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Each summer, as temperatures rise and layers are shed, knit polo shirts come back into rotation. Generally made of some variety of cotton piqué or jersey, most polos have a distinctly casual air.
But lately, designers have revived the sleek, lightweight style first popularized in the 1950s and ’60s—think Italian mogul Gianni Agnelli on his yacht in Capri—and the results are too good to be relegated to the weekend or the summer. The knit polo has evolved, now made of a slew of fabrics and featuring different cuts and patterns.
In fact, many of our favorite celebs have been photographed out and about wearing the style, each imbuing different vibes, from relaxed to unquestionably rakish. They’ve shown us that there’s a knit polo for all kinds of temperatures, events, and personality types. There’s options made of silk-cotton blends, sharply cut for swanky co*cktail parties; pieces made of breezy linen primed for beach-filled days, sipping on cold beverages in a cabana; and toppers made of classic cotton to be worn every day.
No matter your preference, we have a knit polo ready and waiting to be purchased, all of which will give you a casual air of distinction this summer.
The Best Knit Polo Shirts
Best Overall Knit Polo: Todd Snyder Riviera Knit Polo Shirt
Best Retro-Inspired Knit Polo: Bonobos Geo Knit Polo Shirt
Best Wool Knit Polo: Burberry Wool Knit Polo Shirt
Best Cashmere Knit Polo: J.Crew Cashmere Knit Polo Shirt
Best Cotton Knit Polo: John Smedley Noah Knit Polo Shirt
Best Linen Knit Polo: De Bonne Facture Linen Knit Polo Shirt
Best Silk Knit Polo: Nili Loton Jacques Silk Knit Polo Shirt
Best Rib-Knit Polo: Sunspel Rib Knit Polo Shirt
Best Zip-Neck Knit Polo: Percival Nawa Diamond Zip Polo Shirt
Best Open-Neck Knit Polo: Thom Sweeney Cotton-Blend Knit Polo Shirt
Best Minimalist Knit Polo:
Best Long-Sleeve Knit Polo: Etro Long-Sleeve Knit Polo Shirt
Best Patterned Knit Polo: Missoni Knit Polo Shirt
Best Pointelle-Knit Polo: Orlebar Brown Roddy Knit Polo Shirt
Best High-Fashion Knit Polo: Amiri Bandana Knit Polo Shirt
Todd Snyder Cotton-Silk Riviera Knit Polo Shirt
Best Overall Knit Polo
Todd Snyder pays homage to the knit polo’s midcentury heyday with this model, combining white contrast tipping, a red ticking stripe, and an elongated placket for a retro home run with a modern flare.
Buy Now on Todd Snyder: $198
Bonobos Geo Knit Polo Shirt
Best Retro-Inspired Knit Polo
Bonobos takes us back several decades, right to the ’50s and ’60s—when the knit polo was go-to topper for off-duty executives, when colors and patterns totally were swingin’—with this vintage-inspired style.
Buy Now on Bonobos: $109
Burberry Wool Knit Polo Shirt
Best Wool Knit Polo
Burberry’s elegant black wool polo is accented with white-and-powder-blue stripes on the collar and tortoiseshell horn buttons—a nice balance of timelessness and a little something extra. Try pairing it with a tan suit and white sneakers.
See AlsoThese Knit Polo Shirts Are the Easiest Way to Look and Feel Cool This Summer12 Ripley-Inspired Knitted Polo Shirts to Shop this SummerBuy Now on Mytheresa: $590
J.Crew Cashmere Johnny-Collar Knit Polo Shirt
Best Cashmere Knit Polo
Yes, cashmere is insulating, the go-to winter fabric. But in the hands of J.Crew, the material has been made to be (relatively) lightweight, a perfect layer for cool summer nights. Plus, it comes in a range of patterns and colors.
Buy Now on J.Crew: $120
John Smedley Noah Sea Island Cotton Polo Shirt
Best Cotton Knit Polo
British brand John Smedley specializes in superlative knit basics, such as this buttonless open-neck polo. It’s crafted from Sea Island cotton, an extra-long-staple varietal with a silky hand that is so rare it only accounts for 0.0004 percent of the world’s cotton supply.
Buy Now on Neiman Marcus: $275
De Bonne Facture Linen Knit Polo
Best Linen Knit Polo
Where most knit polos have a certain throwback refinement, this version from De Bonne Facture has an earthy, organic appeal. That’s largely thanks to its Donegal-flecked linen yarn, knitted with a thicker than average gauge—particularly striking in this cool shade of blue.
Buy Now on Mr Porter: $335
Nili Loton Jacques Silk Knit Polo Shirt
Best Silk Knit Polo
By utilizing silk, Nili Loton transforms a seemingly simple polo into a luxurious wardrobe staple. In addition to its slight sheen, silk feels particularly cool in the warmer months. But this model’s elegant silhouette, paired with a sleek sport jacket, will ensure a place in your closet during the chilly seasons.
Buy Now on Bergdorf Goodman: $495
Sunspel Rib-Knit Polo Shirt
Best Rib-Knit Polo
When it comes to shirts of all kinds, Sunspel never disappoints. The brand uses the finest materials and creates silhouettes that flatter a variety of body types. There’s a complete range on offer, from smooth to textured styles. And if you’re in the market for the latter, look no further than this elegant option with a rib knit.
Buy Now on Sunspel: $325
Percival Nawa Diamond Zip Knit Polo Shirt
Best Zip-Neck Knit Polo
Remember what we said about celebs fawning over knit polos? Well, the brand that’s taking Hollywood by storm is Perceival. And with its vast assortment of options, from bright and bold styles to pieces that are more subtle, it’s not hard to see why. It even has one with a nifty zip-neck, a great alternative to the standard button closures.
Buy Now on Percival: $165
Thom Sweeney Cotton-Blend Knit Polo Shirt
Best Open-Neck Knit Polo
A versatile polo par excellence, Thom Sweeney’s open-neck model is knit from an airy combo of cotton and flax linen. The birdseye weave gives it a nice bit of texture while the crisp white collar and cuffs offer a flattering optical illusion. It’s available in several colors, but we’re partial to this elegant brown iteration.
Buy Now on Matches Fashion: $441
Anderson & Sheppard Linen Knit Polo Shirt
Best Minimalist Knit Polo
In a neutral shade of off-white, Anderson & Sheppard’s take on the polo is all about subtlety. Its 100 percent breezy linen body has a rich, nubby texture, and it’s fully-fashioned construction (a.k.a. no seams) ensures that it lays perfectly on its own or beneath a jacket.
Etro Long-Sleeve Knit Polo Shirt
Best Long-Sleeve Knit Polo
With its virgin wool fabric in a classic navy hue, Etro’s polo makes a discreet statement. The style’s long sleeves are perfect for chilly evenings by the sea, though it can also be smartened up with a pair of light trousers—white and this shade of blue are a foolproof pairing.
Buy Now on Farfetch: $750
Missoni Knit Polo Shirt
Best Patterned Knit Polo
Knit from breathable cotton in a punchy chevron print, Missoni’s polo is finished with a contrast collar to neatly punctuate its trippy pattern. Surprisingly easy to style, the shirt works just as well with a chocolate linen jacket as it does with a pair of swim trunks.
Buy Now on Mytheresa: $780
Orlebar Brown Roddy Knit Polo Shirt
Best Pointelle-Knit Polo
For this polo, Orlebar Brown looked to another summertime classic: the pointelle-knit. The open-work design allows air to seep through, cooling you on the hottest summer days. Just add light-wash jeans and canvas sneakers for an easy weekend fit.
Buy Now on Mr Porter: $495
Amiri Bandana Knit Polo Shirt
Best High-Fashion Knit Polo
The abstracted bandana pattern of Amiri’s cotton polo takes it squarely out of country club territory. Follow suit with similarly relaxed wide-legged trousers or drawstring shorts.
Buy Now on Fwrd: $890
Authors
Barry Samaha
Senior Commerce Editor
Barry Samaha is the senior commerce editor at Robb Report, where he oversees all things shopping. Previously, he was an editor at Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Surface, and WWD, along with overseeing…
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Kareem Rashed
Kareem Rashed is Robb Report's style editor. Prior to joining the magazine, he worked for publications including Departures, Vogue, Elle and Interview, covering men's and women's fashion, jewelry…
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