No matter where you’re going or what you’re planning to do, there’s probably a Polo for you. If you’re apprehensive about adopting our favorite summer shirting into your wardrobe due to its initial preppy connotations, you’ll be happy to know that the polo shirt Overton window has blown wide open in recent years. There are torso-hugging cinched fits for beginners as well as loose silhouettes that can get you out of summer-induced menswear malaise.
We’ve got a nice little quiver of reliable options like sleek knits, soft jerseys, ultra-breathable linens, strong rugby, open-weave wonders and just about every kind of polo that might pique your interest. If you’re wondering what we’re into this season — and what we’re wearing this summer — scroll down to see our favorite polos under $150.
Perennial Polo Summer Hit List
Ralph Lauren
iconic mesh polo shirt
This is a rare example where declaring your garment “iconic” feels like an overstatement.
Todd Snyder
mojave sweater polo
A linen-heavy, jersey-knit fabric is the star of this show—just enough drape, just enough bounce, just enough airiness—but this shade of blue is unfit to play second fiddle.
sunspell
riviera polo shirt
We don’t know who will be the next Bond, so until there is some clarity, it will remain James Bond’s polo of choice.
Arguably the least noisy Polo on this list also has some great proportions.
j crew
short sleeve rugby shirt
A vibrant color-blocked, short-sleeve rugby brings about 25% more excitement and fun to an outfit than your standard polo.
banana Republic
Linen-Cotton Johnny-Collar Sweater Polo
There are screened-in porches that offer less ventilation than this dress-it-up-or-down knit polo from Linen Mavens at BR.
Madewell
Textured Open-Stitch Polo
Look at that fabric and tell me you can’t feel the wind already.
beam
Wide Fit Side Pocket Tech Polo Shirt
I would normally tell you to avoid polos made from synthetic technical fabrics, but if you buy a polo with a loose silhouette, you won’t be stuck with any unwanted tightness.
disease b schwann
Linen Cotton Johnny Collar Polo Shirt
You probably know that Merz makes a great T-shirt, but the rest of their line — like this dog day-ready linen-cotton polo — is just as formidable.
Abercrombie & Fitch
100% Cotton Icon Pique Polo
Recent Abercrombie catalogs have been dominated by great pants, but you should know that the Polo is reminiscent of the brand’s heyday in the mid-aughts.
18 east
Harold S/S Oversized Rugby
Polos aren’t the cleanest canvases for large-scale graphics, but when it works equally as well on a rugby-sized one, it’s fair to wonder why.
Zara
x Aaron Levin Washed Pique Polo Shirt
One of the season’s secret-great team-ups was the Aaron Levin x Zara collab, and one of the coolest pieces in that assortment was this perfect-faded, 100% cotton pique polo.
Difference
Oversized Quarter-Zip Pocket Polo Sweater
You should think of it like a summer quarter-zip because it is a summer quarter-zip.
vuori
short sleeve merino wool sweater
Your seasonal reminder that merino wool is naturally temperature-regulating and antimicrobial and won’t stick to you even when the weather gets sticky.
This garment-dyed, organic cotton polo is as soft and comfortable to wear as your favorite T-shirt, but unlike your other jersey-knit options, it also cleans well.
Lacoste
Classic Fit Embroidered Detail Cotton Pique Polo
We know we’re not breaking any news here, but if you’ve forgotten about the merits of a classic, know that the likes of Jeremy Allen White didn’t do it.
Abercrombie & Fitch
100% Cotton 2-Button Sweater Polo
More comfortable than a poolside chaise lounge.
