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The polo shirt has become one of the most versatile wardrobe essentials for men — but not all polos are made equal. The best men’s polo shirts vary in fabrications, fits, and purpose of wear, because the relaxed-collared shirt with origins in the sport of tennis — thanks to René Lacoste — evolved into a semi-casual, everyday shirt that can be equally fitting for wedding attire, business attire, or just another lazy weekend with the guys.

The classic cotton piqué polo shirt by Lacoste and Ralph Lauren’s signature cotton mesh styles are widely known and have been menswear favorites since their initial releases. Some time between the Lacoste’s 1920s creation and the 1972 launch of Ralph Lauren’s iconic polos, the knit polo shirt was embraced by old Hollywood style heavyweights from Steve McQueen to James Dean, which provided a relaxed feel that complimented the cool-guy attitude of these popular movie stars. The polo was paired with casual chinos, pleated trousers, and worn under suiting blazers and even lightweight sweaters.

The shirting alternative to a starchy button-down continued to play a crucial part in menswear wardrobes, especially as fabric developments with blends of polyester, elastane and the development of anti-bacterial silver ion technology continued to make the short-sleeved style essential fit the modern man’s lifestyle.

In 2019, there was a renaissance of the men’s knit polo shirt in Hollywood once again. As celebrity stylist Ilaria Urbinati explained to me back then for Men’s Health Magazine, the knit polo shirt is ideal for men to show off their sculpted biceps, pectorals, and shoulders — especially for her muscular A-list clients at the time, such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — while the fabric skims the midsection to flatter your form, providing great comfort, all while forgiving any less-than-toned abdomens. Following the casual codes of the pandemic, the knit polo shirt continued to grow in mainstream popularity outside of La-La Land.

Today, the leading men of Hollywood continue to push dressing codes with just about anything than the classic suit-and-tie combination, from tank tops under blazers to fresh silhouettes of men’s shirting sans jacket.

As for the designer runway collections, the top menswear shows of the spring 2026 season showcased the best polo shirts in oversized silhouettes at Giorgio Armani and Ami, to more classic iterations at Brioni and Bally.

As a veteran style editor that’s always greatly appreciated polos of all types, I’ve highlighted the best polo shirts I’ve worn, tested and coveted in the summer and year-round.

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Meet the Author

Adam Mansuroglu is the editorial director of commerce for WWD and Footwear News, overseeing shopping content and strategy for both brands, along with writing and editing shopping guides, product reviews, and trend stories across fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle product categories for men and women. Prior to his current role, Mansuroglu was a fashion editor and stylist at Cosmopolitan Magazine, style editor at BestProducts.com, and senior style and gear editor at Men’s Health Magazine. Mansuroglu has been tapped as a shopping expert for editorial websites such as Wirecutter, and his writing has also appeared in Out Magazine, Esquire and other publications.