Who Invented the Polo Shirt?

Some believe the polo shirt we know today originated in India during British rule in the 19^th century.  Others believe it was John Brooks, creator of "The Original Button-Down Polo Shirt."  And others, despite the name of Brooks' shirt, believe Jean Rene Lacoste was the founding father of the polo shirt.

If you look at the different polo shirts from each period, it's obvious which one resembles the polo shirt we wear today: a cotton, two-button shirt with pique knitting style that sports a classy, yet relaxed style.

When looking at these pictures of polo fashion during the British Raj (left), the Brooks Brothers Polo shirt (middle) and Lacoste's interpretation of Brooks' full button-down polo (right), it's easy to see that Jean Lacoste, famous tennis player and founder of the Lacoste clothing line, created the polo that's most similar to the one we wear today. 

Do you like Vicomte A and La Martina shirts?  If so, thank Lacoste for this.

But does that mean Lacoste is the inventor of the polo shirt?  Not necessarily.  However, it's undeniable that he's the largest contributor to the style of today's polo shirt.

If the loose clothing produced for 19^th century polo matches between the Brits and India's people never existed, would the Brooks Brothers polo have ever been created?  And if the Brooks Brothers polo wasn't created, would Lacoste have designed the two-button, loose-collar tee?

The amazing thing about polo fashion is its rich history and reliance on sport.  Since the British Raj in the late 1800's, polo fashion has always been inspired by good competition in sports (polo and tennis) and a desire to look good in battle, win or lose.  So when the question is asked – Who invented the polo shirt we wear today? – many polo fans approach the question like they would an adversary before a match. 

Instead of saying the Brits, Brooks or Lacoste invented it, they say the polo shirt is the product of a rich history. 

One person didn't invent it.  We did.

The "Poloest" Polo Fashion Available this Season

La Martina, the famous Polo fashion and equipment company based in Buenos Aires, recently released a new line of seasonal clothing.  But this isn't any ordinary fashion release.  What makes this collection different is its dual inspiration.  Instead of being singularly inspired by the changing season like many seasonal collections are, the Fall 2013 collection by La Martina was inspired by the history of the polo sport as well.

As its latest collection proves, a polo company based in the country where polo became popular has amazing potential to seamlessly blend a sporty attitude with casual fashion wear.

The reason this is the "poloest" fashion available this season – for polo players, fashion lovers and a combination of the two – is because of its roots in Argentinian polo history.  With digits like "1924" on select clothing in the Fall 2013 collection, this much is obvious.  Well, at least to historians and polo lovers.  (If you didn't know, Argentina won its first gold medal in polo during the 1924 Olympics.)

According to The Star Online, colors that you'll find in the new seasonal la Martina polo collection include beige, indigo and mustard.  You'll see these woven into some of your favorite existing La Martina collections like Maserati, Guards and Colleccion Pravada.  With the new Fall 2013 collection, you still get the style that you love – sporty collars, custom buttons, golden embroideries and colorful patches– but with a fresh fall flavor.

Recently, some of this new La Martina fall fashion was sported by celebs and polo fans at the 2103 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles.

For event attendees at the fourth annual polo classic, Veuve Clicquot shared some polo fashion insight on their website.  Wear dresses at or below your knee, wear flat shoes and wear a collared shirt.  They also said, "regardless of what the movies may show, spectators of polo must dress smart in order to enjoy the experience."

Take their advice and dress smart this season; and if you're looking for a place to start, give the new La Martina collection a try.

The One La Martina Polo Item The Fall Season Requires

Like polo fashion, the fall season is all about warm colors.

It's also all about wearing the right clothing and accessories to match the color blend of the season's unique flavors.  Instead of sporting the same fashion you have all summer, it's important to adapt your style accordingly, just like the season adapts with different food, flavors, smells and weather.

However, if you're comfortable with the clothes you've been wearing this summer and want to stick to a fashion that's satisfying, you can do that.  It only requires one thing: a bag that affords you and your favorite clothing a small dose of fall flavor. 

The kinds of bags we're talking about are the weekender bags by La Martina.  

Whether you're spending this fall in Miami, FL or the city of New York, La Martina has bags that cater to both types of fall seasons.  The yellow or light blue canvas bag by La Martina is perfect for those living in the south still living under the blaze of the warm sun.  Perfect for days at the beach and shopping trips around town, the La Martina canvas bag (Miami Beach edition) complements your favorite fashion with a subtle southern fall flavor.

For those in the north experiencing cooler fall weather, there are the Maserati leather bags by La Martina.  These bags just beg for attention, especially during fall in big cities like New York, D.C., Montreal and Philly.  And for those living in warmer climates, they make a statement unlike any other fall bag.

What makes La Martina bags so popular isn't just their ability to adapt accordingly to different seasons.  It's that and many other things: a material that maintains itself for future seasons, a snug and comfortable fit, as well as the needed space to carry everything from wardrobe changes to cosmetics.

This fall, treat yourself to a fashion piece that wonderfully complements your chosen fashion for this season and fall seasons to come.

Why Polo and Fashion are One and the Same

Polo is the paradox of rough play and elegance.  In the East, it was once called the Game of Kings.

Long ago, it was a sport that defined borders, boundaries and a community's significance.  Polo players, considered kings by their townsfolk, would mount their steeds, grasp their mallets and fight for local victory.

Depicted in paintings and statues in Persia and other parts of Asia, polo features men and women dressed in high sporting fashion riding horses clad in expensive cloths.  Part of the reason polo became so popular in the early ages was because of its entertainment value and distinct appeal. 

This appeal was a product of the horses' shiny coats and the players' exquisite sense of fashion.  When the players rode out on their steeds, lifting up their mallets and agitating cheers, the clothes they wore gave them power.  Power and confidence.  And the people watching wanted the power and confidence displayed by their local kings.

From that point forward, polo became more than a sport.  It became a defined fashion.  It's what carried the sport through the ages and what makes it one of the most popular niche sports today.

Polo Fashion Back Then

Persia is where polo fashion originated that shapes polo fashion today. During the 15^th and 16^th century, Persian polo players dressed in lengthy shirts and loose pants made of fine cloth.  Before then, the fashion was limited mostly to robes.  Although these robes had a savory style, they weren't especially practical for day-to-day wear among common folk.

Persian polo fashion in the 15^th and 16^th centuries became popular because it was practical for the everyday man and woman.  Although the same quality of cloth wasn't affordable for common folk, the same style was.  They could buy polo-styled pants and shirts made from less expensive material.  And, unlike the robes worn in earlier days, the style was practical for daily wear when community workers had to tend their fields and farms. 

The colors of the clothing back then were dulled in color in a vintage, classy way.  Blues, greens and oranges were especially popular, on horse and human.

Polo Fashion Today

Today, if you browse popular polo fashion like la martina polos, you'll see that the same vintage quality and colors found in old Persian sport still exist. 

Even though polo fashion has modernized with the times, unlike other sports fashion, it stays as close as it can to its roots.  This unique aspect is the main reason polo fashion is the most popular sports-based fashion today.