Ralph Lauren’s pioneering vision of American style includes several sub-labels, with the most iconic undoubtedly being the very first: Polo Ralph Lauren. What started in 1967 as a small venture selling wide-blade neck ties soon ballooned into one of the most successful brands in history, forever changing fashion and influencing legions of designers. Approaching 60 years in business, Polo has shored up unfathomable amounts of cultural capital, been the subject of countless trends, and produced more iconic pieces than just about every other brand out there.
And somehow, even with such a gargantuan presence, Polo has also managed to maintain its reputation for meticulous attention to detail and long-lasting quality. (Just think about how many thrift stores carry Polo pieces, and how good those pieces still look today, even when they’re decades-old and totally washed out.)
All this is to say that whether you’re a hardcore preppie, a ‘90s hip-hop fiend, a workwear obsessive, or simply anyone with a passing interest in style, Polo is for you.
But if you’ve never shopped there before, it can be daunting to walk into a Polo store cold. To help, here’s a quick rundown on the best of what Polo does—which, as you might have guessed, is a lot. The polo shirt is so central to the Ralph universe that it’s hard to separate the two, even if the origins of what we know as the polo shirt lie neither with Ralph, nor the equestrian sport.
Safe to say, the brand did make
Safe to say, the brand did make the polo iconic, and naturally, it’s still one of the most reliable garments Ralph makes. You’ll find it in the classic mesh-pique fabric, in dozens of colors, as well as plenty of stripes and prints. If you’re so inclined, you can even build your own custom polo shirt with your preferred color palette and embroidery. Polo’s range of knits is one of its strongest categories, especially as it often partners with heritage mills that offer unrivaled craftsmanship.
Think Scottish-made Fair Isle sweaters, chunky hand-knit sweaters made by Guatemalan artisans, and luscious Italian cashmere. A few of Polo’s most iconic sweaters are also knit right at home in the States, like its American flag sweaters, as well as the super cute Polo Bear sweaters, birthed decades ago when Ralph Lauren’s team gifted both him and his brother Jerry teddy bears dressed in their likenesses.
Polo’s best pants span far beyond its famous chinos, though those are of course very good. From plush corduroys to tack-sharp tailored trousers to hard-edged military cargos—each with top-level materials and construction–you can find anything you need, in practically any silhouette. Polo’s also not shy about tossing in more affordable and accessible pants like chinos with a skosh of stretch, or dress pants with a smattering of poly, but the best of ‘em are made with all-natural materials like 100% cotton ripstop, or wool milled in Italy or England.
Polo’s button-ups range from preppy Oxford-cloth button-downs
Polo’s button-ups range from preppy Oxford-cloth button-downs to retro-leaning flannels, and much more. The full-cotton shirts will last forever, too—just look at the 1980s and 1990s Blake and Yarmouth cuts that still line the racks of your trustiest local thrift store. And while the staples are great, Polo has occasionally played with some freakier, far-out pieces that hold increasingly high value with collectors on the secondhand market.
While Ralph Lauren Purple Label is known for its ultra-luxe tailoring and GOATed cashmere knits, Polo is no sartorial slouch either. The line’s purview touches everything from tweed sportcoats to two-piece linen suits with a Neapolitan savoir faire all the way to satin-graced tuxedos worthy of any red carpet. And as Ralph is wont to do, much of the tailoring is manufactured by well-established houses that use materials from trusted, premium mills.
They just produce at such a scale that they can charge Polo prices for it, which is a win for us all. While many of the above styles stick to one dominant look, Polo’s outerwear is probably the most expansive of all of its categories, and shows the label’s range the best. From classic golf jackets to ski-ready down coats, mil-spec parkas, and elegant tweed topcoats, there’s a selection for every menswear subgenre.
Source: www.gq.com
