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What’s This About
Wear a Lacoste polo in a fit that suits your shoulders, in a colour that works with your other clothes, with trousers and shoes matched to the occasion.
This guide covers choosing and styling a Lacoste polo, such as
The fits Lacoste sells, with dated US prices
How a polo should fit at the shoulders, sleeves and hem
How to compare colours without a colour-season label
Everyday and smart-casual outfits
Whether to wear a polo under a blazer
and many more!
Try the fits on, compare colours in a mirror and match the formality of your trousers and shoes to the event.
Key Points
01Lacoste dates its company to 1933, and its own history places the short-sleeved tennis shirt at the 1928 French championship final.
02The Original L.12.12 Classic Fit polo was $115 on Lacoste’s US website on 7 October 2026.
03Fit and the silhouette you prefer are separate choices, so a Classic Fit and a Slim Fit can both fit well.
04A polo under a blazer is a matter of taste, so keep the jacket soft and the event smart-casual.
A Lacoste polo is one of the easiest shirts to wear well. Choose a fit that sits comfortably on your shoulders, pick a colour that works with the rest of your clothes, and wear it with chinos, shorts, jeans or tailored trousers depending on the occasion.
The shirt has a long tennis history. René Lacoste wore short-sleeved knitted shirts on court in the late 1920s, and the company he founded with the knitwear maker André Gillier dates from 1933.
Lacoste’s own history points to the 1928 French championship final, while some menswear accounts date his first appearance in the shirt to the 1926 US championships.
This guide covers how to choose a Lacoste polo, then gives complete outfits for everyday wear, work, the seasons and particular occasions.
Choosing a Lacoste polo
Start with the fit, then the fabric, then the colour.
The fits Lacoste sells
On 7 October 2026 Lacoste’s US website listed these men’s short-sleeved polos.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns →
| Polo | Fit and fabric | US price, 7 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Original L.12.12 | Classic Fit, cotton petit piqué | $115 |
| L.12.12 Slim Fit | Slim Fit, cotton piqué | $115 |
| Paris polo | Regular Fit, stretch piqué | $125 |
| Pima cotton polo | Regular Fit, Pima cotton | $100 |
| Cotton-linen polo | Classic Fit, cotton and linen | $125 |
| Ultra Dry sport polo | Regular Fit, performance fabric | $90 |
The Classic Fit is the roomiest cut, the Slim Fit sits closer to the body, and the Regular Fit sits between them.
Lacoste also sells a long-sleeved Classic Fit L.12.12, which was $125 on the same date.
How a polo should fit
Fit and the silhouette you prefer are separate choices, so a relaxed Classic Fit and a closer Slim Fit can both fit well.
The shoulder seam should sit at or just past the edge of your shoulder.
The sleeves usually end around the middle of the upper arm, and a common guide is halfway to two-thirds of the way from shoulder to elbow; adjust to what feels comfortable on your arms.
The body should follow your torso without pulling across the chest or stomach and without billowing.
If you plan to wear it untucked, the hem should sit just below your belt.
Our guides to dressing the inverted triangle, oval, rectangle and triangle body shapes, and our general guide to dressing for your body shape, discuss fit for different builds.
You do not need to know your body shape to choose a polo; trying the Classic and Slim Fits on in the same size is the quickest test.
If you are curious, the body shape quiz for men is an optional starting point.
Choosing colours
White and navy are the easiest Lacoste colours to wear, and both appear often in classic Old Money style colours.
Lacoste sells the L.12.12 in dozens of colours, so compare a few shades of blue, green or burgundy next to your face and with the trousers or shorts you plan to wear.
Coral, orange and warmer yellows are other options to try; whether they suit you is easier to judge in a mirror than from a skin-tone label.
Our seasonal colour guide and the colour analysis quiz can give you ideas to compare, but you can choose a polo without settling on a colour season.
Everyday Lacoste polo outfits
A polo sits between a T-shirt and a button-down shirt, so it works for most casual plans.
Weekend brunch
Wear a forest green polo, dark straight-leg jeans, white leather tennis trainers, a brown leather-strap watch and dark sunglasses.
A day in the city
Pair a heather grey polo with navy chino shorts, white leather trainers and a lightweight navy bomber jacket in case it rains.
Relaxed and sporty
Try a red polo with neutral tapered joggers in a smooth fabric and plain minimalist trainers.
Keep the joggers plain and well fitting so the outfit looks deliberate rather than gym-bound.
Lacoste polos for smart-casual dressing
Our guide to the smart-casual dress code explains how far you can dress down, and a polo fits comfortably within it.
For the office
Check your workplace dress code first, because some offices treat polos as too casual; our business casual guide sets out the usual expectations.
Wear a white polo tucked into charcoal wool trousers, with a brown leather belt, cognac brogues and a navy blazer for meetings.
Date night
Choose a burgundy polo, beige chinos, brown suede desert boots and a plain leather bracelet or watch.
Polo and blazer
Wearing a polo under a blazer is a matter of taste. Some menswear writers prefer a collared shirt with a blazer because a soft polo collar can collapse under the lapels, while others like the relaxed effect.
If you try it, choose a polo with a firm collar, keep the blazer soft and unstructured, and stick to a smart-casual event.
Go for a black or navy polo, a grey unstructured blazer, dark navy trousers and polished Oxford shoes or suede loafers, with a plain pocket square if you like.
Lacoste polo outfits by season
Spring and summer
Wear a pale blue polo with white linen shorts or chinos, espadrilles and a Panama hat.
Autumn
Wear an olive polo under a light grey V-neck jumper, with dark jeans and brown suede Chelsea boots.
Winter
The winter outfit is a long-sleeved polo under a tweed sports jacket, brown corduroy trousers and brogues.
Lacoste polo outfits for occasions
Check the invitation first, because a polo is too casual for many formal events.
Garden party
Dress in a pale pink polo, stone chinos, brown suede loafers, a navy linen blazer and tortoiseshell sunglasses.
Sailing or a yacht club
Our guide to yacht club style covers the nautical look in more detail.
Wear a navy and white striped polo with white shorts, leather boat shoes and a navy cap.
Golf
Golf clubs often set their own dress codes, so check them before you play; our guide to country club style shows the classic look.
Pick a performance polo in green or blue, tailored golf trousers, golf shoes and a plain cap.
Accessories with a Lacoste polo
A watch on a leather strap or a steel bracelet works with almost any polo outfit.
Match the colour of your belt to your shoes, for example a woven tan belt with tan boat shoes for summer, or a smooth black belt with black Oxfords for a smarter look.
Classic aviator or rectangular sunglasses suit the shirt’s sporting background.
A neutral baseball cap suits casual outfits, while a straw hat suits summer.
How to wear a Lacoste polo well
A Lacoste polo works across casual, smart-casual and summer occasions when it fits well and suits the rest of the outfit.
Choose the fit by trying it on, choose colours by comparing them with your face and your other clothes, and match the formality of your trousers and shoes to the occasion.
Find your style with The VOU
Two of The VOU’s quizzes can help you choose clothes and colours, and neither is required to wear the outfits above.
Check your body shape with the body shape quiz for men.
Find your seasonal colours with the seasonal colour quiz for men.
If you would like personal help after the quizzes, you can book paid consultations, including a fashion style analysis for men.
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Sources
Lacoste, brand history (the 1928 short-sleeved shirt and the company’s founding in 1933 by René Lacoste and André Gillier).
Lacoste US, men’s polo listing, fits and prices checked 7 October 2026.
Gentleman’s Gazette, polo shirt guide, first published 3 July 2019, read 7 October 2026 (sleeve length, hem length, the polo with a blazer, the 1926 date).