A love letter to the Ralph Lauren polo shirt
Few wardrobe staples remain quite so classic, timeless and synonymous with a single brand as the humble cotton polo shirt
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The fact that Ralph Lauren, a fashion brand that has only existed since the late 1960s, managed to make the polo shirt an instantly recognisable signature is really rather remarkable. In fact, it would be something akin to a modern fledgling fashion brand setting about dominating the white tee market. The polo has, after all, existed since the 1850s, when polo players in India fashioned soft collared shirts for their sport, and later refined by tennis player René Lacoste in the 1920s to better meet the needs of life on court.
The polo shirt had a long and storied history before Ralph Lauren debuted his version in 1972 — but that didn’t stop the Ralph Lauren polo becoming among the most recognisable garments in fashion history, and one that is still coveted by legions of fans today. So how did he do it? Firstly, colour; the first Ralph Lauren polo shirt was offered in a mammoth 24 hues, more than any other brand, when it first hit the market. In a colour saturated 1970s fashion landscape, it was an instant hit.
It was also highly luxurious, with pearl buttons and a 100 per cent cotton construction, before long finding its way on to the runways in Ralph Lauren’s womenswear collections; revolutionary at a time when the polo shirt was still thought of as a men’s country club essential. But, with its signature polo player embroidery, the Ralph Lauren polo always remembered its roots, also becoming a bonafide piece of kit sported at, among others, the US Open, Olympic Games, and Australian Open.
In fact, so strong a symbol of the brand did the polo shirt become that, in 2000, Ralph Lauren launched the Pink Pony initiative. Named for the shirt’s intricate embroidered logo, this initial drive to raise funds to fight cancer was soon expanded, with limited edition shirts created to support causes including disaster relief, LGBTQIA+ pride and much more. The epitome of style and substance, as Ralph Lauren himself once said, “It was never about a shirt, but a way of living.”
Today, the Ralph Lauren polo shirt continues to be an emblem of a refined, tasteful way of living. Whether choosing a classic white iteration for the tennis court, swapping your usual Oxford shirt for a pale blue polo on casual Fridays, or packing a case full of brightly hued options for a tropical holiday, there are few pieces that immediately signify a certain level of sophistication quite like the Ralph Lauren polo. It’s a club, quite frankly, that we all want to be part of.
So, what are you waiting for? With the Ralph Lauren polo shirt collection now spanning polo shirt styles for men, women and children, and offering pieces inspired by everything from equestrian, nautical and collegiate lifestyles to global destinations and, of course, the signature block colours, there truly is a polo out there for everyone. Keep scrolling to allow us to help you find yours.
Ralph Lauren polo shirts for men
Ralph Lauren polo-style jumpers for men
Complete the look
Ralph Lauren polo shirts for women
Complete the look
Shop the full collection at ralphlauren.com
