An Underrated Wardrobe Staple

Let’s get real: Fall isn't here. Not yet. But you can feel it coming and every now and then we're getting blessed with temperatures that are a little cooler. Crisp nights and still plenty of air conditioning mean that now's the time to re-introduce the long-sleeve polo to your wardrobe.

Maybe you had one last year. Or maybe you just noticed leading men and cool menswear guys wearing them with everything from cargo pants and jeans to proper trousers or under a suit at work or on other slightly dressed-up occasions. Of course, they also look damn good with shorts during this time between seasons that are full of transitional weather.

There's a quiet power to the long-sleeve polo shirt—it's at once classic and preppy, but it's also casual and relaxed. It's the type of shirt that tends to make any guy look a little more handsome. They have the ability to show off your muscles without looking too thirsty. It's a respectable shirt but feels like you're wearing a T-shirt. How can you not love that?

Of course, in our current menswear era where big and boxy is king, this is one shirt that you want a touch tailored. You might even consider [gasp] sizing down a relaxed, knitted polo in order to really get that “Hollywood actor at a press junket” bicep pop. They come in wide range of fabrications, colors and styles, so we pulled our favorites from a range of brands to suit anyone's personal style and budget.