Poloshirts was designed by the world-class tennis player, Jean René Lacoste, also called the alligator due to his vicious playing tactics. Being a tennis player he realized like other contemporary tennis players that the uniform for tennis was restrictive. The tennis garb that prevailed in those days was a long sleeved shirt with a tie. The polo shirt was made out of pique cotton. The design was towards baggy with a button down collar that could be flipped up to escape from the scorching rays of the sun. Thankfully the tennis tie was bidden bye for good with the advent of polo shirts according to some freelance writing jobs in the philippines made.

In 1933, Lacoste, who had then retired from professional tennis, joined hands with an old friend, André Gillier. Gillier was into clothing merchandising. They formed a company called the Chemise Lacoste. They started marketing the shirts in Europe and North America.

The polo players wore shirts of similar design in the late 19th century, due to which the name ‘polo’ stuck to the outfit designed by Lacoste. But by the mid 1930s, the polo players also took on Lacoste’s design. Today’s Poloshirts do not have a button down color but are still made of cotton and has two to three upper buttons and short sleeves.

These shirts have become a uniform for several sports like tennis, polo, golf and rugby as well. These shirts have also walked out of the sport stadiums and became a part of the popular culture as semi-casual wear. Ralph Lauren’s brand Polo in the 1950s contributed in placing these shirts firmly as a part of mainstream attire. In the subsequent period other designers also brought out such shirts leading to its wide popularity today. Their popularity surged so high that today they have become uniforms in some schools too.

Besides popularity, these shirts also stand for status symbol for both men and women. In the 1980s, Lacoste brand Poloshirts that had an alligator insignia near the chest became very fashionable. The Poloshirts are still very poplar and are often preferred to T-shirts as the collar makes it a little formal in design than the later. The less expensive Poloshirts have a blend of cotton and polyester.

A polo shirt can be worn in all occasions. It can be worn for the comfort’s sake while working in the garden, cooking in the kitchen, painting the house fence, driving a car or a bike, playing football, going to a party or picnic, shopping and so on. It also comes with a pocket which makes it more useful. You can keep necessary things there and let your hands be free. A key, a small notebook, a pen, money and a pen drive will easy be accommodated in the pocket.

These outfits are often used by the corporate as tools of promotion. A sober color is chosen and a logo of the company is placed near the chest or wherever it will be noticeable. These shirts are then distributed among the employees working in the organization.

POSTED BY ElizabethBanks ON 12/16/09 04:12 AM

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