The polo shirt - dead or alive?

[spectre]

I now look back in horror on that ubiquitous look from the eighties and nineties - polo shirt, voluminous pleated chinos and boat shoes.
The pleated chinos and boat shoes went long ago for me and in the past two to three summers I've not worn polos either, preferring button down shirts or an open spread collar with sleeves rolled to the elbow when hot.
Chinos are now slim and flat front while boat shoes are replaced by casual loafers (mainly suede) or unpatterned sneakers.
Do you think there is life yet in the polo?

 

[garmentmerchant]

I kinda agree I very rarely wear a polo these days either, but they are still pretty popular east coast preppy wear.

 

[redgrail]

The polo never left. It slimmed down, as did the chino, but polos and boat shoes are still very much present. In fact, the very look you talk about is experiencing a significant revival with the SW&D crowd.

 

[Eccentric]

The only time in memory when I wore a polo was around Vegas this summer, otherwise it is an ocbd.

 

[repressedm]

talk again when it's summer

 

[AR_Six]

Alive, but hardly thriving.

 

[hadamulletonce]

Never count the Polo shirt out. I think the little polo guy on the front isn't as popular these days. Definately not pleated dockers and boat shoes.

I remember the layered polo style with both collars up. I don't think we'll see that fashion trend roll back around for a while.

 

[garmentmerchant]

 

[hadamulletonce]

Originally Posted by garmentmerchant

Now that is what I'm talking about!

 

[dusty]

Dead to make room for the ribbed dress t-shirt.

 

[Motol12]

In my eyes, the polo shirt never died, or even got wounded.

A polo shirt tucked into kahkis with loafers is my normal causual look. Obviously the shirt isn't toucked into the double reverse pleated Dockers, and it probably isn't the Ralph Lauren polo with the gigantic pony, but it's still a polo shirt nonetheless.

 

[R-H]

I've been wearing Polo shirts since I was a kid. I had no idea they were ever 'in'.

 

[Orsini]

Originally Posted by spectre

...polo shirt, voluminous pleated chinos and boat shoes...
... makes me the best dressed gent in Lawndale, CA...

 

[cazualFashion]

Alive, at least it seems to be alive here in newmarket uk.

I do not think it will ever be as big as it was in its hayday though.

 

[swiego]

To me, this is like saying the buttoned down dress shirt is dead, the denim jeans are dead, the navy blazer is dead, the black captoe oxford is dead, the tuxedo is dead or use of a belt is dead. Polos are something I fully expect to be around decades from now, along with all these other things.