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Polo Shirt under a blazer?

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#21 ·
When I was in consulting ties were almost taboo (Ok, board pshrinks, I know where you want to go with this, just let it go) but my attitude toward wearing a sport coat was pretty much akin to the popular NRA bumper sticker - when you peel it off my corpse I'll go out without one.

My 'compromise' was light, crewneck (polo collar gets screwed up by jacket) silk and silk/cashmere sweaters. If you are not wearing a tie (God forbid) it is a nice, neat look and it doesn't look as though you put on the jacket just so you could enter the dining room. Comfortable too.
 
#22 ·
Chuck Franke said:
My 'compromise' was light, crewneck (polo collar gets screwed up by jacket) silk and silk/cashmere sweaters. If you are not wearing a tie (God forbid) it is a nice, neat look and it doesn't look as though you put on the jacket just so you could enter the dining room. Comfortable too.
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Yes. That's it. That's precisely what bugs me about the polo/jacket look.
 
#23 ·
rsmeyer said:
Yes for casual-NO for business.:(
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This summer i started doing it as I had no polo shirts I bought some in summer colors (pink, purple, apple green, strawberry red) to wear them with a white linen suit or a khaki cotton jacket.

However I couldn't make me like it. I felt the polo shirt didin't had shape enough. the open collar was allways out of place and i feel the fabric spongy... Off course this is in comparison with a good shirt.

So I ended buying some colorful short sleeve shirts for the summer in same colors ( orange, apple green, purple, bright yellow, pink )... they do the job much better than the polo shirt for me and keep the same spirit.
 
Discussion starter · #25 · (Edited)
Georgia Boy said:
I think it may be helpful to understand that the "correctness" of the polo+blazer combination may vary from one geographical region to another. In the southeastern U.S., where the temperature and humidity can be unbearable sometimes, a polo and blazer is considered perfectly appropriate for just about any client site I have visited. In fact, when I arrive at the site, I often find that I am the one who is "dressed up" in my polo and blazer. My vote is that there is nothing inherently wrong with this look, and in fact, at social functions, I am the one getting complimented by other men's wives for doing so. It is all relative. In 95% of my business, if I were to arrive in a suit and tie, I would be regarded as presumptuous.
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Interesting. He (and I) were born and raised in a subrb of NYC, he is now working in Upstate NY and the convention is in FL. FWIW.

I have to agree with Chuck, though. The look just gives me the vibe that someone thought a polo shirt was "dressed-up", and had to wear the blazer only so that he may enter a restaurant or what have you. It's just not for me. I wear polo shirts all the time when I am not working, but even on the occasion I dress casually at the office or around clients I just go without the tie, maybe swap the pants for khakis.
 
#26 ·
lakewolf said:
This summer i started doing it as I had no polo shirts I bought some in summer colors (pink, purple, apple green, strawberry red) to wear them with a white linen suit or a khaki cotton jacket.

However I couldn't make me like it. I felt the polo shirt didin't had shape enough. the open collar was allways out of place and i feel the fabric spongy... Off course this is in comparison with a good shirt.

So I ended buying some colorful short sleeve shirts for the summer in same colors ( orange, apple green, purple, bright yellow, pink )... they do the job much better than the polo shirt for me and keep the same spirit.
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Thanks for stating, so clearly, my issue with this combination.
None of my polos have the shape to fit appropriately under a blazer.
I've eschewed this look for the nice linen or cotton short sleeve shirt (whether a short sleeve version of the guayabera or a tucked in shirt) without a blazer. I just don't like the look.
 
#27 ·
eagle2250 said:
And a fourth!
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And a fifth. I would wear a polo (long sleeved) under a suit, but this is business casual, not business attire. I think the top button of a polo shirt under a jacket must be done up so the collar stands up better and doesn't sneak under the jacket lapels. I would try Chuck's suggestion of a crewneck sweater, but those of us with long, thin necks can look goofy without a collared shirt.
 
#28 ·
Georgia Boy is correct, in the southeastern U. S. slacks and a knit polo shirt are standard business attire (and, among the younger crowd, often with a white crew neck t-shirt underneath). The blazer is added in the evening or sometimes the boss will sport one. An open collared shirt is also acceptable. Most bankers, accountants, and lawyers will still wear suits four days a week -- and a knit polo shirt on the ubiquitous "casual Friday". Thus I am allowed by custom to wear a suit everyday, which suits me fine. I have briefly experimented with this, and I simply don't get as much work done when I am wearing a short sleeve shirt, and I HATE the feel of a jacket lining on my bare arm, especially when the temperature and humidity soar.

If I were in your friend's place I would wear a colored OCBD, blazer, Vneck tshirt, slacks or khakis and loafers, and stick a tie in my pocket. That is just me, I would feel I have the flexibility to shift gears at short notice.


Yours,
 
#29 ·
Chuck Franke said:
When I was in consulting ties were almost taboo (Ok, board pshrinks, I know where you want to go with this, just let it go) but my attitude toward wearing a sport coat was pretty much akin to the popular NRA bumper sticker - when you peel it off my corpse I'll go out without one.

My 'compromise' was light, crewneck (polo collar gets screwed up by jacket) silk and silk/cashmere sweaters. If you are not wearing a tie (God forbid) it is a nice, neat look and it doesn't look as though you put on the jacket just so you could enter the dining room. Comfortable too.
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My preference for casual is indeed the crew neck/odd jacket combo.

But for any kind of business I would wear an open collared sport shirt with the odd jacket.

Perry
 
#30 ·
probably not for business, but definitely OK for casual. I don't love the look, but I don't find it abhorrent, either.

In business, - - when in Rome - - -

If mostly everyone else you need to connect with is doing it, I'd only go to as far as a button down dress or sport shirt in dressing it up. Sometimes, a tie can hurt you more than it helps you.
 
#32 ·
As to JFK having worn polo shirts with a blazer ... all the photos I've seen of him wearing this combination were taken in casual/resort settings ... not at business/political functions. Of course, I suppose when one is in politics ... every event is potentially political ... a 24/7 type thing ... so nix politics.

Something else I note is the fact that the shirts are the fully-fashioned type of polo ... on the order of a John Smedley.
 
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#34 ·
As several others have written it's the setting that determines whether it's appropriate. A polo and an odd jacket is fine at for spectator sports or at a club but it's not formal enough for an office.

If I see it during the work week I think of a contractor who throws on a jacket to meet a client. That's not a bad thing but it's definitely some kind of a thing.
 
#35 ·
I wear this(in public high school) and I think as with any other article of clothing(no matter how detestable) it can be appropriate in the right enviroment. Just like a pair of flip flops are fine at the beach a blazer+polo combo is fine for casual situations, but completely unnacceptable for business.
 
#36 ·
I will wear my cashmere polos with a sportcoat and it is a great look. I will sometimes wear a cashmere mock turtleneck with a blazer and it also looks very nice. I also like John Smedley long sleeve mocks with a sportcoat or blazer.

I have six navy blazers with varying fabrics. The type of fabric is a major determining factor as to whether a sportcoat or blazer lends itself to a more casual look. Three of my blazers have smooth, more formal fabrics that just do not work very well with casual shirts; just does not look quite right.

The other three have a looser weave and a more relaxed look. These are the ones I will wear with a nice casual knit shirt. If I do this I always prefer that the shirt has long sleeves and is very good quality. Nice for the weekend or maybe a casual Friday.
 
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Tom72
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