Knitted Polo Shirts: The Complete Guide

What Makes a Knitted Polo Different

Most polo shirts you'll find on the high street are made from woven pique cotton, the bumpy, slightly stiff fabric with a grid-like texture. A knit polo uses an entirely different construction. The fabric is knitted from yarn on fine-gauge machines, producing a smooth, drapey material with natural stretch.

The practical difference: a knit polo moves with you rather than sitting rigidly on your frame. It doesn't bunch at the waist or balloon at the sides. The collar lies flatter and holds its shape without the cardboard stiffness of a woven polo. It's why knit polos work under a blazer where a standard polo looks out of place, the fabric is thin enough to layer cleanly.

The trade-off is that knit polos require slightly more care. They're more prone to snagging than woven cotton, and cheaper versions will pill quickly. Construction quality matters more here than almost any other garment in your wardrobe. See our care guide for knits for specifics.

How to Choose Yours

Three things separate a good knit polo from a disposable one: gauge, fabric and construction.

Gauge. Fine gauge (12+) is smooth and lightweight, and layers cleanly under a blazer. Our Riviera Collection uses this weight. Mid-weight (7-10 gauge) adds texture for autumn and spring. Chunky (5-gauge and below) is a casual winter piece and little else.

Fabric. Pure cotton breathes and softens with wear. Cotton-silk blends add a slight sheen and smoother drape. Merino wool regulates temperature but needs more careful washing. Avoid high percentages of polyester, it pills, traps heat and cheapens the look.

Construction. The collar should hold its shape without curling. Seams should lie flat, linked seams are the standard to look for. Buttons should be shell or corozo, not plastic.

For the fuller picture on what makes a knit polo different, see our guide to knit polos.

How a Knit Polo Should Fit

The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder bone, not drooping down your arm, not pulling towards your neck. This is the one measurement you can't fix with tailoring, so get it right first.

Through the body, a knit polo should follow your shape without clinging. You should be able to pinch about an inch of fabric at the side seam. Too tight and you'll see every contour (knit fabric hides nothing). Too loose and you lose the clean silhouette that makes a knit polo worth wearing over a standard polo.

Length should finish at or just below the belt line. Short enough to wear untucked with clean proportions, long enough to tuck into trousers if you prefer. Sleeves should end at mid-bicep for short sleeves, or at the wrist bone for long sleeves, never bunching.

If you're between sizes, our sizing guide has measurements for every product. Knit fabric does relax slightly after the first few wears, so don't size up to compensate.

Four Ways to Wear It

With tailored trousers and a blazer. The combination that makes knit polos worth owning. A fine-gauge polo in navy or charcoal under an unstructured blazer replaces a dress shirt for most smart-casual situations: dinners, client meetings, evening drinks. The collar gives you structure without a tie. Choose a polo in a darker shade than your blazer for contrast.

With chinos or dark denim, on its own. The everyday outfit. A well-fitting knit polo with clean trousers and leather shoes or white trainers. This is where fit matters most, with nothing layered over it, the polo is doing all the work. Stick to solid colours or subtle textures (ribbed, tonal stripes). Avoid large logos.

Layered under a mac or overcoat. In cooler months, a long-sleeve knit polo works as a replacement for a shirt-and-jumper combination. The single layer is thinner, sits cleaner under outerwear, and looks more intentional. Navy, black, or cream work best here.

Open collar, rolled sleeves, relaxed. For holidays, weekends, and warm evenings. A lighter-coloured knit polo with the top button undone, sleeves pushed above the elbow, worn with linen trousers or tailored shorts. The texture of the knit keeps it from looking like an undershirt. Browse our summer collection for options built for this.

How We Make Ours

Every Legacy London knit polo is made in our own production facility in Sri Lanka by a team averaging 25+ years of experience. Cotton is selected and tested for fibre strength, consistency and hand-feel before production begins. Fabrics carry OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, independently tested for over 100 harmful substances.

Patterns are designed in London and adapted by our master pattern cutter, Rajitha, for fit consistency across every size. Kumari, our head of knitting for 25 years, oversees production, and each finished polo passes an 18-point quality inspection before it ships. Read the full story on our production page.