Knitted polo shirts for men: how they should fit

A knitted polo shirt should sit close without clinging. The shoulder seam lands at the edge of your shoulder, the chest follows your body with only a little room, the hem stops around the belt line and the sleeve finishes on the upper arm. If those four points are right, the knit polo is the right size.

This guide explains how a knit polo should fit at each point, how it differs from a pique polo, how we measure our knitted polo shirts, and which of our styles sit tighter or looser. Legacy London (formerly LCY London) designs in London and knits in Colombo, and every figure below comes from our own size guide.

How a knit polo should fit

Shoulder

Start here, because the shoulder cannot be altered. The seam should sit on the outer edge of your shoulder. If it sits inside that edge, the shirt is too small. If it hangs onto the top of your arm, it is too big and the whole polo will look slack.

Chest

A knitted polo shirt is not cut with much spare room. In our size guide a medium knit polo measures 96.5 cm around the chest, and the body size M it is built around is 97 cm. That is almost no ease.

You should be able to raise your arms without the fabric pulling across the chest. Horizontal pulling at the placket or the buttons is the sign the polo is too snug.

Hem

The hem should finish around the belt line and cover the waistband when you sit or lift your arms. If it rides above the belt it is too short. The Interlocking Tile Pattern Knit Polo Shirt has a ribbed hem and ribbed cuffs, which help it hold its shape, so its hem should rest against your body rather than flare out.

Sleeve

A short sleeve should end on the upper arm, close to the arm without digging in. Raise your arm to shoulder height. If the sleeve climbs and tightens across the bicep, it is too snug. If it hangs open with a gap, the polo is too large.

Knit polo or pique polo: what changes

A pique polo is cut from a firmer, textured cloth. A knitted polo is made from interlocking loops of yarn, which gives it a softer drape and a more fluid line. The garment hangs and moves differently, and the fit follows from that.

Our size guide shows the difference in numbers. A medium woven or pique polo measures 113 cm around the chest. A medium knit polo measures 96.5 cm. The two are labelled with the same letter and cut very differently, so do not carry your pique size straight across to a knitted polo shirt.

Our measuring page says our knitwear is cut with very little room and is the piece customers most often wish they had sized up in.

How we measure a knitted polo

Every measurement on our site is taken from the garment itself, laid flat on a table, not from a body.

• Chest: straight across from the bottom of one armhole seam to the other, then doubled. A chest of 96.5 cm means the garment measures 96.5 cm all the way around.
• Shoulder: across the back, from the outer edge of one shoulder seam to the other.
• Length: from the highest point of the shoulder seam, beside the collar, straight down to the hem.
• Sleeve: from the outer edge of the shoulder seam along the top of the sleeve to the end of the cuff.

The full method, with a diagram and a chart for every garment type, is on our how we measure page. For a knit polo the chart runs from S at 91.5 cm chest to XL at 106.5 cm chest.

When to size up

Take the next size up if you are between sizes, or if you prefer an easier fit. That is the advice on our measuring page and it applies to knitwear most of all.

For anything more specific, check the size guide on the product page.

Fit by style

Not every knit polo is cut the same way. These are the fit notes recorded on four of our knits.

• Sorrento Chevron Knit Polo: cut to a tailored fit, a 100% combed cotton knit with a vertical arrow chevron texture.
• Majolica Geometric Jacquard Knit Polo Shirt: cut to a tailored fit, with a soft, breathable knit and a Majolica-inspired geometric pattern.
• 3D Optical Geometric Knit Polo Shirt: a structured fit, with a 3D cube jacquard. Black and Mint Green are the colours in stock.
• Moderna Graphic Statement Knit Polo Shirt: a relaxed resort fit, with a bold block pattern worked into the knit.

A tailored or structured knit sits closer to the body, a regular fit sits between the two and a relaxed cut gives you more room through it. Browse the full range in our men's knitted polo shirts collection.

Layering a knit polo

Because a knit polo has so little spare room, wear it as the layer next to your skin or over a plain tee. A jacket or overshirt goes on top. Keep the polo close so the layers do not compete for space at the shoulder and chest.

Worn alone, knit polos go with chinos or tailored trousers for a smart casual look.

Frequently asked questions

What is a knit polo shirt?

A knit polo shirt is a polo made from knitted fabric rather than woven cloth. It has a collar and a short placket like any polo, with a softer drape and a closer cut.

Should I size up in a knitted polo shirt?

Size up if you are between sizes or want an easier fit. Our own measuring page advises it for knitwear, because our knits are cut with very little room.

Does a knit polo fit differently from a pique polo?

Yes. In our size guide a medium knit polo measures 96.5 cm around the chest and a medium woven or pique polo measures 113 cm, so the same letter size is cut very differently.

What if the polo does not fit?

We offer 30-day returns. Return postage is at the customer's cost, so check the size guide on the product page before you order.