Great Polo Shirt Styles for Travelers

These shirts—available in every color imaginable—can work wonders with your travel wardrobe. Just be sure you're wearing them right.

It's hard to argue that any piece of apparel is more essential to any man's wardrobe than the polo. Call it the all-American style saver: Without investing a mint, you can add pop to a drab look or create a chic, monotone mood for more sophisticated events. Polo shirts are the grab-and-go staple of travel, known for their packability and ease of care. Wear them under jackets and sweaters in professional settings, then lose the outer layers when it's time to go casual. No matter the occasion, the polo shirt is a sure wardrobe winner.

Prewashed classic
two-button cotton polo, Tommy Hilfiger, $49;
tommy.com

Short-sleeved polo, Joseph Abboud, $98;
bloomingdales.com

Short-sleeve cotton polo, Ben Sherman, $45;
benshermanusa.com

lim custom-fit cotton polo, Polo Ralph Lauren, $75;
poloralphlauren.com

Athletic-fit cotton piqué polo, American Eagle Outfitters, $24.50;
ae.com

Cotton polo shirts, Zegna Sport, $145 each; zegna.com

Taking the reins

Don't pop it

Never let your collar stand on end-unless you're using it
to shade your neck from the sun while hitting the green.

Swap with a tee

Add interest to a jacket or a lightweight sweater by tossing your T-shirt and replacing it with a contrasting polo. You'll appear more dressed, and the look is somewhat unexpected. Again, keep the polo collar inside your lapels and sweater neckline.

Tucked or untucked?

Most times, tuck in your polo when wearing dress trousers,
but forget about it when wearing shorts, jeans or chinos.

Bigger isn't better

A way-too-large polo is difficult to layer underneath other dress clothes and can make you look a bit sloppy.

No hang-ups

Always stow your polos flat and folded. Placing them on hangers can cause them to stretch out and sets them up for unexpected damage around the collar and shoulders.

Limit logos

Logos larger than a half-dollar should be avoided, since they are distracting in professional situations.

STAN WILLIAMS, author of The Find (Clarkson Potter, 2009),
is a fashion journalist in New York.