As a man approaching middleage and well renowned as a snappy dresser its rare I need to come her for sartorial advice. However I need help with this one. I have recently been told by a young lady that polo shirts and V necks jumpers either separately or together are supremely naff. My fave combo is a burgundy polo shirt with a lavender V neck jumper. I am told this is irredeemably naff.
I have always favoured the polo shirt as being a bit more dressy than a t shirt but have been told this is not so and that I look "far too golf club"
What say the fashionistas of STW?
Don't stand for any nonsense from the youth. That combo is sound.
How young is this young lady and do you care about her opinion?
The young lady is a year younger than me and I do care about her opinion given I am attempting to entice her. Mind you I think she is wrong 🙂
Ask her what she thinks you should be wearing instead, if she mentions tank tops, crocs, sliders with socks, cardigans, expensive designer clothing (especially anything gaudily branded) I’d suggest stop with the enticement attempts and look elsewhere!
How young is this young lady and do you care about her opinion?
The young lady is a year younger than me and I do care about her opinion given I am attempting to entice her. Mind you I think she is wrong 🙂
Never mind the clothing tj, you need to get her to create an account on here so she can judge you by your acquaintances, you know, introduce us all.
(Definitely dont take that advice. 😁)
Get that sen a quarter zip.
129 actually
That's very specific! Lol
With or without jeans?Trainers or Crocs?
How young is this young lady and do you care about her opinion?
The young lady is a year younger than me and I do care about her opinion given I am attempting to entice her. Mind you I think she is wrong 🙂
You're at a critical point in the proceedings. Important decisions are required, and you need to move forward with great care. You could placate her and take a step back...which risks her seeing you as a push over. She won't respect you for that.
Or you could assert your masculine magnetism and bust out the mankini. It would send a clear message: this is a guy that doesn't mess around. He knows what he wants. In fact he even knows what I want. He can order on my behalf at restaurants.
Good luck.
I have recently been told by a young lady that polo shirts and V necks jumpers either separately or together are supremely naff
And she’d be bang on!
Polo shirts, with or without a jumper make a statement.
Unfortunately, the statement is… well… you really shouldn’t need it pointing out to you?
You might as well pop your collar, go the whole hog and change your name to Olly. Stonewashed jeans? Tan leather brogues?
Wear a t-shirt or a proper shirt under your jumper, and for gods sake make sure you coordinate the colours. Burgundy and lavender? Seriously?! FFS man, I’d look at that combination and assume you got dressed in the dark.
Nobody wants to look like a stockbroker from Surrey on his way to the golf club. That sounds Full Partidge Sports Casual.
Sorry Uncle Jezza. I love you dearly but for your own benefit never wear a polo shirt and jumper. PLEASE!
I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed
I was thinking more this kind of polo shirt than Partridge...
My fave combo is a burgundy polo shirt with a lavender V neck jumper.
You are Michael Portillo and I claim my five pounds.
You could always drape the V Neck across your shoulders for the full Golf Club effect 😁
PS I wouldn't take fashion advice from a 70 year old who still wears hoodies, jeans and skate shoes 👍
The current trend is long sleeve, light material polo (slightly loose, not skin tight) with a jacket or short sleeve polo (whatever fit you like as no one will see it) with a zip neck jumper, but how this really differs from a crew neck with a short sleeve is anyone’s guess. Since most of the zips seem elaborate or shiny, my guess is that it just adds bling of a sort…
Depends on how enticing she is surely?
Very enticing- the combo stuffed at the back of the wardrobe and a series of what ever works bought in
Medium enticing- one new set of whatever works for the next date before returning to normal
Slightly enticing- she can take you as you are or leave you.
My wife complained about a particular jacket of mine, I kept wearing it for a couple of years. It's mostly languishing in the wardrobe now.
My fave combo is a burgundy polo shirt with a lavender V neck jumper.
You are Michael Portillo and I claim my five pounds.
A great role model. Most men wear such boring clothes in boring colours. An entire wardrobe in shades of greyige 🙂
At least I wasn't wearing Cerise trousers tho
- Normal shirts and v-necks - fine.
- Short-sleeve shirts and v-necks - nope.
- Polo shirts and v-necks -nope.
- V-neck with nothing underneath - nope.
- V-neck with normal t-shirt - nope.
The problem with the v neck is that it’s basically your old school jumper from many years ago. Ditch it and go with a nice quarter zip in a dark colour, t shirt, shirt or at a push, polo underneath, in white or light neutral colour.
Burgundy and lavender reminded me totally of this poem:
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/
Just don't let the street wardens catch you spitting.
And the fashion pages inform me that the quarter zip is where it's at:
Jamj has it - a normal shirt with a v-neck jumper isn't awful, although can be a bit 'braying Yah'. But most other combos with a v-neck jumper are not good - the v-neck basically is showing a lot of the underlying layer, which looks irredeemably naff.
But then tbh I struggle to know what's a suitable jumper combo in this weather, that's why I end up with hoodies or overshirts
Anyone else waiting for a BBC Nature documentary with Sir David Attenborough doing the voice over, describing the courtship displays of the Lesser Spotted Leith Male?
Short-sleeve shirts and v-necks - nope.
How would you know?
I'm presuming it's because you wouldn't see the monogrammed cufflinks protruding from the bottom of the sleeves?
How frightfully uncouth
Don't try and merge into the background... wear what you like. If what you wear is a topic of conversation, is that a bad thing?
I don't wear v-necks ever... my teenage offspring does wear them... personal taste should always trump trends that are ubiquitous enough to appear in the press.
Tj is a style icon anyway….
Could this enticed lady not just be a figment of TJ's imagination?His long hair may be confusing the poor old fellow.😅
Earing?
its rare I need to come her for sartorial advice.
uh huh...
Polo necks are worn by either one of three groups of people; Working in a shop/business where the other parts of the uniform are a jaunty wee hat and a name badge, secondly, people actually playing polo, and thirdly; thusly
Your date is correct. they are naff, heed her advice...
Whatever the fashion advice here is - do the opposite!
Personally its a good style day for me when my clothes don't have any visible soup stains on them.
A v-neck and polo was my school uniform for six years. Hated it then, and haven't worn a polo since.
Nothing wrong with a Polo shirt. If you work in a petrol station. 😊👍
My rules:
V necks are fine things but shouldn't be worn with a polo. Polos are summer clothing to be worn with nothing over the top. Could be ok under a jacket of some description esp. long sleeve versions
Feel free to ignore that but the burgundy/lavender colour combo sounds frightful.
No form of knitwear should have a zip. Ever.
Style rather than fashion for the win.
I'm presuming it's because you wouldn't see the monogrammed cufflinks protruding from the bottom of the sleeves?
How frightfully uncouth
Oh dear - where do we start with this. Shirts that need cuff links - only with a suit or dinner jacket.
Short-sleeve shirts and v-necks - nope.
How would you know?
Short-sleeve shirts - when it is warm enough for a single layer and never, ever with a suit or blazer…
What is the world coming to when you need guidance on style from a 51 year old man…?
No form of knitwear should have a zip. Ever.
Cardigans? I have not owned one since being a child who thought his wraparound cardigan made him look like Starsky…
Short-sleeve shirts - when it is warm enough for a single layer and never, ever with a suit or blazer…
Aah, the single most pointless peice of clothing ever. There is literally never a time where a blazer is the correct item of clothing to wear.
I will wear a suit to a wedding/funeral/job interview but only because you kind of have to.....
surly the hipster coolness of the man bun means this combo is cool? Its certainly not bland 
Short-sleeve shirts - when it is warm enough for a single layer and never, ever with a suit or blazer…
Where do you stand on the cravat?
Ooh - I like a nice cravat
Every bit of clothing ought to make you pretty
You can cut the clothing, grey is such a pity
I should wear the clothing of Mr. Walter Mitty
See my tailor, he's called Simon, I know it's going to fit
This sounds like sound sartorial advice from Ian Dury. Though I am not sure it is actually about clothes...
uh huh...
Polo necks are worn by either one of three groups of people; Working in a shop/business where the other parts of the uniform are a jaunty wee hat and a name badge, secondly, people actually playing polo, and thirdly; thusly
Your date is correct. they are naff, heed her advice...
You're confusing polo shirt and polo neck. Two very different things, but equally open to discussion.
I'm sorry TJ,but that photo brought the following to mind: My son was trying on his kilt with his best man looking on. The best man's first response was "**** me, you look like a dinner lady."
I'm afraid my personal opinion is that the lavender jumper only really needs a string of pearls to finish off the ensemble. 😀
Where do you stand on the cravat?
Not stand - more stamp with malice…
Aah, the single most pointless peice of clothing ever. There is literally never a time where a blazer is the correct item of clothing to wear
I agree. Don’t like or own one…
Not me.
. 
TJ has a fine head of hair! 👍 👍 👍 A little jealous - as I am bald as a coot!
I may have a good head of hair but according to this thread I am the ungodly love child of Alan Partridge and a dinner lady in twin set and pearls 🙂
That jumper with polo collar over it is truly hideous.Your lady friend is correct.
I'm in no position to comment on sartorial elegance, but I'm struggling to think of a situation where the answer is "v-neck sweater." I'm inclined to agree with the esteemed target of your loins.
I am attempting to entice her. Mind you I think she is wrong
Not off to the healthiest of starts.
My son was trying on his kilt with his best man looking on. The best man's first response was "**** me, you look like a dinner lady."
I really hope that went in the wedding speech 😄
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/spring-summer-2025-menswear-trends
Tell her to get on gq fashion advice. Nothing you ( a normal person) wears could be quite as hideous as this advice .
You lost me '......snappy dresser.....'
And the fashion pages inform me that the quarter zip is where it's at:
Bloody hell I appear to be in fashion for the first time in my life, courtesy of 30 year old Lowe micro fleeces.
I'm just grateful that picture isn't UHD quality.
Is it too early to say " there's plenty more fish in the sea"?
Where would you buy, or work, to even get a burgundy polo shirt?
Where would you buy, or work, to even get a burgundy polo shirt?
Loads of gopping coloured Lacoste ones here https://www.sportpursuit.com/products?bid=981&p=3
Where would you buy, or work, to even get a burgundy polo shirt?
I have pink and turquoise ones as well
Starting to think this guy might have David Ike tendencies,AKA The tw_t in Turquoise!
You need a pastel flat cap and driving gloves to accessorise your combo TJ.
A white t shirt under yon pullover wouldn't be disastrous.
Am I the only one that thinks a short sleeve shirt under a long sleeve sweater is somehow wrong?
i showed the lady in question this thread. She was highly amused and feels vindicated.
bugger
Oh ****.
Whilst on my travels for work this week I have a specific and limited set of clothes that fit in my case. Including Fridays 'travel day' attire of a burgundy polo shirt worn with my smart tweed jacket....
I'm turning into TJ.
Polo shirt and tweed jacket? Just no.
I have pink and turquoise ones as well
Are you sure it's a lady you're vying for the affections of?
i showed the lady in question this thread.
So now she knows you're intending to empty your bag romance her and your crap jumper is a secondary concern.
Speaking from the perspective of a 71yo mountain biker, neither is acceptable in any way, shape or form, or colour for that matter! 🫨😖
In all seriousness having now seen The Photo,
I'm cool with the 'man bun.' It's not exactly to my tastes but I might have done similar, you could pass it off either as a Samurai or a Jedi. My hair is the one physical attribute I've always been pleased with, so I absolutely support anyone growing it out who still can. I've been screwing about with dye for the last few months.
I like the colour of the shirt. I'm unconvinced with polo shirts generally because they're like the rosé wine cop-out, you don't know if someone likes red or white so you buy them pink. I don't hate the colour of the sweater. But I last wore a v-neck pullover in 1988, it was my school uniform, and I last saw 'mature men' sporting them in the Greenwoods catalogue. Together though, ****ing hell man... you know the saying "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"? What's the opposite of that?
A wise store Clerk once said, "shit or get off the pot." Get a shirt and a jacket, or a tee-shirt and a fleece/hoodie. This sartorial fence-sitting is "smart casual" and **** that crap, be smart or be casual.
IMHO, sitting here in a Portal tee-shirt.
Also,
Whilst your new umfriend may require a transition period, has sir considered a beard?