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The OG Lacoste Polo Is At Its Lowest Price Ever

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Welcome toThe Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.

How often is the first iteration of something the undisputed best? I truly can't think of any examples besides this one, the Lacoste polo. René Lacoste introduced the polo shirt to tennis, and his eponymous brand was the first to feature a logo on all of its clothing.

In the past 90 years, have we gotten a shirt that's better than the classic Lacoste petit piqué polo? No. Has a fashion logo ever been so overused, yet remained so undeniably cool? Nope.

And these days, by collaborating with all the brands du jour (take, for example, Sporty & Rich), Lacoste is setting the record straight: Polo shirts are cool, again. It won me over. After 14 years of Catholic school down south in Georgia, I vowed to never wear a polo shirt again. But after a few years of the new Lacoste campaigns, I bought my first petit piqué in a long time... Then I bought another. And another. And another. Now, it's like a second skin, and I've never felt better.

JOE LINGEMAN

The Best Things Get Better With Age

This works on a macro and micro level. Macro, we're talking about a style that hasn't seen significant change for 90 years. That's an eternity! The Lacoste petit piqué polo you buy today is going to look and feel a lot like that first one from 1933. Menswear loves heritage, and that means when you slip on a Lacoste polo you're going to look as great as your dad did in college pictures from the '80s, or as good as your grandpa looks in pics from his post-war stay in '50s France.

On a micro level, it's the actual quality that goes into each shirt. I'll always be the first to complain about modern supply chains and shitty fabrics, but that petit piqué cotton stands up so incredibly well to daily use. Sweat in your polo. Spill wine on your polo. Use your polo as a beach towel. Wash it a million times. That piqué cotton is tough enough to handle it, and as it gets more worn in, it looks even better on you.

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JOE LINGEMAN

The Brand Is as Cool as It's Ever Been

And on the flip side of tradition is the fact that Lacoste is as cool as it's ever been. Christophe Lemaire turned the brand into an upscale behemoth over the course of the 2000s. Sporting the crocodile, Novak Djokovic has cemented himself in the middle of the men's tennis GOAT discussions. Louise Trotter just ended a much heralded four-year stay at the brand that reintroduced the crocodile to a younger, cooler audience, and it looks like it's going to continue in that direction.

All of this to say, while it might be a classic, the Lacoste polo has never been more in than it is right now. Ride this wave. Wear it in a classic green with baggy jeans, and you look like a downtown cool kid. Wear it in black with black trousers, and you might get mistaken for an important creative director. Wear a white one with gym shorts, and a TikToker will film you and say some shit like, "It's giving Old Money." In any scenario, you're the coolest person in the room.

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JOE LINGEMAN

It's Versatile as Hell

Before we go, I'm not trying to sell you on some From the Bar to the Boardroom direct-to-consumer bullshit. I'm just saying this: Look at any outfit where you are wearing a T-shirt. Swap that t-shirt out for a Lacoste polo, and 90 percent of the time you're going to look better. You can go to the beach, walk in the park, and sit down to a nice meal without embarrassing your date.

So, if you've got an old Lacoste polo in the back of your closet, now is the time to pull it back out. If you, like me, are hesitant to go back to your preppy ways, don't listen to the voice in your head. The Lacoste polo can be so much more, and that's why it's a classic.

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Photography by Joe Lingeman. Prop styling by Andrea Bonin.

Pleats, Clean Whites And Polo Shirts: Tenniscore Is Here To Stay

Without a doubt, the trio of Zendaya, Luca Guadagnino, and Jonathan Anderson forms a formidable force in the realm of style. While their upcoming film "Challengers," set to release in the US on April 26, may revolve around the intense dynamics of three tennis pros, the visual allure they bring to the screen promises to be unmatched.

And of course, we are excited to see tenniscore aesthetics!

But what exactly is Tenniscore, and why is it making such a smashing impact both on and off the court?

Think knife-pleat skirts swishing gracefully with every backhand swing, visors shading the eyes from the scorching sun, and collared polo shirts exuding a crisp, WASP-y charm. It's a palette of snowy whites punctuated by deep greens, invoking the spirit of leisure and sophistication. From neat dresses paired with socks and trainers to sweaters draped casually over the shoulders like a badge of elegance, tenniscore is more than just a sporty look—it's a lifestyle statement.

Jennifer Garner Is Here For The Preppy Polo Shirts Taylor Swift Also Wears — And We Found A Lookalike For Just $25

Jennifer Garner just shared some exciting news. 

Last week, the Family Switch actress posted an Instagram Story revealing that her company Once Upon a Farm now has new yummy pantry snacks. But as she stood there in her collared shirt, jeans, and sneakers, there was also a message going unsaid: Prep your polo shirts because spring has sprung — even Garner is tapping the preppy pick. 

Jennifer Garner/Instagram

Other celebrities pick out polos when getting dressed, too: Taylor Swift wears Bejeweled bodysuits on stage for a living, but IRL, she's been seen wearing a red, white, and blue polo, while last spring Hailey Bieber and Rihanna stepped out in the exact same Loewe polo sweater-like shirts.  

Short-sleeve styles are cool enough to wear on sunny spring days or paired with a light windbreaker. Then, pop the collars up and over your jackets for a fashion statement that took zero effort. In other cases, polos are there for, well, polo, golf, or other outdoor activities. Some styles are super breathable so you'll stay cool in the meantime. 

Polo Shirts Inspired by Jennifer Garner  Magcomse Three-Button Cotton Polo Shirt Amazon The Magcomse cotton polo hits the mark: For one, the color is totally springy like Garner's, and it has a stereotypical multi-button placket that's responsible for the preppiness it brings. But it's also "lightweight and comfortable," according to one customer who got the product for free, so you could play sports in it if you wanted to. The shopper also added, "It sits on the body nicely and doesn't make you look boxy as some other polos might." It's $25 and available in sizes S to XXL.  Zhenwei Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt with Pocket, $18 (Save 10%)  Amazon Garner's polo looked a bit more like a top you'd wear to meet up with friends, not necessarily one you'd want to get drenched in sweat during a workout. This one from Zhenwei is similar, but the sleeves are even shorter, so, hey, it should be breezier. It also has a draped collar that looks formal, and when paired with a monochromatic breezy skirt could totally fit the "quiet luxury" trend celebrities everywhere are wearing. Hanes Short Sleeve Four-Button Polo, $14 (Save 26%) Amazon As for the Hanes Short Sleeve Four-Button Polo, one shopper put it best: "What's not to like?" They continued, "They haven't faded in the wash in the five months that I've had them," then noted, "The buttons are durable and have just the right amount of spacing." It's also more of a midweight style, so it's solid for chilly days. Scoop it up while it's on sale for $14 now.  Jennifer Garner is known for her practical, but stylish fashion choices, and polos are just another thing she's showing us are a necessity for spring. Keep scrolling to shop more polo shirts inspired by the star now.  Amazon Essentials Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt, $15 (Save $4)  Amazon Pgands Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt Amazon Rapbin Polo Shirt, $22 (Save $3) Amazon Kistore Short-Sleeve Polo T-Shirt  Amazon Nautica Three-Button Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt $22 (Save 15%)  Amazon Verdusa Zip-Up Short Sleeve Ribbed Polo Shirt, $20 (Save 9%) Amazon

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