Everything about tennis celebrates the summer. Wimbledon wouldn’t be so picturesque if the crowd were eating strawberries and cream from a soggy container with gloved hands, wrapped up in scarves and hats, would it? Given that the sport is meant to be played in the bright sunlight, it’s no surprise that players’ attire is made for the heat, too. Not only are tennis pieces perfect for the summer thanks to breathability, but the sport also has a long relationship with the world of fashion, so you can be sure that a tennis polo will provide form and function.
Since the 1920s when Jean Patou radically changed tennis style by introducing tennis skirts for women to Lacoste’s timeless prep and even Virgil Abloh outfitting Serena Williams in 2018, tennis is sport’s most underrated fashion arena. That’s why the classic tennis polo crosses so effortlessly into everyday summer style. We’ve rounded up the best tennis polo shirts — from classic pieces by Lacoste to modern iterations by Aimé Leon Dore and beyond — to give you a comprehensive guide to the best polos around.
Part of Uniqlo’s recent collaboration with New York-based label Theory, this stripped-back polo shirt makes use of Uniqlo AIRism tech which ensures lightweight breathability that’s ideal for the warmer climes.
While many of the polo shirts in this roundup take a fashion-centric angle, but ellesse keeps things classic with this retro tennis design featuring five bold stripes across the chest.
Jacquemus once again transports us to the South of France with this gradient polo shirt. Lilac fading to off-white takes the space of any branding or detailing and we love it.
If you’re going for a tennis polo shirt there’s only one essential starting point — Lacoste. The iconic croc graces the chest of this all-white number. It doesn’t get much cleaner than this.
Crank up the prep levels to 10 with this striped polo shirt from Ralph Lauren complete with the world’s most stylish bear to the chest.
Minimal with an industrial, utilitarian edge, this polo shirt from Samuel Ross’ A-COLD-WALL* is a distillation of what the label stands for.
This white Burberry polo forgoes the label’s famous check patterns for a simple white construction that features a multi-colored Icon Stripe motif to the button placket as well as the Peter Saville-designed TB logo to the chest.
Of course we can’t do a roundup of a prep essential like the tennis polo shirt without inviting Aimé Leon Dore to the party. This striped piece is loud but completely classic.
Unusually understated for Alessandro Michele’s Gucci, this polo shirt does still fulfill the retro criteria of the Italian fashion house with an off-white and red color palette.
SOPHNET. updates the classic polo shirt with bandana inserts to each side panel. An embroidered scorpion logo offers the finishing touch.
When your light blue pastel is so on point, you don’t need to add anything more than a simple embroidered logo to the chest. That’s all.
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