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Affordable Men's Style

The Suggestion: The Casual Contrast Placket Polo

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L.L. Bean Signature Casco Bay Polo – $35.00 (ships free too)

That right there is how you take a polo from boring to interesting, without going overboard.

I know most of us love the $10 Mossimos and still on sale Express Signatures, they can be pretty boring.  Which is welcome when you’re dressing them up with say, a pair of almost white 5-pocket chinos, but when you’re around a BBQ tending to steaks and chicken, a rut of solid polos can get a little stale.

Plenty of designers have been working in unusual contrast plackets to their polos as a way to make them stand out.  The L.L. Bean signature version throws in a light blue chambray.  The bright white collar on the red polo might be a little too much for some of you guys, but the green version keeps it quiet with a darker collar and matching buttons.

Slightly fitted and ships free.  Almost makes a jersey-cotton polo honk like myself want to dive into this pique option.

Other contrast plackets worth considering, these from Black Brown 1826 (under $20 w/ code SUN) and the LEC striped and solid slub jersey polos.  Both now on sale for under $30.  Ships free (no minimum purchase required) with code GETREADY and pin 1106

The L.E.C. code GETREADY w/ pin 1106 expires exp. 6/28

For the LECs, the contrast placket matches up with a contrast collar.

Comments

  1. Already own the red one and plan to buy the green in the near future. Very high quality, but keep in mind the ‘slightly fitted’ part…I would size down one from your usual.

    I’m 6’3″, 175 lbs, size 40 chest and I usually but polo shirts in a medium, as I did with this one. The fit wasn’t awful, but I still ended up having to take it to the tailor to bring in the sides a bit.

  2. I like the last one, not quite sure about the top two.

    I love the contract collar polo from Bonobos, but their prices are always up there.

  4. eh…not for me.  I’ll take my contrast in shoes, belts, and watch straps…ties when appropriate, and a wacky color/pattern pant once in a while.

  5. I’m a big fan of this (pricier) version, from Rag and Bone.  http://www.barneys.com/Solid-Polo/501141126,default,pd.html

    Might have to give the LL bean a shot…

  6. They all look alright, except that green one with blue trim. That one seems to say “I’m a septuagenarian on my way to the lunch buffet.”