The best knitted polo shirts combine the most winning elements of two of the trustiest menswear staples already in your closet. The sweater, as you might know, is renowned for its uncanny ability to render its wearer supremely cozy without sacrificing an iota of respectability in the process. The polo, on the other hand, is a shirt that dads and dad-types have turned to on the weekends and on golf courses since the dawn of time. Back in the days of goodfellas like Henry Hill, short-sleeve knitted polo shirts in lightweight fabrics (sometimes embellished with bold patterns) were a go-to. Thankfully, the style gods have brought them back right as a new wave of old man style is reaching a fever pitch. Whether you’re on your Don Draper tip, woefully posturing your way through country club life, or simply looking for something else to wear besides a graphic tee this summer, the best knitted polo shirts in the biz deliver in a big way. Here are 15 options worth familiarizing yourself with STAT.
The Best Vacationing-in-the-French-Countryside Knitted Polo Shirt
Spend your summers galavanting through sun-dappled fields in some far-flung locale with a tall glass of lemonade in-hand? (Or, y’know, dream of spending them that way?) This is the knit polo for you. The color is bold but not totally outlandish, and it’s got a powerfully large, ’70s-inspired collar that’s begging to be rocked with some flared white chinos, leather loafers, and big, hater-blocking shades. While the sleeves won’t hug your arms like some of the other options on this list, that’s another W in the “no big deal” vibe this shirt gives off. A vacation to Tuscany? No big deal. A yellow knit polo? No big deal.
The Best Everyday Knitted Polo Shirt
Getting on board with the knit polo doesn’t mean you have to go full tilt right from the jump. J.Crew’s affordable, wear-it-all-season-long option makes for an ideal entry point. It comes in a grip of colors, but we’re especially down with this shade of creamy eggshell. The cotton-blend fabric will keep you cool all season long, but it’s the thin blue contrast ribbing on the collar that keeps things from getting, well, a little too minimal. Go ahead, pick it up in a few different colors—J.Crew has the range.
The Best “My Life a Movie” Knitted Polo Shirt
We are indeed here to amuse you, but this knitted polo is no joke: if you want to get your Henry Hill on without looking like you just walked off a Scorcese set, reach for a cotton-blend option with vertical stripes and retro color blocking. This one not your particular vibe? Rest assured, Snyder’s got’s a grip of scene-stealing others to choose from. Refresh your entire entire M-F (or, heck weekend) rotation in one fell swoop.
The Best Wheeling and Dealing Knitted Polo Shirt
Tom Ford’s role in the menswear world is simple: remind us all of what’s possible when budget is no consideration. The man understands no holds barred luxury better than almost anyone else, so it follows that his take on the knit polo comes in a ludicrously ritzy cashmere-silk blend, softer than a wispy cloud floating over Mykonos and more comfortable than a business class airline seat. (Though if you’re dropping $1,500 on a polo, private is probably more your vibe.) Despite its tony pedigree, the sky blue hue of this shirt oozes understated elegance. Which means it’ll sync up perfectly with those wide-fitting white trousers you just bought, whether you’re jetting off to your sprawling summer villa in Greece or scarfing caviar in the back of your Bentley in between meetings.
The Best Loose and Easy Knitted Polo Shirt
Nanushka is famous for crafting vegan leather gear that looks just as cool as the real stuff, and the brand’s knit polo harnesses the same commitment to sustainability—without compromising on the style front. There’s no plastic waste here, only 100% cotton dyed using substantially less water than its competitors. It delivers on the fit and finish too: cut wide and easygoing with a forgiving waist (more 4th of July hotdogs all around!) it’s exactly the shirt you should be wearing when the weather outside means anything clingier will only weigh you down.
