Polo Shirts — Five Plus One

Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.


Polo shirts cover a wide range of styles, whether you’re filling a hole in your business casual wardrobe, looking to dress a bit more preppy, or just need shirts for the occasional golfing excursion. As such, they come made in tons of different fabrics, from high-tech polos for the summer heat, knit wool for dressier, or basic cotton for your everyday wear. In this Five Plus One, we’ve found polo shirts that truly span the gamut in price and fabrics. And, if you want to learn more about this sporty shirt’s history, check out our article.

1) Uniqlo: Dry-Ex Polo

Polo-Shirts---Five-Plus-One 1) Uniqlo: Dry-Ex Polo

For many people, myself included, Uniqlo is the perfect go-to shop for all basics, mainly because their products are well-made, affordable and cover a wide range of styles. The Dry-Ex Polo is a great combination of a classic, preppy polo with Uniqlo’s high-tech Dry-Ex fabric, making it the ideal shirt to go from a business casual day at the office to your favorite after-work activities. Available in a breadth of sizes and colors, there’s a version of this classic-fitting polo for everyone.

Available for $20 at Uniqlo.

2) Pure Blue Japan: Sport Polo

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While you likely know Pure Blue Japan for their raw denim, that doesn’t mean their Sport Polos are any less noteworthy. Made from a 7oz. 100% cotton fabric, these polos feature a ton of great details such as iron buttons, PBJ’s iconic embroidered leaf, and top-notch construction. These shirts are made in a less-common, slim fitting cut which works perfectly with the highly textured fabric that PBJ has used for these shirts. And if you’re craving that pure blue for which the brand is known, they’ve got an indigo version as well.

Available from $199AUD (~$140USD) at Corlection.

3) Universal Works: Vacation Polo

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It’s easy to justify spending large amounts of money on high-quality boots, jeans, or jackets. After all, you can wear them daily. But shirts can be hard. That’s why something like Universal Works’ Vacation Polo is perfect; it can give you a look at what you get for spending a bit more on a shirt without breaking the bank while doing so. These polos have all the details you’d expect from a polo, such as front chest pocket, side gussets, and ribbed cuffs, and are available in a wide range of colors…well, as long as you like blue.

Available for $69 at Canoe Club.

4) Arc’teryx Veilance: Frame Polo

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Arc’teryx Veilance is one of the most well-respected techwear brands out there, but their styles are often a bit too out-there for many of us. So luckily for many, their Frame Polo features the same high-tech fabrics and great construction with a design that’s a bit more palatable. That said, this polo features a quarter zip rather than a set of buttons, which could be a deal breaker for many.

Available for $200 at East Dane.

5) Andersen-Andersen: Short Sleeve Polo

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Andersen-Andersen makes some of the best knitwear out there, so it should come as no surprise that their Short Sleeve Polo is made from a knit jersey fabric. While that makes this polo a bit more sweater-like than you might be looking for, it’s hard to deny that it leads to one great looking polo. Finished with ribbed cuffs, Corozo buttons, and reinforcements throughout, this polo is built to last and will look good for as long as it does.

Available for $205 at Division Road Inc.

Plus One – Howlin’: Mr. Fantasy Terry Polo

Polo-Shirts---Five-Plus-One-Plus-One-- Howlin'-Mr.-Fantasy-Terry-Polo

Howlin’ is another brand known for their knitwear, but their Mr. Fantasy Terry Polo looks like even more compelling of an offering, if that’s even possible. As the admittedly strange name indicates, these polos are made from terry cloth which gives them casual and highly textured look that is also extremely soft. Available in a wide range of interesting colors, this isn’t your everyday polo but it could certainly find its way into most everyone’s wardrobe.

Available for $110 from Unionmade.