We Are Entering A Polo Shirt Revival
The polo shirt is the latest athleisure fashion resurgence
The polo shirt is a preppy basic that is oftentimes synonymous with designer Ralph Lauren for being a conservative, sporty luxury good. Polo shirts for women were originally worn by male polo players in India in the 19th-century, then were introduced to Great Britain in the 1920s. In the early aughts, polos were an East Coast high-school staple, from the up-scale Lacoste to the cult-favorite brands of that era such as Abercrombie & Fitch (which is also having its own resurgence), and, of course, Hollister. The polo is deeply associated with tennis, and sportswear, hailed as an American classic that exudes a country club air without trying too hard. But now, the polo shirt for women is being revamped for a whole new generation, proving the casual everyday athleisure piece has entered the firmament of timeless wardrobe staples.
In 2023, tenniscore became a trend that dominated off the court and onto our phones as the latest athleisure obsession. Especially as the micro-mini skirt made its Y2K comeback in recent years, it was only time before its uniform dress counterpart began to emerge again. Not to mention how the polo shirt for women fits into the quiet luxury discourse that has been prevalent in the fashion space as of late. The polo is a piece that is simple, and easy to wear, which is perhaps why we are seeing it reimagined outside the sartorial context we have come to know from its heyday in the early 2000s (that oftentimes makes us cringe) into something that is dressed more off-kilter, and even edgy, especially if it’s cropped or worn in an unorthodox manner.
Lately, it seems fashion is now entering a full on polo shirt for women revival from fashion houses, particularly this rising trend became prevalent on the Spring/Summer 2024 runway from designers such as Miu Miu, pairing the polo with extremely short shorts, micro-minis, and low-rise jeans and accessorizing with puka shell necklaces; Gucci, turning the polo into a chic, ivory cream logo set with skimpy athletic-esque shorts, while the collars, short sleeves, and hems were all outlined in rings of green red, matching the entire ensemble with a thick, chunky gold necklace; and Dries van Noten, that brought their own unconventional spin to the polo, making it oversized and striped in bold colors, and pairing it with mid-length skirts, giving it an edge perfect for casual, yet upscale streetwear. With many of the designers using the polo as a canvas to feature brand logos, and brand colors, while expanding what it means to wear a polo for the day and making it chic again.
Outside of the runway, there’s been no shortage of fashion girlies sporting the polo from a pregnant Rihanna last year in a Loewe polo shirt, to Hailey Bieber, and superstar Taylor Swift rocking a long Ralph Lauren polo as a pantsless day dress. So as we prepare for spring and its subsequent style trends, the polo shirt for women revival is one to keep in mind for an effortless look with preppy sophistication.