
There are some menswear styles that, at a glance, seem tricky to pull off: Perhaps the long-sleeve polo, the purview of Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale, is one such style.
Fear not – this refined take on a classic sits in the middle of a Venn diagram of sorts, somewhere between a breezy short-sleeve polo and a casually cool T-shirt.
It’s an upgrade to the traditional polo, with a design fit for transitional weather, the ability to be worn underneath a blazer or on its own, and an effortless cool that makes it 007-approved.
It’s a piece that’s plenty distinctive in its own right – it’s not as formal as a turtleneck, it’s cooler than an Oxford shirt, and it’s a nice swerve from a style classic. All things are true at once with the best long-sleeve polos, so shop accordingly.
Perhaps it was easy to see this one on the horizon, but Sunspel just so happens to make the long-sleeve polo favored by Daniel Craig, and it’s a classic to this day. The Riviera Polo is a premium splurge and the lightweight Supima cotton gives it a soft, high-quality feel.
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Stocking up on the best long-sleeve polos needn’t break the bank – Joe’s USA proves that with its sub-$50, stretch cotton pique and polyester polo shirts designed for stretch, comfort and style.
An array of color options meet every style preference, and it’s designed to resist wrinkles and shrinking all the while.
When dipping your toes into a new category, like the long-sleeve polo, it’s sometimes a fun exercise to go all-out with a bit of a splurge.
Sunspel’s handsome Riviera option is a modern icon for a reason, and although it’s pricier than many options on the market, it’s got exceptionally soft fabric and 007-approved quality in spades.
There’s a casual, durable appeal to L.L. Bean menswear – that goes for its expertly crafted flannel shirts and no-nonsense sweaters as much as this reliable polo.
It’s made from sturdy fabric that won’t pill or fade, but the shirt itself should get softer with every wash.
Although the best polos have a rather preppy reputation nowadays, never forget the rough-and-tumble roots of the aptly named rugby polo. Buck Mason nods to the heritage of the style by using a sturdy yet soft yarn-dyed cotton construction in a range of fresh, earthy colors – as easygoing and chic as it gets.
Todd Snyder gives the classic sweatshirt a sharper, more polished spin with this polo-inspired layer.
Made from hefty all-cotton terry sourced from Portugal, the fabric comes in at 380 GSM, which makes it a great weight for most of the year. The fit is flexible too: button it up for a cleaner, more put-together look, or leave it open when you want something more relaxed.
Details like the oversized ribbed collar and placket, plus vintage-style melamine buttons, give it extra character. It’s an easy way to swap out a basic crewneck for something that still feels comfortable but looks a little more elevated.
You very well might have most commonly seen some of the best long-sleeve polos on the golf course – Lands’ End recommends its Supima cotton and long-sleeve design for hitting the links. Yet, soft cotton build and polished three-button placket are sleek and stylish enough for the office as well as a day on the links.
Searching for a polo you can easily dress up in a long-sleeve format? Look no further than John Smedley’s handsome take on the long-sleeve polo, with an open-placket design, premium fabric with a dressy sheen to it, and a range of rich color options.
This is an investment piece sure to turn heads, especially when paired with stretch chinos and leather loafers.
Relwen builds its versatile menswear with an eye on the past and a vision for the future, which is perhaps what makes its chino pants and field jackets so comfortable and yet durable.
Its product line is almost like something Steve McQueen might wear, and this soft yet sturdy polo in a handsome French loop fabric is certainly no different.
Best known for its ridiculously soft, supple buttondown shirts and shirt jackets, Faherty takes a similar approach to the classic long-sleeve polo, using organic cotton for a lightweight feel and a laidback, clean drape. The result is a stylish men’s polo that’s as comfortable to wear as a T-shirt, yet with more polish and fashionable good looks.