Want to go straight to the edit? Shop our men's knitted polo shirts.
A knitted polo shirt is a polo collar and placket worked in knitwear rather than jersey or piqué cotton — softer, finer, and smarter than a sports polo, which is why it works under a jacket and with tailored trousers. This guide covers the four collars (three-button, button-through, zip and johnny), short against long sleeves, and how the fit should sit.
It is also a style with genuine variety. Collar constructions differ, sleeves come long and short, and the knit itself ranges from fine and smooth to heavily textured.
This guide explains how a knitted polo differs from the classic piqué polo, what the collar styles do, and what to check before buying.
Knitted polo or piqué polo?
The polo most men know is made from piqué cotton: a woven-textured fabric, usually with a ribbed collar and a short buttoned placket. It is a sportswear classic — breathable, casual and unstructured.
A knitted polo is made the way knitwear is made, on a knitting machine rather than a loom. That changes three things.
First, the surface: a knitted polo can be smooth, ribbed, waffled or patterned in the knit itself, rather than printed or woven in.
Second, the collar: a knitted collar is formed as part of the garment, sits flatter and holds a sharper line, closer to a shirt collar than to a sports collar.
Third, the drape: knitwear falls and moves differently from piqué, which is why a knitted polo works under a blazer or with tailored trousers where a piqué polo can look underdressed.
Neither is better. Choose piqué for sport and high summer; choose knitted when the outfit needs to look considered.
Collar styles
The three-button placket
The classic arrangement: a knitted collar with a short placket of buttons. Worn buttoned, it is the smartest of the polo collars and the natural partner for trousers and tailoring. Worn open, it relaxes.
The open collar
No buttons; the collar falls into a soft V. It is the most relaxed style and suits warmer weather and holidays. It sits less formally, so pair it with shorts, linen-look trousers or denim rather than tailoring.
The zip neck
A short zip replaces the buttons, giving a cleaner, more contemporary front and some adjustment at the neck. It reads slightly sportier than buttons.
Tipped and textured collars
A contrasting tip on the collar edge, or a texture worked into the knit — waffle, stripe, rib — adds the detail. Keep the rest of the outfit plain when the polo carries the pattern.
Long sleeves or short sleeves?
A short-sleeved knitted polo is the summer version: it replaces the T-shirt in outfits that need to look deliberate, and works with shorts, chinos and pleated trousers.
A long-sleeved knitted polo is effectively light knitwear with a collar. It layers under a jacket, stands in for a jumper with tailoring, and extends the style through autumn and winter.
Many men find the long-sleeved version the more versatile purchase in the UK climate, because it covers more of the year.
What should you check before buying?
The collar's construction
The collar is the first thing to judge in a photograph and the first thing to fail in a poor garment. It should be knitted with enough body to sit flat and hold its edge, not curl or flop after washing.
The knit density
A finer, denser knit looks smarter and drapes more like a shirt. A looser, textured knit reads more casual. Match the density to where you will wear it.
Fit through the body
A knitted polo should follow the body without clinging; knitwear shows every tension line. If you plan to wear it under a jacket, choose the closer fit. If it will be worn on its own with shorts, a little more ease is comfortable.
The composition
Knitwear compositions vary widely, and the composition decides warmth, stretch and care. Read it on the product page of the specific garment rather than assuming cotton — the examples below show how much it varies within one collection.
Four WARDLEY knitted polos compared
The Richmond Men's Long Sleeve Knitted Polo is the tailored option: a long-sleeved knit in neutral colourways including Camel, Navy and Black, suited to wearing under a jacket or with pleated trousers.
The Aldwych Men's Fine Knit Three-Button Polo is a fine knit with the classic buttoned placket. Its published composition is a polyester blend with elastane, and it is a slim fit — the one to tuck into a wide-leg trouser for balance.
The Marble Arch Men's Waffle Texture Polo Shirt is the short-sleeved, textured choice; its published composition is a polyester and elastane blend. The waffle texture does the visual work, so it needs plain trousers beneath it.
The Kew Men's Linen-Blend Polo Shirt has a published composition of linen and polyester blend, positioning it as the warm-weather option in the range.
All four sit in the men's polo shirts collection, alongside zip-neck, tipped and open-collar styles for comparison.
How should a knitted polo fit?
The shoulder seam should sit on the shoulder bone. The body should skim rather than squeeze, with the hem finishing around the hip bone for short sleeves.
If you will tuck it in — recommended with pleated or tailored trousers — check there is enough length to stay tucked when you sit.
Sleeves on a long-sleeved style should reach the wrist without bunching. On a short sleeve, the cuff should finish around the mid-bicep without gripping it.
Use the product's own size guide, and compare it with a polo or fine knit you already own.
Styling a knitted polo
With pleated trousers and loafers, a tucked three-button polo in a dark colour is a complete smart-casual outfit.
Under a blazer or an unstructured jacket, choose the finest knit and keep the collar inside the lapels' line.
With shorts in summer, the open collar or a textured short sleeve keeps the outfit relaxed but deliberate.
The rule throughout: the knitted polo is the considered piece. Build around it with plain, smooth companions.
Material and care
Knitwear care differs from shirt care. Fold a knitted polo for storage rather than hanging it, since hangers stretch the shoulders of a knit.
Wash according to the garment's instructions, and reshape it while damp if the knit has relaxed.
Compositions differ across styles — from the Kew's linen blend to the Aldwych's polyester blend with elastane — so the label of the garment you bought is the only reliable guide to its care.
If fibre content matters to you, verify it on the product page before ordering.
Buying knitted polo shirts in the UK
When buying online, compare collar construction, knit density, fit and composition — not just colour and price.
WARDLEY offers free tracked UK delivery, with dispatch in 1–2 working days and delivery in 6–10 working days from order.
The store also provides 30-day returns.
Allow for the stated delivery period if you are buying for an event.
Frequently asked questions
Is a knitted polo smarter than a normal polo?
Generally, yes. The formed collar, finer surface and better drape let it work with tailored trousers and under jackets, where a piqué polo reads as sportswear.
Can you wear a knitted polo to the office?
In most smart-casual offices, yes — particularly a fine-knit, three-button style in a dark colour with trousers. It is not a substitute for a shirt in a formal dress code.
Should a knitted polo be tucked in?
With tailored or pleated trousers, tucking usually looks sharper and shows the waistband. With shorts or denim, untucked is fine if the hem length is right.
How do you stop a knitted polo stretching?
Fold it rather than hanging it, avoid wearing the same knit on consecutive days, and follow the washing instructions on the garment.
Final thoughts
Choose a knitted polo by its collar first, then its knit density, then its fit — and confirm the composition on the product page, because it varies more than in any other shirt category.
Start with the Richmond for a long-sleeved tailored option or the Aldwych for the classic three-button, and compare the full range in the polo shirts collection.
The polos here sit within the wider knitwear range, and the season's core pieces are gathered in the knitwear essentials for this autumn and winter.
