Believe it or not, warm weather days will be here before we know it. For men who want to look their best, that means it's time to do away with the subdued, darker attire that may have worked for winter and bring back the brighter hues of spring.
With designers releasing their 2019 spring men's clothing collections now, there's no better time to take a look at your wardrobe and freshen up your options.
One item that's remained popular over time that you'll surely want to include in your spring clothing lineup is the classic polo.
Polos have been a go-to for men over the years, even though they may have an unearned reputation as just not that interesting. That's likely because polos are often used as uniform wear or what someone who needs a collared shirt reaches for only out of necessity.
Well, we are here to tell you the polo, in reality, is a versatile, comfort - and, yes, stylish - option for men in many situations. Let's take a look at how to dress to impress this spring with polos.
1. Go bright with colors that stand out
Spring and summer are always packed with color. Men's style and colors during these seasons follows suit. Nature has its color back and people are out and about. That sense of energy and activity is contagious.
When it comes to how you dress, let that energy show with brighter, lighter colors that you may not wear as often - or at all - in fall and winter.
Pick out polos of various colors and different shades of those colors. Lighter blues, greens, purples, reds, oranges and yellows will work well in spring. There are the colors commonly associated with spring, too, such as pistachio, mint, kelly green, canary, robin's egg blue, teal - the list goes on and on.
2. Mix it up with different patterns on polos
Polos don't have to be plain. In fact, a few of our most popular polos are multicolored and striped.
Sure, polos are seen as a more traditional, laid back clothing option for men. You can't go wrong with a plain color.
It's OK to seek out stripes and simple piping, though. Fashionbeans notes that striped polos or shirts that have piping around the sleeves or collar can add more character to a polo's look.
As Fashionbeans also points out, however, you may want to avoid going too wild with colors in polo patterns. The website recommends most men stick to two colors in most situations, while some men could go with three colors if that's still within their comfort zone.
If you are concerned your pattern or color pallete is too bold, then tone down your look with pants that are more subdued in color.
3. Get the right fit
Blogger Ashley Weston has some great tips on how men's polos should fit.
Weston recommends that sleeves should go down to mid-bicep. The sleeves shouldn't be tight, but don't look good if they're too slack, either.
As for fit, Weston says men of all body types should be able to "pinch (not pull) between one to two inches of fabric on either side of your stomach."
Finally, the length of men's polos should reach a few inches below the belt, but not too far. This, Weston writes, allows the shirts to be tucked in comfortably.
4. Add a jacket over your polo
Polos are perfect for layering, especially when the situation doesn't call for strictly formal attire.
As described in The Art of Manliness, polos can easily be dressed up by adding a jacket on top. Jackets, like polos, can be either dressed up or dressed down, so they pair well together.This look goes well with nicer jeans, chinos or trousers.
If the spring weather gets a little chilly, as its known to do in our northwest Iowa hometown, you can also throw a crew neck sweater over a pollo. Simply bring the collar up over the neck of the sweater and you've got a comfortable but sharp look that isn't just for fall and winter.
5. About those buttons…
You will find plenty of opinions about what to do with the buttons on polos.
Some, like Fashionbean, say to do away with the buttons completely. It allows for a more comfortable, relaxed look.
That's true, but not always the best way to keep a polo dressed up and appropriate for some business or more formal environments.
On the other hand, buttoning up one or two of the buttons - assuming you have a three-button polo - can tidy up the look quite a bit. The Art of Manliness backs up this approach in its polo shirt guide.
In reality, how you decide to button up your polo comes down to what's appropriate in whatever setting you find yourself.
6. Keep sportswear polos separate
As The Art of Manliness notes, polos have a history that's deeply connected to sports. Even today, men can be found wearing polos on the golf course, tennis courts and, yes, polo fields.
At Hansen's we are big fans of sports and performance polos. However, it is best that these polos be worn in their intended setting. A sleek, shiny sports polo looks great in the clubhouse or in the stands of a summer sporting event, but not in the office.
Keep the stretchy, moisture-wicking performance polos on the field of play. Go for a more professional in the office. Polos made of stretch or jersey fabric don't always look as nice as polos made of cotton, piqué cotton or silk blends.
Men's polos for every setting
If you're looking for a stylish, great-fitting polo, then look no further. We carry a variety of performance fabrics and cotton polos to make sure you look great - and are comfortable - in every setting.
Our polos are hand-picked from Peter Millar and St. Croix. With those brands's reputations for providing high-quality men's clothing, you can't go wrong.
Take a look at our large men's polos selection today.