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Polo Shirts: How to Choose
the Right Colour
The polo shirt is famous for being available in any colour you could ever imagine. It’s one of the many reasons they are so essential to your wardrobe. We have covered the classic Italian shades to suit every complexion and outfit, as well as tips for putting together your final ensemble to prepare you for the year ahead.
The Color Wheel
The colour wheel, which was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, forms the basis for all colour theory. Adding a little bit of white to any of these 12 hues will make them a tint lighter, while adding a little bit of black will make them a tint darker.
In theory, all of these colours are connected, so you can coordinate them with your skin tone to create a total look, but knowing how to do that properly is essential.
In order to best judge which polo shirt works for you, you’ll need to determine whether your skin is pale, medium/olive or dark, just by taking a look at your forearm.
Fair Skin Tone
When you have got a paler complexion grey is a great colour to wear. It is dark enough not to draw attention to your paler skin tone so it doesn’t wash you out. The polo shirt in grey is a staple to have in your wardrobe all year around, pair with denim paints and red lava cashmere crew neck and complete the look with a leather weekend bag.
You can also try hues that clearly contrast with your skin tone as they will add warmth to your complexion. Due to your lighter skin tone we recommend you stay clear of wearing colours that wash you out, or ones that emphasise your paler tone. Instead invest in darker shades that take away from your skin tone and stay clear of harsh or bright colours that will make you fade into the background.
Colours you look your best in:
Grey, Burgundy, Green, Navy, Brown, Charcoal
Colours to avoid:
Pastel shades, Red, White, Beige
Olive / Medium Skin Tone
If you have got olive toned skin that tends to golden in the sun, then you have what’s known as a warm complexion which suits a much wider spectrum of colours. If you’re lucky enough to fall in this category, it means that you can pull off just about any colour and still look smart. Since light and dark colours both contrast nicely with your skin tone, you can opt for either looks.
Navy is inkier than a normal blue and extremely flattering on against a mid tone complexions. This is due to the lighter undertones of white and grey, which balances out the colour. Try teaming a pair tobacco trousers and navy crew neck also in navy for a tonal classic look this season.
Polo shirts are often worn as a solo layer in the summer, but if you’re going to a smart casual event then they can easily be layered to make a stylish and comfortable look that’s perfect for winter. For example polo shirts work really well layered with a blazer, especially our Brera Polo, due to the stand-up collar feature. You can match them with knitwear, try wearing a beige polo with a charcoal grey v neck for your weekend city looks.
The only colours that you should really avoid are those that might blend in too closely with your skin tone.
Colours you look your best in:
Beige, Burgundy, Steel Blue, Navy, Black, Pink
Colours to avoid:
Pistachio, Mauve, Dark brown, Red, Olive
Dark Skin Tone
Darker skinned men tend to have black or dark brown hair and eyes. If you fall into this category, the colours that you wear should contrast with your dark features. The contrast breaks up an otherwise uniform look and injects some personality into your outfit.
You have the licence to wear bold, bright colours like light blue or pure white but you have to ensure you balance your outfit with a neutral undertone colour. For a relaxed look, you can wear a crisp pure white polo shirt with a stone cashmere hoodie for a sport luxe appeal.
While dark grey and navy blue are hard to avoid as they are such a menswear staple, try to keep them to a minimum and wear only when necessary and just like how pastel shades wash out paler skin tones, very dark shades will struggle to contrast against your skin tone.
Colours you look your best in:
Pink, White, Khaki, Light Blue, Light Grey
Colours to avoid:
Black, Dark Brown, Turquoise, Spring Green, Magenta
Design Notes
Key features of the Brera Polo Shirt
Italian Cotton Pique: We selected the finest pique quality to ensure resistance, softness and breathability. Our Brera Polo Shirt comes in neutral shades to make it incredibly wearable and a timeless choice.
Fitted Look: Handmade in Italy with a fitted yet comfortable silhouette for an elegant look. Pre-washed to ensure no shrinkage.
Stand up Collar: Our signature ‘Paramontura’ collar provides an elegant shape for an overall classic look.
Mother of Pearl Buttons: Our signature mother of pearl buttons maintain an elegant look on a casual piece.
Adjustable: Unbutton the mother of pearl buttons and roll up the sleeves to keep cool during the day or keep buttoned for a smart casual look during the evening.
Introduction
The polo shirt is famous for being available in any colour you could ever imagine. It’s one of the many reasons they are so essential to your wardrobe. We have covered the classic Italian shades to suit every complexion and outfit, as well as tips for putting together your final ensemble to prepare you for the year ahead.
The Color Wheel
The colour wheel, which was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, forms the basis for all colour theory. Adding a little bit of white to any of these 12 hues will make them a tint lighter, while adding a little bit of black will make them a tint darker.
In theory, all of these colours are connected, so you can coordinate them with your skin tone to create a total look, but knowing how to do that properly is essential.
In order to best judge which polo shirt works for you, you’ll need to determine whether your skin is pale, medium/olive or dark, just by taking a look at your forearm.
Fair Skin Tone
When you have got a paler complexion grey is a great colour to wear. It is dark enough not to draw attention to your paler skin tone so it doesn’t wash you out. The polo shirt in grey is a staple to have in your wardrobe all year around, pair with denim paints and red lava cashmere crew neck and complete the look with a leather weekend bag.
You can also try hues that clearly contrast with your skin tone as they will add warmth to your complexion. Due to your lighter skin tone we recommend you stay clear of wearing colours that wash you out, or ones that emphasise your paler tone. Instead invest in darker shades that take away from your skin tone and stay clear of harsh or bright colours that will make you fade into the background.
Colours you look your best in:
Grey, Burgundy, Green, Navy, Brown, Charcoal
Colours to avoid:
Pastel shades, Red, White, Beige
The Color Wheel
The colour wheel, which was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, forms the basis for all colour theory. Adding a little bit of white to any of these 12 hues will make them a tint lighter, while adding a little bit of black will make them a tint darker.
In theory, all of these colours are connected, so you can coordinate them with your skin tone to create a total look, but knowing how to do that properly is essential.
In order to best judge which polo shirt works for you, you’ll need to determine whether your skin is pale, medium/olive or dark, just by taking a look at your forearm.
Fair Skin Tone
When you have got a paler complexion grey is a great colour to wear. It is dark enough not to draw attention to your paler skin tone so it doesn’t wash you out. The polo shirt in grey is a staple to have in your wardrobe all year around, pair with denim paints and red lava cashmere crew neck and complete the look with a leather weekend bag.
You can also try hues that clearly contrast with your skin tone as they will add warmth to your complexion. Due to your lighter skin tone we recommend you stay clear of wearing colours that wash you out, or ones that emphasise your paler tone. Instead invest in darker shades that take away from your skin tone and stay clear of harsh or bright colours that will make you fade into the background.
Colours you look your best in:
Grey, Burgundy, Green, Navy, Brown, Charcoal
Colours to avoid:
Pastel shades, Red, White, Beige
Olive / Medium Skin Tone
If you have got olive toned skin that tends to golden in the sun, then you have what’s known as a warm complexion which suits a much wider spectrum of colours. If you’re lucky enough to fall in this category, it means that you can pull off just about any colour and still look smart. Since light and dark colours both contrast nicely with your skin tone, you can opt for either looks.
Navy is inkier than a normal blue and extremely flattering on against a mid tone complexions. This is due to the lighter undertones of white and grey, which balances out the colour. Try teaming a pair tobacco trousers and navy crew neck also in navy for a tonal classic look this season.
Polo shirts are often worn as a solo layer in the summer, but if you’re going to a smart casual event then they can easily be layered to make a stylish and comfortable look that’s perfect for winter. For example polo shirts work really well layered with a blazer, especially our Brera Polo, due to the stand-up collar feature. You can match them with knitwear, try wearing a beige polo with a charcoal grey v neck for your weekend city looks.
The only colours that you should really avoid are those that might blend in too closely with your skin tone.
Colours you look your best in:
Beige, Burgundy, Steel Blue, Navy, Black, Pink
Colours to avoid:
Pistachio, Mauve, Dark brown, Red, Oliv
Dark Skin Tone
Darker skinned men tend to have black or dark brown hair and eyes. If you fall into this category, the colours that you wear should contrast with your dark features. The contrast breaks up an otherwise uniform look and injects some personality into your outfit.
You have the licence to wear bold, bright colours like light blue or pure white but you have to ensure you balance your outfit with a neutral undertone colour. For a relaxed look, you can wear a crisp pure white polo shirt with a stone cashmere hoodie for a sport luxe appeal.
While dark grey and navy blue are hard to avoid as they are such a menswear staple, try to keep them to a minimum and wear only when necessary and just like how pastel shades wash out paler skin tones, very dark shades will struggle to contrast against your skin tone.
Colours you look your best in:
Pink, White, Khaki, Light Blue, Light Grey
Colours to avoid:
Black, Dark Brown, Turquoise, Spring Green, Magenta
Design Notes
Key features of the Brera Polo Shirt
Italian Cotton Pique: We selected the finest pique quality to ensure resistance, softness and breathability. Our Brera Polo Shirt comes in neutral shades to make it incredibly wearable and a timeless choice.
Fitted Look: Handmade in Italy with a fitted yet comfortable silhouette for an elegant look. Pre-washed to ensure no shrinkage.
Stand up Collar: Our signature ‘Paramontura’ collar provides an elegant shape for an overall classic look.
Mother of Pearl Buttons: Our signature mother of pearl buttons maintain an elegant look on a casual piece.
Adjustable: Unbutton the mother of pearl buttons and roll up the sleeves to keep cool during the day or keep buttoned for a smart casual look during the evening.
Olive / Medium Skin Tone
If you have got olive toned skin that tends to golden in the sun, then you have what’s known as a warm complexion which suits a much wider spectrum of colours. If you’re lucky enough to fall in this category, it means that you can pull off just about any colour and still look smart. Since light and dark colours both contrast nicely with your skin tone, you can opt for either looks.
Navy is inkier than a normal blue and extremely flattering on against a mid tone complexions. This is due to the lighter undertones of white and grey, which balances out the colour. Try teaming a pair tobacco trousers and navy crew neck also in navy for a tonal classic look this season.
Polo shirts are often worn as a solo layer in the summer, but if you’re going to a smart casual event then they can easily be layered to make a stylish and comfortable look that’s perfect for winter. For example polo shirts work really well layered with a blazer, especially our Brera Polo, due to the stand-up collar feature. You can match them with knitwear, try wearing a beige polo with a charcoal grey v neck for your weekend city looks.
The only colours that you should really avoid are those that might blend in too closely with your skin tone.
Colours you look your best in:
Beige, Burgundy, Steel Blue, Navy, Black, Pink
Colours to avoid:
Pistachio, Mauve, Dark brown, Red, Olive
Dark Skin Tone
Darker skinned men tend to have black or dark brown hair and eyes. If you fall into this category, the colours that you wear should contrast with your dark features. The contrast breaks up an otherwise uniform look and injects some personality into your outfit.
You have the licence to wear bold, bright colours like light blue or pure white but you have to ensure you balance your outfit with a neutral undertone colour. For a relaxed look, you can wear a crisp pure white polo shirt with a stone cashmere hoodie for a sport luxe appeal.
While dark grey and navy blue are hard to avoid as they are such a menswear staple, try to keep them to a minimum and wear only when necessary and just like how pastel shades wash out paler skin tones, very dark shades will struggle to contrast against your skin tone.
Colours you look your best in:
Pink, White, Khaki, Light Blue, Light Grey
Colours to avoid:
Black, Dark Brown, Turquoise, Spring Green, Magenta
Design Notes
Key features of the Brera Polo Shirt
Italian Cotton Pique: We selected the finest pique quality to ensure resistance, softness and breathability. Our Brera Polo Shirt comes in neutral shades to make it incredibly wearable and a timeless choice.
Fitted Look: Handmade in Italy with a fitted yet comfortable silhouette for an elegant look. Pre-washed to ensure no shrinkage.
Stand up Collar: Our signature ‘Paramontura’ collar provides an elegant shape for an overall classic look.
Mother of Pearl Buttons: Our signature mother of pearl buttons maintain an elegant look on a casual piece.
Adjustable: Unbutton the mother of pearl buttons and roll up the sleeves to keep cool during the day or keep buttoned for a smart casual look during the evening.