Polo Polish
You’d think it’s too laid-back for work — but it’s not. The knit polo has quietly risen from off-duty classic to boardroom asset in FW 2025, where designers paired its soft texture and open collar with sleek tailoring and sculptural silhouettes. This season’s versions trade sporty energy for composure — in the range of dark and light neutrals, from core to accent leaning — proving that comfort can sit confidently beside authority.
For work, Fall 2025 has conveniently evolved last season’s preppy revival into something more tactile and refined: fine-gauge knit polos in neutral or muted hues, often worn as a standalone top or layered under tailoring. The ribbing and texture replace the crisp shirt as the new polished base layer, lending structure without stiffness.
The knit polo borrows from a distinctly masculine power vocabulary — that of the golf course, long mythologized as the place where business gets done — and reframes it through a feminine lens. The soft yarns, slim fits, and color palette turn an old-boys club symbol into a fresh expression of femine confidence. It’s an invitation to play in the same arena, but on one’s own terms: approachable, self-assured, and quietly competitive. Above (left-right, top-bottom) FW 2025: Gucci and Elisabetta Franchi. ©NowFashion.
How to Work It
KSF
✔ Favor fine-gauge knits that skim rather than cling.
✔ Keep the outfit bi-color at most: one hero hue and one neutral to prevent the polo from reading busy or casual (one third color can be used for accessories, as per Elisabetta Franchi above)
✔ Style with structured bottoms or tailoring to maintain a sense of deliberateness.
✔ Keep the collar clean and sharp — no floppy edges that dilute precision.
Deal Breakers
❌ Avoid pairing with any other casual-leaning garment and accessories — it instantly reads day at the golf club.
❌ Skip visible logos (unless it’s Miu Miu?), stripes, or sporty details.
❌ Avoid thick or cable-knit versions; they add bulk and lose the tension between polish and ease.
❌ Avoid adding accessories around the neck.
Best For: Transitional days when you need polish without rigidity; Client coffees or off-site meetings; Travel days demanding both comfort and authority.
Ease of Integration: ★★☆☆☆ — Easy to adopt once you grasp the texture-versus-tailoring balance; an instant upgrade to the smart-casual category.
