How to wear men's polos: our tips

Men's polo shirts are more than just a summer wardrobe must-have. Known forever as an item with timeless charm, elegant and versatile, polo shirts can also be worn in contemporary streetwear looks. From elegant men's polos to summer models, we at Urbanstaroma have a selection of men's polo shirts specially made for you. Comfortable and breathable like a t-shirt, but elegant like a shirt, men's polos are the ideal choice for those looking for a comfortable garment with a refined silhouette. Now it's just a matter of understanding how to wear men's polo shirts and how to create streetwear looks even in summer.

Let's start with an apparently simple question to understand the history of this garment that has agreed with almost everyone for decades. The birth of the polo has always been associated with the tennis court: it was there that champion René Lacoste realized the potential of cotton piqué, the collar, and the comfort of short sleeves. From 1926 to today, men's polo shirts have moved from tennis courts to casual wardrobes and have entered contemporary street style looks. Thanks, once again, to the tennis-fashion combination: Fred Perry and Ralph Lauren made the polo even more iconic. But let's discover how to wear men's polo shirts.

At Urbanstaroma, we have a streetwear selection that ranges from the codes of workwear and Japanese functionalism to classic street style brands, up to the most exclusive collaborations. But how to wear men's polo shirts? Let's start by identifying which could be the best men's polo shirts and then understand how to match them. Among the best brands you can consider when buying a men's polo, we suggest focusing on classics like Nike or the classic piquet polo from Carhartt WIP. Among the most exclusive polo models, a valid style ally to bet on is Comme des Garçons: both the men's polo shirts from Comme des Garçons Shirt and the playful models from Comme des Garçons Play are true must-haves. Moving instead to models faithful to Japanese streetwear, we suggest two polo models: the essential models from Beams Plus and those with star graphics from Needles.

Once you have chosen the polo you like, you might move on to figuring out how to best match it depending on the occasion and your style. For example: which jacket to wear over a polo? The answer is it depends. Thinking about summer clothing, consider pairing a seersucker cotton jacket for maximum breathability like the models from Universal Works. As for spring, you could pair the polo with a classic jacket like the Baracuta models or a sporty but refined model like Stone Island.

Once you have identified the best summer polo for you, all that's left is to find the perfect pair of pants. Here too, feel free to experiment and mix different styles to find your identity. Imagining pairing the minimal polo from Comme des Garcons Shirt or Play, you might consider wearing it with Carhartt WIP shorts: we suggest the iconic Single Knee in light denim or a black nylon model for a minimal look. Also, for the striped polo from Beams Plus, a hybrid shirt model, the perfect summer match is with a pair of white jeans like those from Uniform Experiment. 

We come to the end of styling and, of course, we can't help but think about the shoes to match with the polo. Here too, there are no particular rules to follow: you can opt for a pair of sneakers if you have a streetwear style or a pair of loafers or Clarks Wallabee for a more minimal style. The fit of the pants, of course, is essential: the shoe or sneaker you choose must enhance both the polo and the selected pants. A pair of suede clogs - yes, Birkenstock is always a good idea, as is the new Birkenstock 1774 x Maharishi collaboration - or a hybrid model like Merrell or Keen can be equally valid. After all, we are in the era of post-sneakers.

After reviewing different types of men's polo shirts, we have concluded that choosing the best summer polo and understanding how to best match it depends on your style and preferred fit. Have you already decided how to wear men's polos in summer?