What’s Different About Women's Polo Shirts Than Men’s
aungcrown
Aung Crown
2020-10-20 22:27:54
Polo Shirts History
Polo shirts are an excellent way for company apparel to look formal but still remain comfortable to the wearer. In fact, the origin of polo shirts originated back in the 19th century. When the british ruling class needed a wardrobe that allowed them to play a game of polo but also expressed their stature they came up with this design. You can still see examples of this in our current society through golf! Some private clubs require men and women to wear at least a polo shirt to fit the dress code. Due to their prominence in this sport, polo shirts have earned their place as “business casual.” With a nice embroidered logo, it can make all the difference to stand out that much more from the competition whether it’s in golf or your business.
Men’s VS Women’s Polo Shirts
Although polo shirts are generally unisex, most manufactures also create a women’s line as well. There are some key manufacturing differences between the two like shirt dimensions, style design, button locations, and logo placement. These factors allow for a more comfortable and flattering fit for women.
Shirt Dimensions
The most obvious difference between a woman’s polo shirt and a man’s is the dimensions of the shirt itself. The shirt is designed to specifically fit a women’s frame. This means that the shirts commonly have:
1.Smaller collars, sometimes with lace or feminine designs
2. Variable length of plackets, some which may extend below the bustline, and feminine designs on the plackets
3. Occasionally feminine-design buttons
4. Narrower shoulders
5. Shorter sleeves, sometimes angled or cap sleeves
6. Wider chest area to accommodate breasts
7. Any breast pockets will be completely non-functional
8. Curved bodice, sometimes with princess cuts
9. “Slim-fit” designs really hug the curves, whereas “Regular-fit” designs follow the curves
10. Shorter length
11. Flared at the bottom (part of the curved bodice) to accommodate wider hips
12. Materials are usually thinner, so I always wear a bra when I wear female polos
13. Pretty colours!
Polo shirts are an excellent way for company apparel to look formal but still remain comfortable to the wearer. In fact, the origin of polo shirts originated back in the 19th century. When the british ruling class needed a wardrobe that allowed them to play a game of polo but also expressed their stature they came up with this design. You can still see examples of this in our current society through golf! Some private clubs require men and women to wear at least a polo shirt to fit the dress code. Due to their prominence in this sport, polo shirts have earned their place as “business casual.” With a nice embroidered logo, it can make all the difference to stand out that much more from the competition whether it’s in golf or your business.
Men’s VS Women’s Polo Shirts
Although polo shirts are generally unisex, most manufactures also create a women’s line as well. There are some key manufacturing differences between the two like shirt dimensions, style design, button locations, and logo placement. These factors allow for a more comfortable and flattering fit for women.
Shirt Dimensions
The most obvious difference between a woman’s polo shirt and a man’s is the dimensions of the shirt itself. The shirt is designed to specifically fit a women’s frame. This means that the shirts commonly have:
1.Smaller collars, sometimes with lace or feminine designs
2. Variable length of plackets, some which may extend below the bustline, and feminine designs on the plackets
3. Occasionally feminine-design buttons
4. Narrower shoulders
5. Shorter sleeves, sometimes angled or cap sleeves
6. Wider chest area to accommodate breasts
7. Any breast pockets will be completely non-functional
8. Curved bodice, sometimes with princess cuts
9. “Slim-fit” designs really hug the curves, whereas “Regular-fit” designs follow the curves
10. Shorter length
11. Flared at the bottom (part of the curved bodice) to accommodate wider hips
12. Materials are usually thinner, so I always wear a bra when I wear female polos
13. Pretty colours!
Style Design
The more subtle differences between a man and woman’s embroidered shirt are the feminine touches to the shirt itself. The most common styles designed by manufactures are to the sleeve, collar, and pocket. In addition to a shorter sleeve length, they also angle or cap the sleeves for women. For the collar, they will sometimes make it wider or add feminine designs to it. If the unisex polo shirt includes a breast pocket, they will specifically remove it from the woman’s version. Additionally, a few manufactures will use a thinner material for their women’s apparel compared to men’s. This isn’t too common but it’s at least worth giving the product description a look at if you’re purchasing embroidered polo shirts for the crew!
Button Locations
If you take a look at man’s polo shirt vs a women’s a difference that often goes unnoticed is the button locations! It’s on the left for women and on the right for men. Weird, right? Well here’s another little history lesson in this blog, this one even goes back the 16th century. Back in this time period, women were often dressed by their maids or servants. Because of this, the buttons were placed on the left so that way it would match with the servant’s right hand.
Logo Placement
Logo placement is also different for a women’s polo shirt than it is for a man. Typically, a man’s logo placement is on the chest so that way it’s aligned the most bottom button. For a women, it’s aligned with the top or middle button. The reason for this is to keep men’s eyes where they belong, haha!
This is not necessarily obvious, because polo shirts are an article that are frequently made unisex—the same polo shirt looking masculine on a man, looking feminine on a woman.
The more subtle differences between a man and woman’s embroidered shirt are the feminine touches to the shirt itself. The most common styles designed by manufactures are to the sleeve, collar, and pocket. In addition to a shorter sleeve length, they also angle or cap the sleeves for women. For the collar, they will sometimes make it wider or add feminine designs to it. If the unisex polo shirt includes a breast pocket, they will specifically remove it from the woman’s version. Additionally, a few manufactures will use a thinner material for their women’s apparel compared to men’s. This isn’t too common but it’s at least worth giving the product description a look at if you’re purchasing embroidered polo shirts for the crew!
Button Locations
If you take a look at man’s polo shirt vs a women’s a difference that often goes unnoticed is the button locations! It’s on the left for women and on the right for men. Weird, right? Well here’s another little history lesson in this blog, this one even goes back the 16th century. Back in this time period, women were often dressed by their maids or servants. Because of this, the buttons were placed on the left so that way it would match with the servant’s right hand.
Logo Placement
Logo placement is also different for a women’s polo shirt than it is for a man. Typically, a man’s logo placement is on the chest so that way it’s aligned the most bottom button. For a women, it’s aligned with the top or middle button. The reason for this is to keep men’s eyes where they belong, haha!
This is not necessarily obvious, because polo shirts are an article that are frequently made unisex—the same polo shirt looking masculine on a man, looking feminine on a woman.
If the particular polo shirt is designed for women, it might involve the following features:
Shorter torso, possibly making it impossible to tuck in, and revealing your tummy every time you raise your arms.
Narrower across the shoulders, compounding the “raise your arms” problem from the first point.
Closer fitting at the waist. Better hope your waist is very trim!
Closer fitting on the bicep, which really isn’t a good look if the fabric is stretching there.
People are less apt to notice the gender of the polo shirt, than to notice the fit. If a ladies style fits you, that might be a good look. If a men’s style fits you, that might be a good look, too. Try it! Polo shirts are an easy step into androgyny, if you’ve got the androgynous body for it.
Tightness at any spot on a garment is generally a bad look, over-emphasising the big tummy, or the broad shoulders, or the large bicep. If you don’t have an androgynous body, then a cross-gendered polo is less likely to work for you.
Different brands have slightly different approaches to fit and gender, some of them being barely distinguishable between male and female. Certain style features might (or might not) distinguish female polo shirts, these having nothing to do with fit:
A different neckline.
Shorter sleeves or angled sleeves.
For both men’s and women’s polo shirts, there are an extraordinary variety of colours, prints and fabrics. One of my earliest experiments into gender non-conformity was a polo shirt in baby pink made with very soft close-weave fabric—and it was labelled men’s!
Now you know differences between a male and a female polo shirt, welcome contact aungcrown to custom polo shirt.
Shorter torso, possibly making it impossible to tuck in, and revealing your tummy every time you raise your arms.
Narrower across the shoulders, compounding the “raise your arms” problem from the first point.
Closer fitting at the waist. Better hope your waist is very trim!
Closer fitting on the bicep, which really isn’t a good look if the fabric is stretching there.
People are less apt to notice the gender of the polo shirt, than to notice the fit. If a ladies style fits you, that might be a good look. If a men’s style fits you, that might be a good look, too. Try it! Polo shirts are an easy step into androgyny, if you’ve got the androgynous body for it.
Tightness at any spot on a garment is generally a bad look, over-emphasising the big tummy, or the broad shoulders, or the large bicep. If you don’t have an androgynous body, then a cross-gendered polo is less likely to work for you.
Different brands have slightly different approaches to fit and gender, some of them being barely distinguishable between male and female. Certain style features might (or might not) distinguish female polo shirts, these having nothing to do with fit:
A different neckline.
Shorter sleeves or angled sleeves.
For both men’s and women’s polo shirts, there are an extraordinary variety of colours, prints and fabrics. One of my earliest experiments into gender non-conformity was a polo shirt in baby pink made with very soft close-weave fabric—and it was labelled men’s!
Now you know differences between a male and a female polo shirt, welcome contact aungcrown to custom polo shirt.