best polos for men | The Style Guide

Editor’s note: Expect these posts weekly detailing one standout item coveted by yours truly. Sometimes, these fit within budgetary restrictions and other times, they’re expensive splurges worth saving for. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

Easygoing, effortless and still sharp — that’s the Mack Weldon Vesper Polo for you. Photo courtesy of Mack Weldon.

So, you sidle up to the bar on a Saturday night — maybe on a first date. What are you wearing? A polo inspired by the crisp, clean, effortlessly cool style of 007, that’s what.

My friends, we’re talking today about the Mack Weldon Vesper Polo, a heck of a polo that puts together the favorite style principles of 007 in one shirt. It doesn’t hurt that it’s named for the original (and perhaps best-known) drink downed by everyone’s favorite secret agent. The Vesper Polo nails everything you should look for in a stylish polo for summer — it’s got a clean, modern fit, for starters.

And the lightweight micro-mesh knit fabric is exactly what you need to keep you cool and dry in the heat of July (we’ll have an #OOTD styling this exact polo next week, in fact). After checking one out myself during a hot and busy #NYFWM, I’ve got to vouch for that. Plus, this polo is everything great style should be — it’s understated, it’s refined, it’s easily wearable, and the price ain’t half-bad either ($68, for the unitiated).

It’s part of Mack Weldon’s effort to expand on basics that work for every guy’s wardrobe — if you’ve shopped the brand or participated in our most recent reader giveaway with these guys, you know that all too well. Add this polo to your other favorites of theirs — like an easily wearable Pima Crew Tee — and you’ll be on your way to building a sharp wardrobe any day of the week.

While the Kentucky Blue option looks great, Bond might go for the Total Eclipse Blue polo. Photo courtesy of Mack Weldon.

Yet, the great thing about the Vesper Polo is that it’s a great place to start no matter your style level. Seriously, every guy can use reminders about things like proper fit, and this polo makes it easy. It’s wearable with slim shorts or tan chinos, and it doesn’t look out of place when worn in an even more laidback fashion — like atop your favorite swim trunks as you head to the beach or pool. And the self-collar doesn’t flop around like other polo collars — it’ll stay upright through the day (even moreso if you use collar stays), so you can rock it beneath a slim-fit khaki blazer to the office.

The trickiest part about the whole endeavor might be picking a favorite color — the Kentucky Blue option seen here is reliable and crisp, yet that Total Eclipse Blue (a dark navy, really) is the same color favored by Bond in Casino Royale (although that option is a bit pricier). So you certainly can’t go wrong with a well-priced, well-performing, effortlessly stylish polo ready for the rest of summer (and even able to be rocked into early fall when layered under a shawl cardigan, for example. The toughest part is going to be putting it away when the weather turns cold — yet if you live in a warm climate, you’ll have the gift that keeps on giving year-round. Keep it handy for that next date in the meantime, yeah?

Have you picked up the Mack Weldon Vesper Polo yet? What’s your favorite style combination when it comes to polos?

Sticking with a polo right through the end of summer.

Hopefully, there’s not too much off about this week’s Style Pick — a polo? Right at the end of “summer” for a lot of us? Yes, of course. Here’s why — there’s still plenty of time to wear that polo on its own, then layered up under some more unique combinations, like henleys or casual sweaters, in the weeks thereafter. Of course, you’ll then have a newer polo in your rotation come spring as well (if that’s even an issue). And the more casual the fabric and texture, the more the polo might wear like a T-shirt, anyways. That’s what the Slub Nep Jersey Polo from Grayers accomplishes. It combines a textured nep yarn and a just-right three-button collar for a polo that could even work under a blazer (provided you’re equipped with some collar stays). Grayers has got a lot going for it in terms of styles that walk the line between continental and preppy, so it only makes sense that a polo from the brand would blur those lines, too.

One of three color options for this style of soft-knit polo.

And in a slightly heightened shade of blue when compared to a deeper navy, it can be styled in the exact same ways as the classic color while bringing a bit of pop. After all, a navy polo is a style stalwart that can be dressed up or down — check out my Effortless Gent series for more suggestions. If you’re on the hunt for a slightly different color, a Light Blue Denim option is available on the Grayers website, as is a Charcoal polo that could pull double-duty with earthy olive chinos well into fall. Prices are up there when you stack it up next to something like an H&M polo, but you get a reliably classic option that should offer a modern fit and well-made fabric. Even if summer’s almost over, that’s still a pretty good buy.

Do you own any Grayers product? How would you style this polo into the fall for maximum versatility?

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Tag / best polos for men

Style Pick of the Week: Mack Weldon Vesper Polo

Style Pick of the Week: Grayers Slub Nep Jersey Polo