Thursday, June 04, 2009

Polo Match

Over on LATENIGHTSHOTS.com (the invite-only social networking site on which the new CW show Blonde Charity Mafia is based), there has been a forum string debating the merits of all the different polo brands. Now, I know our friend Giuseppe would argue they're called "tennis" shirts, not "polo" shirts, but for today's sake let's stick with polo.

The majority of the companies' websites all proclaim different merits of their shirts, but what they all have in common is a pursuit to create their version of the perfect polo shirt.

I've tried on just about all profiled below and always come back to the original - the Classic Fit Polo by Ralph Lauren. Who do you choose?

THE OLD GUARD: the standard for which all are measured
Polo Ralph Lauren
Lacoste
Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece

MIDSHIPMEN: tried and true with regional followings
Perlis, New Orleans, LA
Ben Silver, Charleston, SC
Lilly Pulitzer, Palm Beach, FL

NEOPHYTES: their impression of an American classic
Dakota Martin
Green Lobster
Jimmy and Sook
Southern Proper's Proper Polo
Southern Tide's Skip Jack
Salmon Cove
Vineyard Vines

Image Credits: Companies' respective websites
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16 comments:

  1. I'm always talking about getting a perlis crawdaddy polo but haven't done it yet. I get Brooks because of price. Lacoste has my favorite logo and would probably pay the extra bit if I could figure out their sizing. And isn't Lacoste more original than Ralph? They sold those over at Perlis before the Izod tragedy.

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  2. I certainly could have my history off on who came first - the gator or the pony - but since the common name for the shirt is "polo" I give them credit.

    Since the Izod tragedy, Lacoste jsut don't fit the same. Their shorter, have no tails, which means they don't stay tucked in, and are wide. Sizing rule of thumb for Lacoste: 6 XL, 5 L, 4 M, 3 S

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  3. I agree, I still have a few Izods leftover from highschool and they are so much cooler than the new ones that end up like middies after several washings. Polo, always a classic and the one I prob live in the most, albeight w/the new improved enlarged pony. And, ya forgot an oldie but a goodie, the Boast polo. Remember those, with the pot leaf??? I wish someone would resurrect those puppies.

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  4. I prefer the old school Polo's. For a long time,my go to shirt was from Gap. Do they still sell them?

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  5. Do Polo's still have the short sleeves with the tight band?

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  6. Lacoste began producing shirts in 1933. Ralph Lauren wasn't even born until 1939.

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  7. While I spend breathtaking amounts of dough on some things. This is an area where I just can't pop the big $$$. I'm an outlet guy for knits. Dickie-the Gap Outlet in Old Town sells a polo for less than 20 bucks-the best value if indeed...sans logo. My favorite is the Polo classic fit. Shorter sleeves-slimmer body...from the outlets. Rough Hewn did a high quality shirt 15 years ago. Boast....was that a marijuan leaf logo? Not that I would know or remember.

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  8. I think that Peter Milar has been left out. PM is a new company thats already a powerhouse because of their top notch textiles.

    Polo shirts are unbeatable. If you dont own one, you are missing out.

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  9. Apologies for the delay in acknowledging the comments:
    Allie: I haven't heard about Boast, but I did find two on ebay.

    Toad: According to ADG, Gap is the place to go.

    Longwing: Yes they do

    Percy: Thanks for the correction.

    ADG: I haven't been to the Gap Outlet in a while, but have become a fan of the Lands End Polo for $19.

    John: Thanks for the tip on PM. Looks like hot stuff.

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  10. B. Charlesworth4:38 PM

    I like the new posts on Southern Gent. As far as the polos go, as much as I want to prefer V Vines over Ralph Lauren, they just can't seem to make it happen.

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  11. Anonymous8:03 PM

    Southern Tide!

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  12. Anonymous9:07 PM

    I agree with Todd...Do they still sell the GAP "Classic Fit" shirts at the Gap? They have crapy light weight ones now that dont fit well. If anyone knows if someone still sells this please let me know. Thanks

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  13. I used to be hardcore RL Polo, but when I was in grad school I one a perlis polo. It was the first time had worn one since I was a kid. I loved the fit. I loved the quality (they hold up better than polo). I LOVE the price ($35 opposed to the $70 or so a regular price Polo brand is these days... as if anyone pays full price for them). Most of all though, I love the fact that Perlis is the closest men's clothing store to my house.

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  14. Go to Dillards and give Roundtree and Yorke's Gold Label polos a try. I went there at the end of last summer looking for RL Polo and saw that these Gold Label shirts were on clearance for 10 dollars. Spent some time figuring out my size (they seem to be sized bigger), but when I found my size the shirt fits perfect. Much better than RL and in my opinion the quality is better. I literally bought every shirt in my size that day and I always look for new colors when I go to the store. My favorite brand for sure. Make sure you try the GOLD LABEL though, the other R+Y polos are not as good.

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  15. R&Y's Gold Label, uh? Never woudl have thought about checking out Dillards - I'm not even sure I know where one is in the DC Metro area, but when back in Chattanooga or down in New Orleans, will check it out.

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  16. Anonymous12:11 AM

    Southern Marsh's new polo are pretty awesome and are $59. They are the exact same to me as Southern Tide. If you're gonna go with the "old guard," Brooks Brothers all the way.

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