Polo Shirt Experts Speak Out on What Makes a Great Shirt

DODGEVILLE, Wis., April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Most men will admit that the polo shirt is the king of the closet.  In fact, in a recent Lands' End survey of avid golfers from the Golf Digest database, over 80 percent (82.5%) of respondents said the polo shirt is the most versatile item in their closets and over 50 percent (52.7%) own more than 20 polo shirts.  With so many men turning to this style staple, it's important that a polo shirt performs to every man's expectations.

"Building a high-quality polo shirt is something we've been doing at Lands' End for roughly 30 years," said J. Henley, Lands' End men's design director.  "We take great pride in designing our polo shirts to meet a man's wardrobe needs. We believe men will instantly notice the improved construction and appearance of our new Original Mesh Polo."

The Best Polo We've Ever Made

Quality is a key factor most men search for in a perfect polo shirt.  It's no surprise that nearly every polo expert surveyed (95.8%) can tell the difference between a good-quality polo shirt and a poorly constructed polo shirt.  "Quality in the new Lands' End men's Original Mesh Polo starts with the fabric," comments Henley.  "It was important for us to offer a heftier and softer cotton fabric than ever before, and this polo has the "feel" of a shirt that will look great and hold up wash after wash."  However, experts say it's more than just fabric that goes into making a great polo.  Nearly 95 percent (94.3%) of respondents claimed a curling collar was a polo problem of lesser-quality shirts.  The new Lands' End polo promises a no-curl collar that will lie flat on its own or under a blazer after numerous trips through the wash.

Chip, crack and break-resistant buttons, jersey-taped seams on the neck and shoulders for comfort and true tennis tails to help the hem stay tucked in round out all the improvements made in the new Lands' End polo.  While nearly a quarter of the polo savvy shoppers (24.1%) expect to pay $50-$75 for a quality garment, the new Lands' End Original Mesh Polo is the best polo on the market at $29.50.

Wear it Here, There or Anywhere

From the links, to the office, to the backyard – 81.9 percent of polo experts say the polo is the "go-to" shirt in the closet.  Knowing the polo goes virtually everywhere, color options (64.6%) and tailored or traditional fit options (38.9%) rank high.   Lands' End gives men nearly 20 color options in both traditional and tailored fits so the business polo and the pleasure polo can have completely different looks.  It's no wonder that over three-quarters (87.5%) of the surveyed experts consider the polo shirt the men's equivalent to the "little black dress!"

The Experts Don't Lie – Other Fun Facts

Whether the experts wear a polo shirt multiple times a week (51.4%), own a variety of polo shirts (44.5%) or buy a new polo shirt multiple times a year (17%), over three-quarters (76%) of the respondents considered themselves "polo experts."  In fact, over half (52.7%) of survey respondents own more than 20 polo shirts!  On average these polo pros wear the versatile shirt 4-6 times a week.  Once these experts find a quality shirt that works, 67.2-percent say they will buy that brand and style over and over.

Experts say the number one polo pet peeve is poor construction (98.9%), followed by curling collars (94.3%) and fading fabric after washing (89.5%).  Off the golf course, polos are most often worn by guys around town on the weekends (98.1%), followed closely by dinner engagements (94.9%).

About Lands' End

Lands' End® is a classic American lifestyle brand with a passion for quality, legendary service, real value and a simple two-word promise to stand behind everything it sells: Guaranteed. Period.® Lands' End delivers timeless style for Men, Women, Kids and the Home at landsend.com, 1-800-800-5800, the Lands' End Shops at Sears and around the world.  Lands' End is a proud member of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD).

About the Survey

Lands' End administered 15, nondescript polo questions to avid players from the Golf Digest database.  2370 people responded to the questions.

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SOURCE Lands' End