can rotate in on a regular basis and match with a variety of outfit color combinations (grey, navy, white, black, beige). Then branch out into bolder colors to stand out a bit, but also to match the brightness of the warm weather seasons where you will wear your polo shirts.
Let’s look at the best men’s polo shirt options.
Kent Wang
This little known brand is a bit of an underground legend in menswear circles. The website describes this polo best: “the collar is constructed like a woven shirt with a collarband and two layers of self fabric, instead of the typical single layer of ribbed fabric that loses its shape quickly. This allows the collar to naturally lay open elegantly. It is also a spread collar for a subtle, rakish look.”
Due to the structure of the collar, quality of the fabric (substantial but not suffocating), and the small details (like thick mother-of-pearl buttons), we think this is the best polo within a reasonable price range.
The Kent Wang polo leans a little dressier, although the subtle pique fabric keeps it just relaxed enough to wear with some nicer shorts and clean sneakers. But it’s also dressy enough to pair with a sport coat, like the gentleman on the left in the picture above. As you can see, the structured shirt collar stands up under a sport coat for a clean and polished look, while the mother of pearl buttons add a touch of quality.
A less expensive alternative is from Spier and Mackay. The collar is solid and will stand up, and the pique fabric is relatively light compared to most. The fabric and details are not quite as refined as the Kent Wang shirts, but these are still a great value.
Bonobos – Pima Performance Polo
A cotton fabric that is super breathable and light with a clean look. It looks and feels more silky than anything overly tech-y, which I like because sometimes these tech fabric polos can look too much like a workout shirt with buttons. This one is middle of the road in terms of dressiness. You can pair these with everything – shorts, chinos, slacks, and even swim trunks on a pool or beach day.
J. Crew – Slub Cotton Polo
A great casual polo option. This one has more a t-shirt like feel, very soft and light, with a little texture for visual interest. The self-fabric collar is a touch more relaxed than your traditional polo shirt. This piece leans more casual, so probably not a great match with dressier slacks, but it does give a nice relaxed look to your summer attire.
These pair best with anything from swim trunks (like the picture above) to shorts, five-pocket pants, and lightweight chinos.
Spier and Mackay Cable Knit Polo
These knit polos have blown up in popularity over the past couple of years, and Spier and Mackay offers some great options. I love these knit polos because you can dress them up a bit under a jacket or sport coat, but they look just as good on their own. And the loose knit of this model’s cotton/linen blend fabric will keep you cool even in very warm weather.
Among the many knit polos that Spier and Mackay offers, this particular piece offers a bit of texture and visual interest with its cable knit pattern. If you’re not feeling quite this adventurous, feel free to pick one of their other more standard knit options.
Lacoste – Original Polo
Nothing gives off a relaxed, sophisticated summer vibe quite like this all-time classic. Definitely the most established of the best men’s polo shirts. Paired with some cotton or linen chinos, or some clean shorts and plain white sneakers, there’s a reason why this polo never goes out of style. It looks as great sipping a morning espresso at your corner café as it does grabbing an early evening cocktail and some appetizers at your favorite tapas joint.
These five best men’s polo shirts for 2024 offer a variety of casual and dressed up style for your warm weather attire. Choose whichever fits your personal style best, and you’ll exude a relaxed yet put together vibe for the summer.
