For many women, where their clothing comes from is not nearly as important as what it looks like when they put it on. But knowing where your favorite t-shirt or polo shirt first originated can give a better sense of how this piece of clothing might fit into your wardrobe. The ladies polo shirt, for example, actually has its roots in sports and athletic activities played by men - and of course, this tradition has continued to endure over the centuries, finally assimilating into women's style and fashion.
What you might not realize is that the polo shirt can be called by many names - a tennis shirt or a golf shirt is commonly used in everyday conversations, for example. Though the names might change, all refer to the idea of a lightly constructed shirt that has a collar, a few buttons (no more than three) in front of the neck with the ability to be buttoned up or left open as well as two narrow slits in the sides of the shirt at the bottom for better movement. While the material may change depending on your use for the polo shirt, many can be found in a wide range of colors and patterns in cotton, though the texture is created by using knitted cloth and not a woven material. Dressier versions of the polo shirt design can also be found, often in materials like wool, silk, or other manmade materials.
Most fashion history will point out that the ladies polo shirt originated as a piece in the tennis attire of men. Dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s, male tennis players would wear polo shirts to give them better ease of movement without sacrificing good looks during their matches. Instead of their traditional long sleeve shirts and ties, the players were able to move about the court more quickly when they added this more casual shirt to their wardrobe.
So, the development of the ladies polo shirt came from a need for comfort, rather than for a new style or statement. By realizing this, Rene Lacoste became the first person to design what we now know as the polo shirt. Having been a tennis player and champion himself, he knew the common problems with the stuffier outfits and realized that changes were necessary.
Of course the name 'polo' shirt seems to indicate that there was some relevance to the sport of polo as well - and this is an accurate assessment. As the popularity of the polo shirt increased in the sport of tennis, polo players saw the new design as advantageous to their sport as well and began to adopt this shirt for their playtime.
It's also interesting to note that while the shirt is worn in a number of settings and activities, the name 'polo shirt' is the one that has stuck around to generally apply to all of these types of shirts. There are some companies that will label these shirts according to their purpose (tennis or golf, for example), but asking for a polo shirt will also lead you to the right style.
The popularity of this style began to extend to women as a general trend of more casual wear began to come into vogue. Women were able to still look attractive in a polo shirt and dressier trousers instead of having to wear a traditional dress or skirt. Women also adopted this look for the sheer ruggedness of the design and its ability to keep up with their busy lives - even outside of the tennis court or golf course.
Ladies polo shirts may have their origins in men's history, but their appeal for women is remarkable. You can find polo shirts in every women's department from infants to misses.
Fruit Of The Loom Polo Shirt
The polo shirt is not a new fashion creation. It first appeared as part of the fashion scene in the late 1800s. Oddly enough, and fittingly so, polo shirts were first described as such in reports on polo players. Male Polo players of the Hurlingham Polo Club actually wore them in Buenos Aires in 1893. This makes the Polo shirt, possibly, as one author suggests, the first true sports shirt.
Polo shirts had a specific purpose. They were a lightweight and practical shirt to wear for a sporting event. Writers described them as being ideal for hot weather. Over time, the polo shirt has come to be considered the perfect sport shirt.
By the 1930s, the polo shirt was firmly entrenched as a fashionable and practical article of clothing. Although traditionally considered as white, colored shirts had been available as early as the late 1920s. Pastels, greens, blues and reds soon joined the stereotypical color scheme. The gender changed as well. American women were wearing them in the 1930s.
The polo shirt, therefore, has a long and proud sporting history. It is best known because of one man - Rene Lacoste. Erroneously, it is considered a Lacoste invention. He and Andre Gillier joined forces and produced a version of the polo shirt. Lacoste however, didn't market his shirt until 1933. Moreover, his advertisements indicate he referred to it as a "golf" and not a "polo" shirt. His shirt type was not marketed in the United States until 1951.
In the 1970s, Lacoste's gold shirts became considered a status symbol. These polo shirts were still referred to as golf shirts but the marketing indicated they were suitable for both home wear and for out on the tennis courts. Their long tail made them easy to tuck in the back of shorts or skirts.
The popularity of the newly remarketed polo shirt is the result of the philosophy of the age. The preppy look is very in, in the 1970s. Other companies follow Lacoste's lead and market their own version of the polo shirt. It appeared everywhere. You could wear them to work, at home and in actual sporting events. Firms branded their version with one or another "cute" symbols.
After the 1970s, the polo shirt lost its place in the popular culture. Fashion passed it by until the turn of the new century. The early 2000s saw the reintroduction of Lacoste's version in a limited edition ? a black Lacoste polo shirt with a silver crocodile. By 2006, polo shirts began to emerge, once again as the preppy choice. Lacoste, Nautica, Ralph Lauren (Polo) or Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts were all becoming fashionable, appearing on and off the courts and greens. The polo shirt has been making a comeback among women's fashion.
Why is this happening? The reason is the same as it was for its earlier existence. Polo shirts are about serving two disparate needs: function and style. Not to malign the average T-shirt, but polo shirts have the ability to address the casual with a status style. They are versatile as well as functional. Moreover, they have a designer's touch, that little brush with "fame" granting each garment a special status.
People still wear the polo shirt in an athletic environment. It appears on golf courses and on tennis courts. Polo players sport them in their matches. They add a touch of class to a skirt, jodhpurs, shorts or pants. Yet, today, the polo shirt appears on the backs of people performing their day-to-day and mundane tasks. Its adaptability, however, allows it to become part of their social and semi-professional daily obligations. Suburban moms can wear it to do practical things then move onto social affairs. Designers such as Leon Levin are able to tailor their polo shirts to active women for use on the coarse or at home.
The polo shirt possesses versatility. It is good for both casual and social functions. Anyone can wear it. In truth, it is adaptable to today's women's fast-paced lifestyle.
Grant Eckert has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Security, Depression Cure and Mortgage. About Author: Grant Eckert is a writer for Leon Levin. Leon Levin is a leading provider of . Grant Eckert's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
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