The ‘80s and ‘90s influence on today’s fashion continues with an influx of polo collars and Johnny collars on tees, knitted tops, knitwear, pop-over blouses, rugby shirts, and dresses. Collars are usually knitted. Polo collars have plackets with buttons like the classic polo shirt, whereas Johnny collars don’t have buttons. The Johnny collar is usually accompanied with a buttonless placket or front slit. That said, some retailers use the term polo collar and Johnny collar interchangeably since the look and vibe is similar.
Polo and Johnny collars grace knitted and woven tops across a range of silhouettes, fabrics, and fits. You see them on dresses too. Fits are body con, tailored, fluid and oversized. There are dressy and casual versions. Warm weather and cold weather options. All sorts of lengths, colours, and patterns too. Some plackets are long and exaggerated. The collection shows ample variety.
As someone who enjoys tops and dresses with collars, I like this trend. I’ve been wearing polo shirts since the ‘80s and continue to do just that. To my eye, they are an iconic classic. I’ve been collecting polo collar tops for a while. As they came up as a fringe look in fashion, I snapped them up. Now that the look is having a fashion moment and gaining moment, I’m more spoiled for choice. Here is my current collection of tops with polo collars. Some items are new, while others are several years old. I’d like to add a striped rugby shirt to my collection, and have my eye on the one from Ralph Lauren Polo.
Over to you. Are you wearing polo and Johnny collar tops? If not, does the trend interest you?
