Stuck with polo shirts :( What to do? - YouLookFab Forum

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Stuck with polo shirts :( What to do?

Anonymous

My boss decided to order polo shirts for all of us to wear. They're polyester (ugh) and slim-fitting (double ugh). Oh how I hate polo shirts. The only plus is that the women's polo shirts have seams to give them a little shape. Oh, and one is black while the other one (sent to us because the company screwed up our order) was supposed to be red but is actually magenta (read: very unflattering color on me).

Question: How can I make a bad situation better? Any suggestions on what to pair such an unflattering top with would be greatly appreciated.

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Ugh - the polo shirt is flattering on maybe 3% of women. I'm not one of them. I'm actually afraid my company will do something like this - last year they ordered fleece vests with logos for everyone - I politely declined. Is this an everyday mandatory thing, like a uniform? Can you wear a lightweight pullover sweater over it so just the collar shows? Wear a blazer or jacket or cardigan over it? I think I'd have to spend quite a bit of time in my closet trying things on with it.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Tell them you are allergic to polyester?

Anonymous

I'm stuck with a fleece vest from last year, too. I never wear it because it is so unflattering on me.

rachylou

Veteran

I'd size up and wear the polo over a button down or long sleeve tee (if casual is permitted). Says, "I got this shirt and am being a sport, but these are my real clothes underneath!" Lol.

Or wear an ascot along with it.

donnat

Veteran

I have to tell you, my heart goes out to you. A polo shirt is pretty bad. I think, you have to wear a nice jacket over it. Maybe they wont insist you wear it every day. or like Rachylou said, wear an ascot lol

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Funny thing - when we did this at our company (ordered various Logo items) they all were like competing over how often they could wear them. We had to order more! Of course they were not polyester and I let them pick their own colors/sizes on the Lands End Business site and that made it a bit more personal. I still have my fleece logo jacket and wear a logo cap on my hikes regularly.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

http://www.refinery29.com/15781#slide

I really like it with the pencil skirt

Kate Middleton

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/301459768783264154/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/99360735500066165/

ETA

http://www.whowhatwear.com/pol.....ng-trends/

Basically it's been a fringe trend for a while. There's a nice Kenzo one I've been thinking of getting.

retailgirl

Veteran

I've had to wear company polos...not a great look! My favorite way to deal with this has been layering a polo over a tailored shirt, sleeves cuffed, with slim pants and a belt. Collars popped! the accessories make it look like your ensemble is intentional. This also works with a crew neck tee.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I'm not gonna post another Wall Street Journal article, but coincidentally someone asked their fashion columnist about how to make a company polo look decent, and the answer was, have it tailored, don't wear with blue jeans, think about print pants and dressy shoes.

crutcher

Veteran

Wear it with a blazer...a la Kate Middleton...wear it over a shirt...a la Rachy...Dress that little sucker up...I mean a contrasting silk scarf..pearls, etc...I would just not let the powers that be see me unhappy about this...
Wear it with dressy pants and heels...al la UmmLila...
Let your imagination rule and go on Pinterest for other suggestions..Like the old adage when life gives you a polo shirt, make a fashion statement out of it...or was that lemon and lemonade, smile...

shiny

Veteran

We've had threads about this before - the dreaded booth shirt!

My favorite strategy is to tuck the shirt into a high-waisted pencil skirt -- gives you back a waist and reduces some of the volume. If it's too long or bulky to tuck, then chop off the extra length. Pop the collar, wear a statement necklace to fill in the neckline (or earrings or bracelets - whatever is your preference), and add gorgeous statement shoes.

Daria

I was stuck with polo shirts at a conference last year as well. However, they were pretty nice quality (Cutter&Buck brand I believe) and the color was fairly flattering on me (blue). I wore mine with light chino pants.

Anonymous

Thanks. I think based on the fit and color of this unwanted wardrobe item, I'll need to get creative. I hope I won't be expected to wear it to the office. I think it's for activities we sometimes do that are outside the office. The Powers That Be are trying to rebrand us, and we have a new logo and everything. I don't think our customers give a rat's behind, but nobody asked me.

Zibbets

Veteran

To moderate the color issue, you could try wearing a thin white (or whatever color pairs with the polo and flatters you) tee under the polo shirt. I was in the same situation with a shirt a shade of green that made me look ill. The white helped a lot.

I love Shiny's ideas too.

always trying

Veteran

The whole thing about them is the masculine image as mens golf shirts.

I think the ones for women, shorter sleeves, worn with all the buttons open, either shorter length or part tucks etc. can be quit flattering. Also larger in size not to be tight across bustline, as in the pohots from pinterest, etc.

Anonymous

Interesting about the size issue with the shirts our office ordered. I ordered a medium because of pulling across the chest I often have problems with. Turned out the shirts run a little snug, and my boss and coworkers didn't size up like I did. I think I'm the only one who is going to look halfway good in this shirt because of this.

Anonymous

Two of my coworkers have already worn these shirts to work. One is a very petite woman who is very outdoorsy and has a more masculine look. On her, the shirt looks good because it suits her body type and personality. The other coworker is obese and didn't size up when she ordered. On her, the shirt is obviously too snug, to put it politely. So far, no one has said we need to wear these shirts to work, so I'm not going to wear mine unless told to do so.

Kirstjen

Veteran

If you don't have to wear it, into the donations bin it goes. Every single free t shirt, jacket, etc., if it has a logo on it, it goes. No exceptions. I am not a billboard...

Anonymous

No kidding! If they think I'm going to wear this shirt in my free time, they're sadly mistaken. It's only going to be worn if I'm told to do so. And you're right. If I'm not told to wear it, I'm not going to keep it. I hate that this type of thing takes up room in my closet.

Vix

Veteran

BC, my style condolences! Thankfully you've gotten some solutions from other members because I'm just over here muttering. [Old uniform of polo + chinos = uggggh.]

Glad it's more for team-building/events than daily.

tulle

Veteran

I feel your pain! I would hate to be told to wear polo shirts, which I believe are strictly for polo players. Shiny gave you some really good tips, I think, and here are a couple more ways around this silliness: try taking in the seam (use pins first to get an idea) of the sleeve a bit to get rid of some of the flap. It can then be shortened, rolled up, or even lengthened a little (play around with the hem) to your taste. For a neater shape, either take in the side seams, or try the soldier's tuck: take two lengthwise, outward-facing folds in the fabric of the back, to either side of your backbone, and tuck firmly into your skirt or pants to show your waist. Try the collar popped or folded down & flattened. And hope that nobody tells you to wear the thing every day!

Helena

Veteran

I love polo shirts! I second everything in Anna's post

christieanne

Veteran

I worked for a company that had a branded shirt dress code and we had polos as an option. I had a few and mixed them up :

order an oversized/slightly bigger and wear over a slim ponte pant (you could layer the polo over a long sleeved shirt or knit top for contrast/warmth and easy on/off at last minute)

wear a blazer over the polo. Male executives in our company did this so I followed their lead - you could combine with the Middleton skirt as well.

Hopefully no one says they are everyday wear for you all - if it is only occasionally then it isn't so bad.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

If logo polos and tees are not part of required uniform, management usually makes these things thinking of it as a rah-rah team building gift. Interesting to hear how everyone hates these. There are a lot of politics in the workplace. Two other co-workers have worn theirs. Maybe you could wear it once to acknowledge the .. ehem... gift.

Anonymous

I'm not going to wear mine just because others are. Only if I'm told to do it. Wearing a polyester polo shirt that's not even a flattering color for me is cruel and unusual punishment, lol. Seriously, polo shirts are not good on my body type. I do like the idea of ponte pants and a jacket. I can't get enthused about this at all.

unfrumped

Veteran

Such great ideas above!
I think also you first focus on what are your best or favorite proportions in your regular clothing and see how to modify with polo shirt, e.g., are you a volume over slim pants person, a "tucker" into pants or pencil skirts, do jackets look great on you vs. look too tailored, and so on so you aim for your best silhouettes. Summer is hard (outdoors) because in the heat the polo will need to be unadorned. And polyester, gah--one of the benefits of the traditional polo is that they can be obtained in good-quality cottons.

tulle

Veteran

Great points, Unfrumped!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Just before I started the job I have now, polo shirts were ordered in soul sucking beige, to wear when we have public open houses, of all things. I refused to wear one. Pretended mine didn't fit :). (Well, it didn't!). I basically said if I'm representing the department, I want to look presentable. No one argued.

Sounds like you'll probably be ok... put it at the back of the closet and don't think about it until/unless you are ordered to wear it.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, polo shirts! *shudder*

Years ago I worked at a big box electronics retailer and they made us wear horrible polyester polo shirts and khaki trousers. IIRC we were forced to wear our shirts tucked in, too, which was just all kinds of horrible on my figure.

I was really glad when they gave us nasty polyester vests to wear over normal tops instead. It was still nasty polyester but at least it wasn't directly next to my skin!