How to Choose a Polo Shirt for Work

A good work polo sits in the gap between a dress shirt and a T-shirt: comfortable enough for a long day, put-together enough for a meeting or a video call. The difference between one that works and one that looks like weekend wear comes down to five things.

1. Start with the collar

The collar does most of the work. It should stand up on its own and keep its shape after washing — a floppy, curling collar is the quickest way to look underdressed. Look for a ribbed collar set on a separate collar band rather than a single layer of fabric.

Then pick the style that suits your office:

• Classic collar with a button placket — the most versatile. Works for nearly any office, with or without a blazer. (Our Signature.)
• Hidden placket — the buttons sit under a strip of fabric, so the front looks clean and sharp. Best for presentations, interviews and client days. (The Pitch.)
• Open collar, no buttons — relaxed and breathable, good for warm days and casual teams, and easy under an overshirt. (The Breeze.)

2. Get the fit right

Fit matters more than brand. A well-fitting polo looks deliberate; a loose one looks like you're off to the gym. Check these points in the mirror:

• Shoulders: the seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder, not halfway down your arm.
• Chest: close to the body without pulling at the buttons or the side seams.
• Sleeves: ending around mid-bicep, sitting close without gripping.
• Length: long enough to stay put when you raise your arms, short enough to wear untucked — roughly the middle of your trouser zip.

Measuring a polo you already like and comparing it with a size chart is the most reliable way to buy online. Here's our size guide.

3. Choose fabric that holds up

You'll wear and wash a work polo far more often than most clothes, so fabric is where cheaper options fall apart. Natural fibres look more professional than shiny synthetics. Among cottons, longer-staple varieties such as Supima stay softer, pill less and keep their colour longer than regular cotton.

4. Keep colours simple

Solid neutrals are the easiest to wear at work and the easiest to mix with what you already own. A sensible starting set:

• Navy — the safest choice of all, smart with grey, beige or black trousers.
• Black — sharp and modern, especially under a jacket.
• Grey — softer than black, and forgiving.
• White — crisp in hot weather; keep it for days without coffee meetings.

Skip big logos, stripes and contrast tipping on the collar — they push a polo towards casual. For which shades suit you, see polo colours for every skin tone.

5. Wear it like you mean it

• Tucked or untucked: untucked is fine if the hem sits at mid-zip. Tuck it in with tailored trousers and a belt for a sharper look.
• Under a blazer: a structured collar sits neatly over the lapels. Button-placket and hidden-placket styles work best here. More in polos that work under a blazer.
• Buttons: leave the top one open. Doing them all up reads as dated.
• Shoes and trousers: chinos or tailored trousers with loafers or clean leather sneakers keep it office-appropriate.

Building a five-day rotation

You don't need many polos — you need the right few. Five is enough for a week without repeats, and three is a good start. Two navy, one black, one grey and one white covers almost every situation. Wear them in rotation, wash them properly, and getting dressed stops being a decision. Our 10-piece capsule wardrobe builds the rest of the week around them, and the complete polo shirt guide goes deeper on everything here.

That idea — a uniform, not a closet — is why we make the Core Polo: three collars, four neutral colours, one Supima cotton fabric.