A Long Sleeve Polo Shirt Is the Easiest Way to Dress up This Fall

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To put it simply: a long sleeve polo shirt is dressier and warmer than its short sleeve counterpart, but more comfortable than a button-down shirt. That's because the longer sleeve length works for a wide range of dress codes, from casual, cocktail attire, to semi-formal. The best long sleeve polo shirts look great under a blazer or sweater during fall or winter, or even on their own once temps start to warm up. That's why you're likely to catch stylish dudes like Jon Hamm, Ryan Reynolds, and Idris Elba, rocking long sleeve polos.

Whether you're stocking up on polos for the winter, or buying these shirts for the first time, there are a couple things to consider before buying. Pretty much every option out there can be divided into two categories based on fabric: performance or classic. Performance long sleeve polo shirts have stretch and other synthetic fabrics that make them light, breathable, and agile. Classic options, on the other hand, are made of cotton, wool, cashmere, and other natural fibers that provide a more refined look. While both options offer a bit of both, you have to decide if you want to max out on comfort or style. Polos made from merino wool and cashmere are best for work and social occasions, while sportier, synthetic options are best for casual occasions, like weekend errands.

So give your oxfords, chambrays, and dress shirts some rest by subbing in a few long sleeve polo shirts this fall. You'll feel a little more comfortable without losing an ounce of style in the process. Our fashion editors have tested more than 50 long sleeve polo shirts in the past year, and rounded up the best options to buy online.

The Long-Sleeve Pique Polo

Everlane stuck to the basics: A polo made with a classic pique cotton that's naturally stretchy and breathable. It works for the office, date night, dinner party, or grocery runs equally well. Plenty of our MH editors have worked this shirt into their work week uniform.

Merino Wool Long-Sleeve Johnny Collar Shirt

A johnny collar is simply a polo style collar without any buttons. The effect is a v-shape relaxed open neck. Vince made the opening shallow here, which keeps things a little more formal. Combined with a supple merino wool, this is a perfect business casual shirt.

Long-Sleeve Uniform Pique Polo

Relaxed and super soft, this cotton-poly blend polo from Old Navy is a weekend warrior. We love wearing this while watching football with the guys, knocking off our to-do list, or just chilling out with a good book.

Long Sleeve Strato Tech Polo

Ultra soft and deceptively stretchy, this long sleeve option from Vuori hides its functionality well. At face value, this is a classic polo. But throw it on, and you'll feel how light, agile, and incredibly comfortable it really is. We love the dressy button cuffs that add a little more formality, making this a top notch office shirt.

Herringbone Cashmere Polo-Collar Sweater

You can't get much more classic than cashmere herringbone, especially with a shirt. From fabric to stitching, Ralph Lauren's Purple Label uses only the best-of-the-best materials. That makes this cashmere sweater looks as amazing as it feels.

Fine Silk-Cashmere Polo

How do you make cashmere even more regal? Mix in a little silk. This long sleeve polo from Luca Faloni fits slim, and has a no-placket collar design that's incredibly sleek. It is the perfect alternative to a dress shirt for wearing with suits and casual blazers.

Cashmere herringbone jacquard collared sweater

Cashmere isn't just super soft, it is incredibly warm as well. J.Crew used a thicker weave for this knit polo shirt, which will keep you toasty all winter long. Six color options are available, including four solids, but the brown herringbone with contrast cuffs and collar is our top pick.

Read more: Best Knitted Polo Shirts

Solid Stretch Jersey Long Sleeve Polo

Optimized for the golf course and stylish enough for the office, this long sleeve polo shirt from Peter Miller is the best of both worlds. It is essentially an athletic shirt with a polo collar on it, providing ample flexibility and give. The fit is slim, but not compression tight, so it works for every-day wear.

Read more: Best Golf Shirts

Long-Sleeve Merino Tipped Polo

Offering a '60s vintage vibe with the tipped collar and matching pocket, this long sleeve polo shirt comes in a modern slim fit. Todd Snyder chose an exceptionally supple merino wool that has a slight natural stretch. Style it with some dress pants and loafers for a full-proof office fit.

Rugby Polo

New Jersey-based menswear brand Faherty is synonymous with breezy style, and this rugby shirt is a perfect example. Built from a soft jersey cotton and emblazoned with a three stripe design, it's the perfect shoulder weather shirt. We like to wear this with a puffer vest and corduroy pants come fall.

Read more: Best Rugby Shirts for Men

California Cashmere L/S Polo

This cashmere sweater polo from Buck Mason is slim fitting, but not form fitting. That means you can cut a stylish silhouette without feeling constricted. It's warm and super soft, so you probably won't want to wear a shirt underneath. Top the look off with chinos or dress pants and some derby shoes for an easy cocktail attire look.

Commuter Long Sleeve Polo

For a looser fit optimized for comfort, check out the Commuter Long Sleeve Polo from Rhone. Polyamide and elastane give the fabric a four-way stretch with the same kind of jersey texture as your favorite sweatshirt. We love wearing this under all of our sweaters for a dressy-but-still-cozy office fit.

Premium Essentials+ Velvet Long Sleeve Polo Shirt

Most long sleeve polo shirts can handle work, but this one is all play. The green velvet and slouchy fit give an '80s B-boy look, matched by the OG Adidas logo embroidered on the chest. Rock it with a pair of baggy jeans and some shell tops.

Oban Vertical Knit Polo

The ribbed diamond knit of this long sleeve polo from Wax London provides a unique texture and a natural stretch, which is helped along by the cotton/nylon/elastane blend fabric. Style it with some dark jeans and a pair of loafers for a polished look.

Polo Neve Brushed-Knit Sweater

Colder weather calls for fuzzy sweaters. This one om French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus is as cozy as your favorite blanket. Better still, it is decadently stylish, with a boxy fit and oversized collar. Balance out the fuzz with some jeans and leather sneakers.

Evolution Long Sleeve Polo Shirt

Lululemon built a long sleeve polo that looks like a classic shirt, but wears like top-of-the-line athletic gear. The pique fabric is classic, but is infused with moisture-wicking technology to keep you feeling fresh. While it was technically designed for golf, we love wearing this polo shirt just about everywhere.

Raymond 6584 Wool-Blend Polo Shirt

This black polo shirt from NN07 is as dressy as any button-down shirt, while feeing way more comfortable. The wool and acrylic blend fabric is warm but soft, without any of that lambswool itch. The deep four button neck creates a dressier look that pairs well with a blazer or topcoat.

Lambswool Polo Shirt

This "jumper," as the Brits call it, is handknit in Scotland using wool spun at one of the worlds oldest mills: Todd and Duncan. Sunspel pays extra close attention to little details like stitching and cuff design, and it shows here. Wear it like a sweater with jeans and some dress boots. Deputy Commerce Editor Christian Gollayan has this in multiple colors. "It's become my default work uniform," he says.

Pattern Long-Sleeve 3-Button Sweater Polo

Most long sleeve polo shirts come in solid colors, but sometimes you need a good pattern like this diamond paisley motif from Abercrombie. The blended cotton fabric is light and soft with a touch of stretch, making this a great substitute for an oxford or formal shirt. We love it teamed up with a fall blazer fabric like tweed or corduroy.

Ghost Pressure Brushed Wool Polo

Wool shirts can be itchy, but when done right it can be supple and soft. For example, the Scottish wool used by Howlin is supremely cozy, while providing exceptional warmth and durability. In short, this is our go-to winter sweater.

How We Selected the Best Long Sleeve Polo Shirts for Men

Brad Lanphear is a style pro with more than a decade of experience testing and styling menswear essentials, including long sleeve polo shirts. For this story, he and Deputy Commerce Editor Christian Gollayan tested over 50 long sleeve polo shirts and evaluated their construction, comfort, and just how great they looked. They also combed through hundreds of five-star reviews from e-commerce sites they trust, and also scanned through countless Reddit threads like r/malefashionadvice, for unbiased opinions on the best long sleeve polo shirts for men. Lanphear and Gollayan wear most of these polo shirts regularly.

Shop More of the Best Shirts for Men

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