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The

POLO

The Polo Shirt:
Always in Play

Born on the court, raised in culture.
The polo is a closet staple that keeps
evolving — without ever losing its edge.

The polo shirt needs no introduction, delivering sportiness and style in equal measure — thanks to its roots in the equestrian sport. But the polo we know and wear today? That comes from tennis. In 1926, champion Jean René Lacoste made sportswear history by wearing a non‑regulation shirt.

Before then, players wore long‑sleeve collared shirts, which were as stiff as the rackets they swung. René introduced a three‑button shirt made of breathable cotton piqué with short sleeves and ribbed cuffs for ease of movement. The collar was soft, to prevent it from curling up, and the longer hem in the back ensured the shirt stayed tucked in during a match.

Eventually, René's shirt made its way to the United States, gaining popularity over the decades. But not until the 1970s and 1980s did it become synonymous with the Ivy League and country club crowd.

Naturally, Tommy Hilfiger took notice. Always drawn to the prep school look, he named one of his earliest polos from 1985 the "Newport" to represent "yachting, Newport Harbor and New England preppy."

Like René, Tommy rewrites the rules of style with each polo he creates. For his first New York City store, his rugby polo shirt broke from tradition with a cropped shape, a twill collar and a front pocket — features not found on a standard polo. In the early 1990s, Tommy pushed the look further by introducing bold patches and crests. He also explored color blocking and logo lettering in the rugby version famously worn by Snoop Dogg on Saturday Night Live in 1994. "The future of preppy is evolution," Tommy later said in an interview for Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style, "retaining its heritage, but twisting and shaping it to make it new for audiences."

The same spirit lives on in today's polos. From archival classics to bold remixes, our latest lineup for men and women delivers fresh fits, vibrant colors and contemporary takes on the forever‑cool staple. Scroll to learn more.