Why do so many older men wear polos?

27 comments

1. They’re comfortable and look nicer than a t-shirt. I wear mine without a t-shirt underneath (obviously washing after each wear). I like LL Bean polos. Good fit and good quality.

2. IMO, they’re really easy to wear while still being perceived as formal

3. Polos are like sweater vests. They’re chick magnets.

   The undershirt is a personal preference. It depends how it feels against my skin and whether chest hairs keeps poking through.

4. Business casual wear. I don’t want to wear a button down. And a t shirt isnt appropriate

5. I’m in my mid-40s and I’m a t-shirt guy myself. Probably always will be. Polos just seem to preppy for me. Maybe that’s my inner teenager speaking but yeah, I’m not a dress up guy at all.

6. Why do you care?

7. In the UK, decent polo’s by Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, etc, are a part of the Mod/Skins subculture, worn by plenty of younger people. Definitely wouldn’t wear anything underneath one

8. They’re simple, comfortable, and acceptable to wear in casual and semiformal settings.

9. Do you not see other guys wearing them? Do you wear only button ups to work?

10. For the same reason people wear T-shirts – comfy, easy to maintain (easy washing, easy folding, no need to iron), cheap. Except they’re perceived as more “serious”, “formal”, which attracts older generations.

11. Polos are a good classic style. Good ones would be ones like Ralph Lauren Polo

12. I’m in my 40s. Polos were some of the first acceptable “business casual” shirts when that started in the 90s. Plus, many men in that age group will golf, so we’re lazy and buy them for golf and just wear them to work.

    At the end of the day, it’s a tshirt with a collar. It says “I’m here for business, but in a chill way.”

13. Comfy, can wear to work, not overdressed if you wear with shorts

    I usually wear a cotton undershirt with really lightweight synthetic polos, I like the Adidas golf ones

    Golf has done wonders for work attire.

14. Always wearing on to work. No undershirt needed, just wash after one wearing. Have worn to wakes and non-formal occasions as well.

    When it is my time to relax i always wear a tshirt

15. It’s thicker than a tshit, so I print less when carrying.

16. I don’t go with polos but I wear the “dad shirt” basically every day. When it’s warm it’s the short sleeve button up, often with Hawaiian print. I look like a Trader Joe’s manager. I assume it’s mostly for the same reasons as a polo. T shirts feel young or for the gym or gardening. Don’t want to wear something more formal. I wear a thin undershirt (love the Uniqlo airism ones) which helps stop old man sweat stains.

17. I’ve always hated polos. I’m 64 and still just wear T-shirt and jeans.

18. Comfortable and looks nice as well. I don’t wear a t shirt under, but it’s personal preferance.

19. I’m 43 and yep, I wear polos everyday from Spring into late Fall usually. Once it cools down, I wear sweaters and once in a while long sleeve button-up.

    Where I work, business casual is considered collared shirts, which include polos. Undershirts are a must, I saw a guy recently wearing a polo with no undershirt and the bottom of his huge beer gut was exposed.

    I generally like lightweight material, I hate super heavy weight polos, especially in the summer. I look on Amazon discount or clearance stuff. Sometimes I can find good clearance polos at Kohl’s

20. They were also very popular when those guys were in their younger days, I am in my mid 30’s and remember when I was really young “preppy” was in style.

21. Never wear them at home, but I wear the free ones from work. We get a lot of visitors, so it’s a no brainer choice to just grab one of those from the shelf and look like part of the team for clients being shown round.

22. The tech material ones are comfortable without a t shirt and look like you made more effort than just a T shirt.

    Shakes fist at being called “older”

23. I wear one about once a week – usually to church during the warmer months. But for some reason people keep buying them for me. So I have quite a collection.

24. I’m not 40 yet. Polos hide muscles when they are oversized. Men seam to like to pat your back and grab your shoulders a lot when you’re muscular. It’s not fun when 10 different people grab your shoulders and yell wazzaaa like a defective moron.

25. Why wouldn’t they wear polos?

    Less formal than button down dress shirts. More formal than t-shirts.

26. I am wearing an underarmor polo currently. What have I become.

27. Comfy, easy to care for, and still look a little classier than just a t-shirt.

    I always wear an undershirt.

    I don’t go for brands, but I go for material. Higher quality shows, regardless of brand.