| The polo shirt is not a new fashion creation. It first | | | | them to work, at home and in actual sporting events. |
| appeared as part of the fashion scene in the late | | | | Firms branded their version with one or another |
| 1800s. Oddly enough, and fittingly so, polo shirts were | | | | "cute" symbols. |
| first described as such in reports on polo players. | | | | After the 1970s, the polo shirt lost its place in the |
| Male Polo players of the Hurlingham Polo Club actually | | | | popular culture. Fashion passed it by until the turn of |
| wore them in Buenos Aires in 1893. This makes the | | | | the new century. The early 2000s saw the |
| Polo shirt, possibly, as one author suggests, the first | | | | reintroduction of Lacoste's version in a limited edition |
| true sports shirt. | | | | - a black Lacoste polo shirt with a silver crocodile. By |
| Polo shirts had a specific purpose. They were a | | | | 2006, polo shirts began to emerge, once again as the |
| lightweight and practical shirt to wear for a sporting | | | | preppy choice. Lacoste, Nautica, Ralph Lauren (Polo) |
| event. Writers described them as being ideal for hot | | | | or Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts were all becoming |
| weather. Over time, the polo shirt has come to be | | | | fashionable, appearing on and off the courts and |
| considered the perfect sport shirt. | | | | greens. The polo shirt has been making a comeback |
| By the 1930s, the polo shirt was firmly entrenched as | | | | among women's fashion. |
| a fashionable and practical article of clothing. Although | | | | Why is this happening? The reason is the same as it |
| traditionally considered as white, colored shirts had | | | | was for its earlier existence. Polo shirts are about |
| been available as early as the late 1920s. Pastels, | | | | serving two disparate needs: function and style. Not |
| greens, blues and reds soon joined the stereotypical | | | | to malign the average T-shirt, but polo shirts have |
| color scheme. The gender changed as well. American | | | | the ability to address the casual with a status style. |
| women were wearing them in the 1930s. | | | | They are versatile as well as functional. Moreover, |
| The polo shirt, therefore, has a long and proud | | | | they have a designer's touch, that little brush with |
| sporting history. It is best known because of one | | | | "fame" granting each garment a special status. |
| man - Rene Lacoste. Erroneously, it is considered a | | | | People still wear the polo shirt in an athletic |
| Lacoste invention. He and Andre Gillier joined forces | | | | environment. It appears on golf courses and on |
| and produced a version of the polo shirt. Lacoste | | | | tennis courts. Polo players sport them in their |
| however, didn't market his shirt until 1933. Moreover, | | | | matches. They add a touch of class to a skirt, |
| his advertisements indicate he referred to it as a | | | | jodhpurs, shorts or pants. Yet, today, the polo shirt |
| "golf" and not a "polo" shirt. His shirt type was not | | | | appears on the backs of people performing their |
| marketed in the United States until 1951. | | | | day-to-day and mundane tasks. Its adaptability, |
| In the 1970s, Lacoste's gold shirts became considered | | | | however, allows it to become part of their social and |
| a status symbol. These polo shirts were still referred | | | | semi-professional daily obligations. Suburban moms |
| to as golf shirts but the marketing indicated they | | | | can wear it to do practical things then move onto |
| were suitable for both home wear and for out on | | | | social affairs. Designers such as Leon Levin are able |
| the tennis courts. Their long tail made them easy to | | | | to tailor their polo shirts to active women for use on |
| tuck in the back of shorts or skirts. | | | | the coarse or at home. |
| The popularity of the newly remarketed polo shirt is | | | | The polo shirt possesses versatility. It is good for |
| the result of the philosophy of the age. The preppy | | | | both casual and social functions. Anyone can wear it. |
| look is very in, in the 1970s. Other companies follow | | | | In truth, it is adaptable to today's women's |
| Lacoste's lead and market their own version of the | | | | fast-paced lifestyle. |
| polo shirt. It appeared everywhere. You could wear | | | | |