Men have a special relationship with shirts, since this item of clothing cannot be replaced by anything. Nowadays, there are a lot of different variations of this clothing, ranging from classics to trendy models. Among all this “variegation”, the polo shirt has long and firmly occupied its niche. In the article, we will consider in more detail the history of the emergence and features of this attire.
Appearance
A polo shirt is a knitted piece of clothing that has a small fastener in the company with a stand-up collar. Traditionally, for the manufacture of it, they take an elastic cotton fabric pique (knitted fabric). Basically, this shirt is used for everyday wear, relaxing with friends, playing sports (for example, tennis, golf, etc.).
It is noteworthy that in countries where the climate is constantly hot, it is even allowed to be worn to work in the office. Many people confuse a polo with a T-shirt, as the material is similar. However, it differsfrom a simple T-shirt with the same fastener with a collar.
History of occurrence
Designers assure us that the history of the described shirt is connected with France, and the athlete of this country, René Lacoste, is the creator. But these are just speculations and attempts to promote Lacoste in sales. In reality, polo originated in England and is inextricably linked with the game of polo. This game, by the way, originated in the distant sixth century BC in Persia, and then revived in India in a modern interpretation.
There is another idea as to where the polo shirt came from. Legendary golfer Herold Twit is believed to be involved, and the shirts went on sale after the opening of a production called "Polo Tweet", which was funded by a well-known golf tournament.
The production of colored polo shirts was started by Lacoste in the early 50s of the last century, before that there were mostly basic neutral tones. Around the same time, only a year later, under the brand "Fred Perry" polo shirts with short sleeves in blue and white colors began to be made. But for contrast, two bright stripes were added to the collar and cuffs. And the buttons on the collar appeared already in the mid-1960s.
Interesting facts
It is worth noting that the short-sleeved polo shirt (men's) quickly became popular not only among athletes, but also among ordinary spectators. So, in 1987 of the last century, a professional equestrian polo team "Hacket Polo" was founded. Tim". And purposefully for its players, they released a whole series of sports polo shirts. Branded clothing was distinguished by brightness, beauty and convenience. As soon as polo shirts with player numbers appeared in stores, fans and ordinary people sold them with a bang.
Variety of patterns
Designers can be said to be divided into two camps: some decided to create polo shirts exclusively in a sporty style, others - for everyday wear or going out for a walk. Now, even for celebrities, the polo shirt has become familiar and beloved. The short sleeves allow you to move freely, and the collar protects your neck from the sun's rays in summer.
The color palette includes both plain shirts and striped, plaid, zigzag, embellished and more. We are more used to seeing summer styles, but the long sleeve polo shirt is no less popular. It is more suitable for cool weather, sailing (if it is windy), etc.
Classic
The classic polo has a loose and straight cut without being too tight. A mandatory element is a fastener with two or three buttons. Sometimes on such models you can see small cuts on the sides, and the front part is a centimeter shorter than the back. Most often, pique knitwear is used for production.
Fitted silhouette
The fitted style (or "slim fit") is sometimes too tight-fitting, for which stretch knitwear is used. There are no cuts on the silhouette, and both canvases are the same length. Such models are sometimesdecorated with prints in the form of stripes, inscriptions, branded patches, patterns in the Hawaiian style. The collar of the "slims" is smaller in size than that of the classics. This shirt looks better on a fit and athletic figure, while it emphasizes the presence of a tummy even more.
What to combine with
Today, the polo shirt fits perfectly into almost any style: casual, sports, business or office, club, etc. It can be combined with shorts, trousers, jeans, breeches. Can also be worn with slim fit trousers or chinos. From the top, a cardigan or a sweater with a V-neck is a good fit, as well as a mac, trench coat, harrington. As for shoes, moccasins, sneakers, regular sneakers, topsiders, loafers are used here.
Girls sometimes combine polo shirts with a skirt and flats. For office workers, stylists recommend wearing a plain polo with semi-classic trousers, and a sports jacket on top. For an informal look, loose-fitting polo tucks are tucked into trousers and finished with the right belt.
