How to style striped polo shirts

A striped polo shirt is the easiest pattern to wear well. Choose the stripe by how smart you want to look: a fine pinstripe reads smartest, a breton stripe is relaxed, and a wide block stripe is the boldest. This guide covers the stripe types, the colours that pair with them, what to wear below and on your feet, and how to look after the shirt.

A short history of the striped polo

The pique polo shirt dates back to the 1920s, when tennis player René Lacoste designed a soft-collared, short-sleeved shirt to replace the stiff, long-sleeved shirts players wore before him. Stripes came into the picture through sport and sailing, where bold horizontal bands made it easy to spot a teammate or a swimmer in open water, and the look carried over into casual menswear from there. Ralph Lauren later helped push the striped polo into mainstream American style through the 1970s and 80s, and it has stayed a wardrobe regular since.

Types of stripes you will see on a polo

• Breton stripe: even, bold bands, usually navy and white or a similar high-contrast pair. Originally a French naval and workwear stripe, now a casualwear staple. It is the stripe most people picture when they say "striped polo".
• Pinstripe: fine, narrow lines set close together, borrowed from tailoring. It is the most subtle of the three and suits a smart-casual outfit. From a few steps away it reads almost as a solid colour with a little depth.
• Block stripe: wide bands of colour, often vertical rather than horizontal. Bolder and sportier, and the pattern on our vertical colour block zipper polo, which has a central stripe running down the knit.

Direction matters as much as width. Horizontal bands add visual width across the chest and shoulders, which helps a slim frame. Vertical stripes lengthen the body, which helps if you carry weight through the middle or want a leaner line.

How to style a striped polo

• Balance with solid colours: pair a striped polo with plain chinos or jeans so the shirt stays the focal point. Dark denim works with almost any stripe.
• Layer it: a striped polo under a solid blazer or lightweight jacket reads as smart-casual rather than sporty. Try it under a navy blazer for something closer to business casual.
• Keep accessories minimal: a plain leather belt, a simple watch, sunglasses. Stripes carry the outfit on their own.
• Mix your stripe widths carefully: a fine pinstripe polo pairs easily with other patterns nearby; a bold block stripe generally does not want competition from a second pattern.
• Get the fit right: shoulder seams should sit on your shoulders, not down your arms, and the body should skim rather than balloon. A boxy fit reads sloppier in a striped polo than in a plain one, since the lines exaggerate it.

Colours that pair well with stripes

Pick one colour from the stripe and echo it, rather than matching everything. A navy and white stripe sits naturally with navy trousers, white trainers and a tan belt. A black-based stripe works with grey or charcoal trousers and black leather.

Neutral stripes are the safest place to start. Navy with cream, or beige with navy, goes with stone, khaki, olive and mid-blue denim. If the stripe is bright, keep everything else quiet: one loud element is enough.

Trousers and shoes

Chinos in stone, sand or navy are the dependable match for a striped polo. Dark, plain jeans in a straight or slim cut also work, and they dress the shirt down. For a smarter result, wear lightweight tailored trousers in grey or navy with a fine pinstripe polo.

Shorts work in summer with a breton or block stripe, as long as the shorts are plain and sit just above the knee. Skip patterned shorts, because the stripe is already doing the work.

For shoes, white leather trainers suit every stripe. Suede loafers or desert boots lift a pinstripe polo into smart-casual. Leather derbies are too formal for most polos, so keep them for a blazer and tailored trousers.

When a stripe reads smart

Three things push a striped polo towards smart: a fine stripe, a knitted or flat-finish fabric instead of a sporty mesh, and a collar that stays flat. A pinstripe in a soft knit, tucked into tailored trousers or worn under a blazer, passes at most dinners and offices that allow smart-casual.

Bold block stripes and wide breton bands lean casual. They are better for weekends, holidays and warm evenings. Our knitted polo shirts for men include several striped and colour-block styles, which sit between a standard polo and a lightweight jumper.

Colour and pattern by season

In warmer months, lighter stripes work best: white or cream with a pale blue, sand or soft green. Cotton keeps the shirt breathable. In cooler months, move to darker bases such as navy, black and deep green, and wear the polo under a jacket or an open overshirt.

How to care for a striped polo

Check the care label on your shirt first, because fabric and finish decide the wash. As general guidance for cotton knits, wash at a low temperature with similar colours, turn the shirt inside out, and avoid a hot tumble dryer. Dry it flat or on a hanger so the collar and placket keep their shape.

Wash dark and light stripes together only if the label says the dyes are stable. Otherwise wash the first few times with darker items, so a white band does not pick up colour.

Shop striped polos at Legacy London

See the current range in the men's knitted polo shirt collection, designed in London and knitted in Colombo. The vertical colour block zipper polo is a good first block stripe: it is 100% cotton, comes in navy, black and sea blue, and has a YKK zip.