The polo shirt sits somewhere between a t-shirt and a shirt, making it the perfect piece for those many events in life that are neither completely formal nor completely casual. It's great for summer first dates, barbecues, and when you're not quite sure where your plans for the day or evening will take you.

The right fit

Even when it comes to casual everyday wear, the cool, breathable polo shirt is just as easy and comfortable as a t-shirt, but with a more polished look, making it a great way to upgrade your summer style.

If you want to wear a polo shirt with style, the most important thing, as with all clothing, is to get the fit right. In general, the polo shirt should fit snugly to your body, but not too tight.

It may be a bit tighter over your chest and arms and then taper down towards your waist.

Below you will find good advice for choosing the right size.

Tips for choosing size

The better shape you are in, the tighter the polo can fit, but you don't want it to be tight. As a rule of thumb, you should still be able to fit a couple of fingers under the sleeves.

The hem should not go any lower than halfway down the zipper/back pockets of your pants - no higher than the hip and no lower than a few inches below your waistband/belt.

The polo shirt should be long enough that you can tuck it into your pants, but short enough that you can wear it over your pants without it looking like a nightgown.

The sleeves should hit about halfway down your biceps and not run further than 2/3 down your upper arm.

The story behind the polo shirt

Despite the name it is known by today, the polo shirt did not originate from the "sport of kings", but from tennis.

Despite the name it is known by today, the polo shirt did not originate from the "sport of kings", but from tennis.

In its early days, tennis had a touch of aristocratic flair and was played in an outfit known as "tennis whites" - corduroy trousers, a shirt (with sleeves rolled up) and even a tie. Thick, heavy, hot and cumbersome - these garments were obviously not suitable for playing an active outdoor sport.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner René Lacoste decided to address this problem by creating his own ideal tennis shirt. Thus was born the first polo shirt. Made from comfortable, breathable "jersey petit piqué" cotton and with only three buttons at the top instead of buttons all the way down, as was the case with the shirt. The collar was soft but still stiff enough to stand up, providing protection from the sun.

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