Fashion is so cyclical. If you watch, you’ll see that we repeat cycles over and over again, each time with variations and overlapping other cycles differently. In some cycles, woven fabrics are more popular than knits, and then knits gain in popularity for a while. In other cycles silhouettes will be fitted, then they’ll go oversized and relaxed. We’re currently in a trouser cycle, moving back into a skirt cycle. And some cycles involve polo shirts.
Back when I was working at Tommy Hilfiger and at Ralph Lauren, a little more than 20 years ago (wow, that passed quickly!), the polo shirt was everything. My wardrobe consisted largely of fitted polo shirts, slim flared trousers, and a variety of jackets, between blazers and safari style. Polos were a little sexy, preppy, shrunken (because they were overlapping with a cropped and shrunken cycle) and chic. Then Casual Fridays took over the corporate world and khakis, polo shirts, and the half-zip became so ubiquitous everyone got tired of them.
When the polo lost popularity I knew it would come back eventually, but the question was when? And how? I’m actually surprised that it took as long as it did. I think the style had been so overused by the corporate world we needed a long break from it before it could become something else.
Yet here it is. And this time it’s not cotton jersey with a knit collar, the basic golf shirt. It’s back in a more refined version, made up in fine-gauge sweater knits and in elevated fabrics. And that’s why I thought it was time for a really good woven polo.
Can you sew the Cyprus Polo in a knit? Absolutely. But I hope you’ll also consider sewing it in a woven. And maybe you’ll add that chest pocket, too? I think it’s such a nice detail, as are the side vents and the longer back.
You can purchase the Cyprus Woven Polo in paper or in digital format. Tag us #lieslandco and #cypruswovenpolo so we can send you a virtual high five!
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