I Spent $1000 to Find the Best Polo (2023) - (Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo, Sunspel, Loro Piana)
Summary
TLDRIn this men's basics series, the host compares various polo shirts, ranging from affordable to luxury brands, focusing on fit, fabric, collar, and construction. The goal is to find the optimal balance between price and quality. From Uniqlo's budget-friendly option to high-end Italian brand Laura Piana, the video explores the subtle differences that justify their price tags, revealing that while quality varies, the perfect polo largely depends on personal preference and fit.
Takeaways
- 👕 The video is a review of men's polo shirts, focusing on the price-quality relationship across various brands.
- 💰 The goal is to determine why some brands are expensive and find the optimal balance between cost and quality.
- 🎥 The series has previously covered t-shirts and joggers, and now includes polos in the comparison.
- 🏅 The reviewer has a personal preference for a polo that fits well, has good fabric quality, a solid collar, and overall good construction.
- 📈 The review includes a range of prices, from affordable Uniqlo to the high-end Loro Piana.
- 👚 Uniqlo's polo is praised for its value at around $20, but lacks a tailored look.
- 🤵 Kent Wang polos are highlighted for their slim fit and strong, structured collar, offering good quality at $65.
- 🎖 Lacoste polos are noted for their thin, breathable fabric and historical popularity, but have a disappointing collar.
- 👔 Ralph Lauren polos are a staple for the reviewer, known for their custom fit and average fabric quality, retailing around $95.
- 🕵️♂️ Sunspel's Riviera polo, worn by Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale', is appreciated for its soft, open weave fabric and structured collar, though it has a casual pocket.
- 💎 Loro Piana's high-priced polo offers a luxurious, thin fabric with a fine knit, but may not justify the cost compared to other options.
- 🛍️ The video concludes that polos are hard to get wrong if they meet personal preferences, and spending more doesn't always equate to better quality.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the 'Best Men's Basics' series?
-The main purpose of the series is to spend a significant amount of money on one type of clothing to determine why some brands charge so much and to find the optimal balance between price and quality.
What are the four key aspects the host considers when evaluating a polo shirt?
-The four key aspects are fit, fabric, collar, and overall construction.
What is the price range of the polos tested in the video?
-The price range of the polos tested in the video is from around twenty dollars for the Uniqlo polo to five hundred and forty-five dollars for the Loro Piana polo.
What is the brand that the host has worn his entire life and which did not compete as expected in the test?
-The brand that the host has worn his entire life and which did not compete as expected is Ralph Lauren.
What is the main difference between the Uniqlo polo and the others in terms of fit?
-The Uniqlo polo has a more relaxed fit, resulting in longer sleeve lengths and excess fabric around the underarms, making the chest not as fitted as preferred.
What makes the Kent Wang polo stand out according to the host?
-The Kent Wang polo stands out due to its strong collar made of a collar band and two layers of fabric, which maintains its shape even after multiple washes.
What is the unique feature of the Sunspel Riviera polo that was worn by Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale'?
-The unique feature of the Sunspel Riviera polo is its exceptionally wide and loose weave, making it feel like wearing a jersey made from some of the softest cotton in the world.
What is the main drawback of the Loro Piana polo according to the host's experience?
-The main drawback of the Loro Piana polo is the thin and somewhat translucent fabric, which, while luxurious, may not offer the same level of quality and durability as expected for its price.
What is the host's recommendation for someone on a budget looking for a quality polo?
-For someone on a budget, the host recommends either saving up for a Sunspel polo when it goes on sale or opting for a Kent Wang polo.
What is the host's final verdict on the importance of price in relation to the quality of a polo shirt?
-The host concludes that there is a point of diminishing returns for polo shirts where spending significantly more money does not necessarily yield a proportional increase in quality, and that fit and construction are more important than price.
Outlines
👕 Introduction to Men's Polo Basics Series
The video script introduces a series focused on men's basic clothing, specifically polo shirts made from piqué (pk) fabric. The aim is to determine the price-quality balance by comparing various brands. The host has previously reviewed t-shirts and joggers and now turns to polos. The script mentions a giveaway for a polo shirt and asks viewers to comment with their favorite hoodies for future content. The host discusses his preference for polos, their versatility, and the importance of fit, fabric, collar, and construction. The video will cover a range of prices, starting with Uniqlo's affordable option.
🔍 Detailed Polo Shirt Comparison and Reviews
This section delves into the specifics of various polo shirts, starting with Uniqlo's budget-friendly option. The host provides a detailed review of each shirt's fit, fabric, collar, and overall construction. Brands discussed include Kent Wang, known for its strong Reddit following and structured fabric; Lacoste, with its historical significance and variety of colors; Ralph Lauren, a staple in the host's wardrobe for its nostalgic value; and Sunspel, which was worn by Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale'. Each polo is evaluated on its unique characteristics, such as collar strength, fabric texture, and fit preferences.
💰 High-End Polo Review and Value Assessment
The final paragraph discusses the experience of trying on a high-end polo from an Italian brand, which retails for $545. The host compares the fit, fabric, and construction of this luxury polo to the other, more affordable options. While the quality and materials are exceptional, the host concludes that the price does not equate to a proportional increase in quality. The video wraps up with the host's recommendations based on the reviews, suggesting Sunspell and Kent Wang as top choices, and Uniqlo for a budget option. The host emphasizes the difficulty in finding a bad polo as long as it meets the viewer's preferences for collar, fabric, fit, and construction.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Men's Basics Series
💡PK Polos
💡Fit
💡Fabric Quality
💡Collar
💡Uniqlo
💡Kent Wang
💡Lacoste
💡Ralph Lauren
💡Sunspel
💡Loro Piana
Highlights
The video is part of a series exploring men's clothing basics, focusing on the price-quality relationship of different brands.
Polo shirts are timeless, casual yet dressed up, and suitable for hot climates like Texas.
The ideal polo should have a good fit, quality fabric, sturdy collar, and solid overall construction.
Uniqlo's Dry PK polo offers a relaxed fit at an affordable price, but lacks a tailored look.
Kent Wang polos are praised on Reddit for their slim fit and high-quality collar that retains shape.
Lacoste polos are lightweight and breathable, with a disappointing collar but rich history.
Ralph Lauren Custom Fit polos are known for their good fit and nostalgic appeal, but may not offer the best value for money.
Sunspell Riviera polo, worn by Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale', offers exceptional fabric and a relaxed fit.
Loro Piana's high-priced polo shirt is luxurious but doesn't necessarily offer 30 times the quality of the Uniqlo option.
The video includes a giveaway of a brand new polo from the video for viewers who like, subscribe, and comment.
PK fabric is a breathable and flexible material, ideal for polo shirts.
A good polo fit should drape well, hug the arms, and be fitted in the chest with room around the stomach.
The video compares polos based on price points, from affordable to luxury, to find the sweet spot in quality and price.
Uniqlo's polo has a simple fabric and a deep placket, with ribbed material for the collar and cuffs.
Kent Wang's polo stands out for its structured fabric and strong, shape-retaining collar.
Lacoste's polo has a fine weave and thinner fabric, making it suitable for warmer days.
Ralph Lauren's polo offers different fits and is known for its average, reliable quality.
Sunspell's polo has a wide and loose weave, providing a soft and open feel.
Loro Piana's polo, despite its high price, offers a luxurious feel and quality but may not justify the cost for all buyers.
The video concludes that polos are hard to mess up as long as they have the preferred features, regardless of price.
Transcripts
all right i know it's been a minute but
we're finally back with the best men's
basics series this is where i go out and
spend a stupid amount of money on one
type of clothing the goal is to try to
find out why some brands charge so much
and where the sweet spot lies in terms
of price and quality we've done t-shirts
and joggers in the past and i have polos
lined up for today this was pretty close
across the board making them hard to
rank but there were a few that really
stood out and one that i've sworn by my
entire life that didn't quite compete
i'll be giving away a brand new polo
from this video in order to enter drop a
like subscribe and comment your favorite
hoodies so i can gather some ideas for
the next video in the series let's get
started
[Music]
so i've worn polos literally my entire
life from the time my parents dressed me
as a child to when i went out to eat
yesterday polos have been the article of
clothing i've always gravitated toward
they're simple yet timeless casual yet
dressed up a classy alternative to
normal tees while being just as laid
back
when it gets as hot as it does in texas
polos have been a great way to put more
effort into an outfit while still
staying cool
for this head-to-head i've included only
pk polos since they're the most common
pk is that woven waffle textured
material known for its breathability and
flexibility
i own polos of other fabrics from
companies such as rhys and club monaco
but wanted to keep the focus on the
classic
my ideal polo is one that nails four
things fit fabric
collar and overall construction
my definition of a good fit is one that
drapes well hugs the arms and is fitted
in the chest but leaves room around the
stomach i'm looking for the sleeves to
end mid bicep and the length to not be
too short a split hem is always an added
bonus as i have larger thighs in terms
of quality i prefer a solid collar and
attention to detail throughout
we'll start with the cheapest and work
our way up this is the uniqlo dry pk
short sleeve polo shirt which might just
be the longest name ever it comes in
right around twenty dollars and i
honestly don't have many complaints at
this price point i'm 510 and weigh in at
175 pounds so i went true to size with
the medium it might be the most relaxed
of the bunch when it comes to fit which
results in longer than ideal sleeve
lengths the shoulder and length are
perfect but i do have a bit of excess
fabric around the underarms which
results in the chest not being as fitted
as i prefer there's not much to talk
about regarding the fabric it's nothing
special but gets the job done the pk
fabric weave is on the tighter end
resulting in less texture and stretch
but a smoother feel the single layer
color on this shirt is on the flimsy end
and looks to be made of the same ribbed
material as the cuff i've seen people
use double sided tape to make them look
more polished but i just iron mine well
and hope for the best
the placket is nice and deep and the
plastic buttons are expected at this
price point i like to split hem in the
rib cuffs
uniqlo sells it in seven colors at the
moment but they rotate their options
frequently although it's not my favorite
i've been wearing this one quite a lot
as is different to every other polo i
own
i've been really into oversized tees
recently and i think that may play a
part in me wanting to wear this one
often it's looser fit and stiffer fabric
creates a nice contrast when paired with
some slimmer bottoms and sneakers
according to the reviews under the polo
on their website uniqlo seems to tweak
these yearly so i'm not sure how long
this info will be valid overall it's a
great pull over 20 but might not look as
tailored and polished as most guys would
want a polo to look
moving along to the kent wang polo i had
no idea about this brand but they seem
to have a very strong following on
reddit where many people recommend them
i got my hands on this white one in a
size medium and it goes for 65 dollars
kent wang claims these to be a very slim
fit they say it's even slimmer than zara
and ralph lauren's custom fit seeing
this i ordered a medium and a large so i
could compare the two
although the polo was on the slimmer end
of the spectrum it wasn't by too much in
my opinion the large was a bit too baggy
for my liking but the medium was just
about right the sleeves land where i
want them to and the chest is perfect if
it were any slimmer i think it would
look too tight for my liking
it's not fair to call this fabric stiff
by any means but let's say it's the most
structured of the badge that being said
it's still that normal pk fabric so it
feels similar to the rest the weave
isn't too tight or too loose very
similar to ralph lauren the highlight of
this polo has to be the collar made of a
collar band and two layers of fabric i
found this to be much stronger than the
typical single layer i've washed this
many times and the collar has not lost
its shape at all the spread collar and
the way it's constructed makes it
naturally want to stand up tall in an
elegant way the placket is a perfect
depth and features three mother of pearl
buttons the buttons are super thick and
the reinforced buttonholes feel almost
bulletproof
i like the three buttons as they gave me
the flexibility to wear this as casual
or as dressed up as unwanted
kent wang really seems like a
no-nonsense kind of brand no fancy
packaging no fancy marketing just a
brand that's out to bring really good
clothing at a competitive price i
respect that the polo comes in in a ton
of different colors there's a brown polo
that might be my next pickup as it looks
to be the perfect shade the inner
branding seems prone to peeling after
some washes but it hasn't yet so i may
be wrong if that holds up i have nothing
negative to say about this polo
at 65 dollars this thing gives the
pricier ones a good run for their money
lucas is considered the og of the polo
world although the history of the polo
is debated the first polos came from
india in the 1850s however it wasn't
until nearly a century later that they
started becoming popular when president
eisenhower was seen wearing his lacos
polo they retail for around 90 but
certain colors can be found for around
50 on sale
sizing is weird on this one so i would
recommend trying it on in store prior to
purchase
i had originally tried on the slim fit
in a medium but it was way too tight so
ended up going with a classic fit in a
small to get that custom fit look i
prefer
the classic fit in a medium was too
baggy for my liking the front and back
are the same length making this harder
to tuck in than the other options with
staggered lens i love the longer sleeves
that still manage to hug the arms fabric
on this polo was thin lightweight and
breathable with the pk being on the
finer side the combination makes it
perfect for warmer days the finer weave
makes the puddle look like it has a lot
less texture compared to the rest and it
feels near identical to lower piano the
collar was disappointing on an otherwise
great polo it's made from a ribbed
cotton material that curls very easily
the deep placket helped give it a more
upscale look in my opinion i'm gonna be
honest i never really gave lacos a shot
before this comparison but i really like
this polo everything from its rich
history to the plethora of colors
available it makes this a solid choice
if it wasn't for the caller i could see
myself having multiples of these in my
wardrobe
let's get right into the ralph lauren
custom fit polo
as lacoste was gaining steam for its
polos in the u.s amongst college
students going for an athleisure look
it was actually ralph lauren who took
the concept mainstream at the time from
a very early age i had it ingrained in
me to always dress well first impression
last impression my parents preached for
them this meant dressing me in a ralph
lauren polo found on clearance and a
pair of jeans or chinos from old navy
something about that new england dress
code stuck with me and was my daily
uniform growing up
getting right into it i've worn a custom
fit medium for years now it's very easy
to find the perfect fit as ralph lauren
offers three fits the classic the custom
fit and the slim fit in six sizes
ranging from extra small to extra extra
large
speaking for that custom fit it hugs the
arms and chest and tapers toward the
waist the length is an inch or two short
for my preference but it's worth the
trade-off since everything else fits
well
i've had a few shirts shrink more than
others so size accordingly if it isn't
the classic mesh fabric
the fabric is mid it's normal polo pk
fabric that's not soft or stiff not
lightweight or heavy just average across
the board that being said it gets the
job done
another polo whose collar is really
disappointed it's made of a very similar
construction to lacoste i really like
the slightly staggered front and back
with the rear being roughly an inch
longer
fit and finish are on par and the
shorter placket lets you get away with
not buttoning up without looking too
obnoxious
90 of the pillows in my closet were from
ralph lauren prior to me putting this
episode together i love them for the
nostalgia but in terms of quality and
price there are definitely better
options out there they retail at 95
dollars but it's fairly easy to find
them much cheaper at department stores
the sunspell riviera polo was the one i
was most excited to try on this list it
was made in 2006 for daniel craig to
wear in casino royale but sunspell has
been around since the early 1800s
i ordered mine in a size medium in the
forest colorway it fit true to size and
have had no shrinkage over many washes
the polo is trimmed but not overly slim
the sleeves hit right at your mid bicep
and did not restrict my movement the
fabric on this was exceptional the polo
had the widest and loosest weave out of
all the others that i tested the best
way i could describe it was wearing a
jersey made from some of the softest
cotton in the world
the collar is made from two layers of
the same material as the shirt itself it
looks very polished and i was surprised
how structured it remained with the
shirt being so open and airy
they opted to go for a monochromatic
look with the matching plastic buttons
it's a cool look and they're constructed
really well but i feel like they cheaped
out a bit with plastic especially at
this price point the pocket was also
something i wasn't the biggest fan of
since it makes the shirt look a lot more
casual but that just comes down to
personal preference there's just
something about wearing james bond's
polo that gives you a little extra pep
in your step i love the fabric
especially on days where you have to
look put together but the temperatures
are in the upper 90s the fit fabric and
construction were all solid and all
lived up to my expectations i bought
mine full price at 135 dollars but i've
been seeing them on sale frequently for
64 depending on color
[Music]
i was going to include bearberry on the
list but was severely disappointed it is
just a normal polo with the chex
branding and mine shrank significantly
[Music]
and now for the most expensive one i've
been drawn to this italian brand for a
while now but i've never owned a piece
from them i had heard that their fabrics
were exceptional and they were the
ultimate combination of quality and
luxury i figured i'd head to the nearest
boutique to get the full experience i
walked in to be half greeted by the
sales associate only to be taken
seriously after i told them i was
looking to purchase a polo i told them
that i wanted their classic pk polo to
which they were slightly confused as
they pulled some fakuna and cashmere
polos instead i ended up going with the
cotton one for a whopping 545 dollars
before taxes in a size medium in the
optic white color alright so what
exactly does nearly six hundred dollars
for a cotton polo get you and is it
really 30 times as good as the uniqlo
one we tested earlier
right off the bat the answer is no but
there's a lot more to it let's start
with the fit i went for a medium but i
didn't quite love any size i tried on
the cut was boxy and structured but
light and flowy all at the same time the
sleeves hit a bit under the middle of
your bicep and didn't hug them at all
the shoulders on the medium were about
an inch too wide for me but the
shoulders on the small were way too
narrow the rest of the shirt fit like a
traditional classic fit moving on to the
fabric my first impression was how thin
it was upon trying it on it wasn't
see-through but you could definitely see
my skin tone blend with the white fabric
in the areas where the fabric wasn't
double lined the weave was on the finer
side and the most comparable to lacoste
in terms of knit and texture the fabric
felt amazing on skin silky and smooth
with the softness i haven't encountered
on a cotton pk polo the build quality
and fit and finish were exceptional but
that's to be expected on a 600 polo the
placket was the deepest of the batch and
the three mother of pearl buttons were
super nice the classic laurel piano red
stitch was a nice touch on the top
button they opted for a curved hem to
make it easier to tuck in however with
the fabric being so thin mine had a
tendency to curl and needed extra
ironing after washing to get it to lay
flat
the collars were stiff and felt like
something off a button-down shirt the
collar deep placket along with the
curved hem really made this feel like a
pk button down with three buttons
instead of a true polo that isn't
necessarily a bad thing but just
something to note alright so if it
weren't for this video i would have
never considered going out to spend this
sort of money on a polo there's a level
of diminishing return for all articles
of clothing where spending twice as much
on something doesn't necessarily give
you twice the quality i would say this
occurs fairly early for polo shirts at
the end of the day pk feels near
identical throughout the spectrum so as
long as you like the fit and
construction there's no reason to spend
close to this much this is one of those
cases where you're paying for the
prestige of the brand rather than the
quality they're putting out
this video taught me that it's really
hard to mess up a polo as long as the
polo has the features you prefer you
really can't go wrong
based on the collar fabric fit and
construction and if money were no object
i would take sunspell followed very
closely by kent wang laura piana lacoste
ralph lauren then uniqlo in that order
being more budget focused i would either
save and wait for sunspell to go on so
or go with a kent wang before i dished
out money for a uniqlo one i think the
sun spell and kent weighing options
would last a bit longer and look better
over time compared to the eniko one so
that may be worth the extra cost
however these had the slimmest margins
of any comparison that i've done so far
so you really can't go wrong with any of
the options
a quick reminder to answer the giveaway
if you haven't yet if you enjoyed this
video please drop a like and consider
subscribing if the content is useful
i'll catch on the next one thanks
[Music]
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