18 Polo Shirts That’ll Restore Your Faith in Polo Shirts

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

To be honest, the polo shirt hasn't had the easiest time. For a while, it was shorthand for a kind of office-schlub, sad-sack resignation to the worst impulses of business casual. Then finance-bro versions came along and became the de facto uniform of Wall Street post-grads and lawn-mowing dads alike. And obviously they've become invisibly branded with the phrase "I <3 golf." Yeah, it's been a struggle.

So we totally get why you might be a little hesitant to don a polo shirt. But in acknowledging the polo shirt's checkered past, we hope that we've also given you the foundation to trust us when we tell you the polo is back, baby, and it's looking better than ever. There's a whole slew of polos on the market, ranging from the classic Ralph Lauren style to sweater-y, mid-century-ish versions. These are polo shirts for hanging out and hanging loose. The only polo shirts you'll find here are made for the good life.

Now, the polo is one of the smartest pieces of clothing a guy could own. It doesn't matter the season—the same styles that you wore solo in spring and summer make for great layering pieces in winter and fall, whether under a blazer, sweater, or cardigan. If you don't believe us yet, maybe these 18 polo shirts will convince you otherwise.

The Performance Polo

A go-to option if ever there was one, thanks to the moisture-wicking, stretchy material that's versatile enough to go from the green to the office. Wear. Wash. Repeat.

Made in L.A. Tipped Montauk Polo Shirt

Leave it to Todd Snyder to make a polo—so often considered a staple of East Coast prep—into a paragon of laid-back, West Coast style. This contrast-piping style comes in an array of bright, summery colors, so don't feel shy about stocking up on a few.

X-Temp Short Sleeve Polo Shirt

For under $10, this soft style is a steal. It has a classic, versatile look that can be dressed up or down, a standard fit, and—perhaps best of all—anti-odor fabric that you'll come to cherish during the hottest months of the year.

Evolution Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt

Sweat-wicking, odor-preventing fabric makes this the ultimate polo for an active day. Although Lululemon designed this for golfing, you'll come to realize that you can take this moisture-wicking, classic style out for a spin just about anywhere.

The Iconic Mesh Polo Shirt

Name one thing more classic than a Ralph Lauren polo. We'll wait. With a wide array of colors and an infallibly chic style, this is the option that will never do you wrong.

GG Stretch Cotton Polo

For a classy statement look, there's no going wrong with Gucci. Picture it: this polo with khakis and leather sandals, plus the best thing on the menu on a warm summer evening.

Stretch Pique Polo Shirt

Gap is all about serving up basic, comfortable pieces at great prices. This polo, for instance—you can dress it up, or you can dress it down, but just know you're going to be wearing it a lot.

Regular-Fit Cotton Pique Polo Shirt

Wear this with slacks and loafers or jeans and sneakers—whatever the occasion is, it'll rise right to it.

Luxury-Touch Polo

Soft to the touch and stylish in looks, this is the go-to option for a no-nonsense polo. With jeans, trousers, or even shorts, you can't go wrong with this option.

Casa Martini Knitted Polo

Percival's knit polo is still great for the warmer months, because it's lightweight, stylish, and oh-so soft. When you want to stay cool but aren't afraid to mix things up a little bit, this is the way to go.

Strato Tech Polo

In the rare occasion that you do intend to wear your polo to the golf course, Vuori's knit polo is perfect for doing just that. It's quick-drying and moisture-wicking, so you will keep dry in the heat.

Logo-Embroidered Cotton-Piqué Polo Shirt

Burberry knows its way around the classics. This polo is smart and sharp, with a slim fit, a subtle, embroidered logo, and all the understated elegance that money can buy.

Original Petit Piqué Cotton Polo

Lacoste is, after all, an OG in the world of polos. If anyone's perfected the art that they created, it's these guys.

Sueded Cotton Polo

Small-batch garment dyeing creates a timeworn effect in this faded wash. Disclaimer: it's not suede—it's sueded for softness.

Polo Shirt

The house's iconic bee makes an appearance on a subtly striped polo shirt. Luxury meets function in elegant ergonomics.

Logo-Appliquéd Piqué Polo Shirt

The Stone Island logo is basically a seal of approval at this point—especially on a polo this sharp.

Dry Pique Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt

Uniqlo doing what Uniqlo does best: providing simple, well-made basics at a fantastic pricepoint. This polo is affordable, versatile, and lightweight, making it perfect for those long, hot summer days.

Fancy Cashmere Short Sleeve Polo

It's in the name: this is fancy. It's not too fancy, though, but with that 100% Mongolian cashmere fabric, you'll certainly feel like a king.

Tips For Choosing

Think of these four things when you're shopping for a polo shirt: fabric, fit, style, and occasion. We've done the work for you by listing out every polo shirt's fabric and fit on this list, so whether you want a slim, quick-drying, moisture-wicking option to wear to the golf course or a standard-fitting, cashmere option to dress up at work, you're not short of choice.

Style and occasion are two elements that go hand in hand. A bold look, like the styles from Gucci or Casablanca, probably aren't going to be your best bet if you like a more minimalist, understated vibe, but something just as high-end—like the bee-embroidered pick from Dior—will do perfectly. If you're just going to work, chances are you can get away with almost any option. But we wouldn't recommend wearing, say, the Lululemon or Vuori options to a formal dinner.

Tips For Styling

The beauty of a polo shirt is that it's versatile enough to look good with pretty much anything. That being said, there are certainly some ways to style a polo that look better than others.

If you're wanting to dress your polo shirt up, the way to do it is with dress pants, which could be pleated trousers, chinos, khakis, or sometimes, even a really nice pair of jeans. Loafers are always a good idea, and for summer, even a leather sandal could work.

Dressing a polo down is a breeze. Pair with anything from jeans to shorts swim trunks, add your favorite sneakers, and be merrily on your way.

More Like This

• The 12 Best Knit Polos to Seamlessly Elevate Your Style

• 15 Best Button-Down Shirts Worth Building Your Wardrobe Around

• The 13 Best Oxford Shirts Should Be Staples in Your Closet

• The 12 Best Linen Shirts for Summoning Big Vacation Energy

• The 15 Best Short Sleeve Button-Ups to Wear All Summer Long

Why You Can Trust Esquire

We’re not going to write about how great things are if they aren’t actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups are carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to polos, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for everything from WFH days to weekend outings. We've had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these polos are the ones that are simply the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

You Might Also Like

• Kid Cudi Is All Right

• 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks