I Spent $1000 to Find the Best Polo (2023) - (Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo, Sunspel, Loro Piana)

Summary

In 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

00:00

👕 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.

05:01

🔍 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.

10:02

💰 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.

Keywords

💡Men's Basics Series

The 'Men's Basics Series' refers to a recurring theme or segment in the video content where the creator explores different types of men's clothing. It is characterized by the creator spending a significant amount on one type of clothing to evaluate the price-quality relationship. In the script, this series is the overarching theme for the video, as the creator discusses his endeavor to find the best polo shirts.

💡PK Polos

PK Polos, or Piqué knit polo shirts, are a specific type of men's shirt known for their textured, breathable fabric. The term 'PK' refers to the type of weave used in the fabric, which is a common material for polo shirts. In the script, the creator focuses on PK polos as they are the most common and tests various brands to determine the best value for money.

💡Fit

In the context of clothing, 'fit' refers to how well a garment conforms to the body's shape and size. A good fit is essential for comfort and appearance. The script discusses the creator's preferences for a polo shirt's fit, such as draping well, hugging the arms, and being fitted in the chest but with room around the stomach.

💡Fabric Quality

The term 'fabric quality' pertains to the material's characteristics, including its texture, durability, and feel. In the video script, the creator evaluates the fabric quality of different polo shirts, noting aspects like the weave tightness, texture, and breathability, which are crucial for comfort and style.

💡Collar

The 'collar' is a part of a shirt that frames the neck and can significantly affect the overall look of the garment. The script describes the importance of a polo's collar, with the creator looking for a solid collar that maintains its shape and contributes to the shirt's polished appearance.

💡Uniqlo

Uniqlo is a Japanese casual wear designer and manufacturer known for its affordable and stylish clothing. In the script, Uniqlo's polo shirt is one of the options evaluated, with the creator discussing its price point, fit, and fabric quality in comparison to other brands.

💡Kent Wang

Kent Wang is a brand mentioned in the script that has a strong following on Reddit for its slim-fit polos. The creator reviews the Kent Wang polo, noting its fit, fabric, and collar quality, and comparing its value to other brands in the market.

💡Lacoste

Lacoste is a French clothing company known for its iconic polo shirts. The script discusses the history and popularity of Lacoste polos, particularly noting the creator's personal experience with the brand and the evaluation of its polo shirt in terms of fit, fabric, and collar.

💡Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is an American luxury lifestyle brand with a significant presence in the clothing industry, especially with its polo shirts. The script describes the creator's long-standing association with Ralph Lauren polos and provides a detailed review of their custom fit polo, discussing aspects such as fit, fabric, and overall quality.

💡Sunspel

Sunspel is a British clothing company known for its high-quality garments, including the polo shirt worn by Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale.' The script highlights the Sunspel Riviera polo, discussing its exceptional fabric, fit, and the brand's prestige in the context of the video's theme of evaluating polo shirts.

💡Loro Piana

Loro Piana is an Italian luxury brand recognized for its high-quality materials and craftsmanship. In the script, the creator explores the Loro Piana polo shirt, noting its high price point and evaluating whether the quality justifies the cost, which ties into the video's theme of finding the sweet spot between price and quality.

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]