Jin

I’m sorry, did I read you right? You’re not a big fan of polos? Why?! The polo shirt is every gentleman’s staple. Quintessentially classic, it defines the words “preppy” and “smart casual” for you. It saves you from looking out-of-place at any event and it matches your bermuda shorts on a lazy Sunday afternoon. An added plus? Most girls really dig the polo, especially if you’ve got a nice build (Hint: gym!). So really, it should be a man’s life-long best friend next to jeans.

You might ask, what’s the big deal about the polo anyway? When René Lacoste (yes, that Lacoste) first sported one in 1926, the polo shirt took on a life of its own. It’s Lacoste’s design – short-sleeved, loosely-knit piqué cotton, unstarched flat collar and button placket – that really made it a staple. The flat collar and button placket on a standard piqué cotton make produce a smart, preppy shirt. To you, that means you can wear it any time, any place, with anything and you’re guaranteed a perfect look. Very simply, it’s a one-piece savior.

To me, a man is worth a second look (and more) if he can carry a polo shirt well. So here’s the advice I have for you: first, find out the dress code at your office. I can only assume it’s at the lower end of smart casual, if T-shirts are simply “not preferred” as opposed to “not allowed”. You got one thing right: the key lies in the pairing, not the actual polo shirt.

I don’t believe an office dress code should ever be “business casual”, unless your line of work is outdoors and you’re never actually at a desk, because most people just end up taking this to mean “casual”. For a correct business casual look, pairing a cardigan over your polo is a good start. The polo also works to tone down the formality of a suit when swapped with the starched dress shirt (warning: suave, old school and perfect for a night on the town). Somewhere in between the two might include an outfit with a classic blazer, khakis and smart loafers or canvas sneakers (no trainers!). No denims on business casual days, please, unless your office is truly okay with them (Moi is most definitely not).

A lot of offices have Dress Down Fridays, where smart casual items can be introduced into the office. Please note that this does not mean your favorite weekend outfit of shorts or worse, basketball jerseys! It just means a suit-and-tie uniform are not mandatory. It sounds like Fridays are a great way to work more fashion-forward and daring styles in your office, with their lax dress code. Try skinny pants and high top sneakers, and an emo blazer with satin finish and structured shoulder. Slim-fit pants and a zip-up jacket offer an average-Joe look. Don’t be afraid to explore the color spectrum. Add bright, contrasting colors to your wardrobe, like a dark blue button cardigan over an aquamarine polo.

Since the birth of the brand Lacoste, designers have taken this classic shirt and mixed it up with simple twists coming in the form of colors and fabrics. Take your pick from stripes, bright colors, knit or jersey cotton, and long sleeves or sleeveless. Sometimes it takes a spin on the classics to punctuate fresh looks and styles.

So I leave you with two looks you can try in the office.

Rock it in the office, Jin!

Nikki

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