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Fans of the classic Polo Shirt no longer have to settle for a choice between casual cotton or sporty synthetic fabrics, because merino wool combines the best of both worlds: looks good and works well.
To realize why we would make such a shirt, scroll down to get a history lesson. While we take pride in this item, we also realize the size of the shoulders we're standing on: they are shoulders of giants. If you already know what's going on, let us introduce the Särmä Polo Shirt and help you choose the right size.
A pocket for a small radio or PTT at the collarbone and two more for pens on the sleeve were added for work purposes - gentlemen will leave these empty. Raglan sleeves allow a wide range of movement and the shirt has a "tennis tail": it's a bit longer in the back to stay tucked better.
Mulesing free merino wool
The fabric is 210 g/m2 piquet knit merino wool: 80% wool and 20% polyamide. Piquet knit is strong, breathable and elastic already when made from cotton, and switching to merino wool only improved comfort.
Wash and care
This merino wool blend is machine-washable in 30 degrees celsius, but washing is seldom necessary - wool cleans itself. When not in use, air them out and give them a good shake after that.
Sizing and fit guide
Sizes by user's recommended chest circumference and length. The length is pretty universal, but less than 175 cm tall people should probably keep the hem tucked in the trousers or have it shortened. These are slim fit with narrow sleeves, as a polo shirt should: fitting, not tight. A lean person will be delighted with their usual shirt size. If you are less athletic of shape, consider one size larger compared to your usual T-shirt, so the shirt will drape better and hide what you wish to hide.
Sizes by user's recommended chest circumference and length. The length is pretty universal, but less than 5' 9" tall people should probably keep the hem tucked in the trousers or have it shortened. These are slim fit with narrow sleeves, as a polo shirt should: fitting, not tight. A lean person will be delighted with their usual shirt size. If you are less athletic of shape, consider one size larger compared to your usual T-shirt, so the shirt will drape better and hide what you wish to hide.
Polo shirts are worn without an undergarment, but these are not skinsuits. A couple of fingers should fit easily between the sleeve and arm, and the torso should be loose enough to drape. A properly fitting shirt allows you to close the top button, but you shall not actually wear the shirt like that. Popping the collar is only allowed for sunshade purposes while engaging in gentlemans' sports. Finally: tucking depends on the situation, but an untucked shirt should not hang over the apex of your buttock.
The main product picture features a 177 cm tall guy with 102 cm chest circumference and a Small size shirt.
The main product picture features a 5' 9" tall guy with 40" chest circumference and a Small size shirt.
Särmä by Varusteleka
Särmä is our own brand of clothing and equipment. When you buy Särmä you get purpose-built stuff at a decent price, something that will fill its intended role well and not cost you an arm and a leg!
Manufactured in Lithuania.
A brief history note
The history of this piece of garment has certain points of debate, but interpretations aside British soldiers witnessed games of polo in India around mid-19th century, founded the first polo club and wore shirts with distinct collars. Brooks Brothers introduced the button-down collar to the US and polo player Lewis Lacey made his own design in Buenos Aires.
Most of the defining features of a modern polo shirt were brought together first by a certain Rene Lacoste, who developed his shirt in the 20's and won the US Open in 1926 — of course wearing one. Even though his discipline was tennis, the shirt was called a polo shirt as a nod to the origins. Lacoste short-sleeved polo shirts were made from piquet knit, had a longer back and a sturdy pop-up collar instead of a button-down design.
Fast forward to the 50's and never mind WWII, "Ike" Eisenhower was spotted wearing a polo shirt while playing golf. It didn't take long for golfers to adopt this style and add polo shirts to the list of acceptable garments on courses and at clubs. In the same decade Fred Perry strongly influenced making the polo shirt fashionable among sharp young adults and teenagers.
If you remember anything about the 70's you weren't really there, but Ralph Lauren seems to have launched his version of the polo shirt back then. You may ask if he actually invented anything but it did inject a bit of new life to this old shirt.
These days special agents and security personnel wear polo shirts, because whether you're getting shit done the easy way or the hard way, you still have to look good while doing it and a tie might be too much of a statement.
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CancelOlkapäiden istuvuus ei ole ihan täydellinen, ei ennen eikä jälkeen pesun, siksi 4 tähteä. Muuten vaikuttaa toistaiseksi oikein mainiolta vaikka mitään kynätaskuja en tarvitsekaan.
Rinnassa minusta pitäisi olla brodeerattu lekan kuva, eik sekin vähän kuuluisi näihin?
Ja sanotaan nyt vielä, että tähän on vaikea löytää laadukkaan oloista pikeepaitaa. Ja jos löytyykin, se on tehty jossain vinkuintiassa lapsityövoimalla (samassa paikassa kuin se satasenkin paita).
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CancelNyt pituus on rimaa hipoen just ja just riittävä, mutta parempi varmaankin jättää tämä pesemättä, koska jos pituus lyhenee milliäkään (kuten aiemmassa kommentissa mainitaan), tämä jää kyllä selvästi aivan liian lyhyeksi tällaiselle 189cm pitkälle.
Eli ihan ok paita, mutta mitoitus on vähintäänkin haastava..
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CancelMuuten leikkaus ja materiaali on aika pitkälti sitä mitä on aina kaivattukin - riittävän siisti käytännössä kaikkeen mikä ei vaadi pukua, eikä vähemmän hiostavaa työkelpoista paitaa ole vielä keksittykään. Kahden kappaleen otannalla suositus pykälää isomman koon valinnasta tuntuu hätävarjelun liioittelulta, mutta jos tykkää väljemmästä pukeutumisesta niin ei se ainakaan isommassa kokoluokassa pahaltakaan näytä. Tilanne voi olla toinen jos laskostumismarginaali pysyy samana taulukon alapäähän asti.
Kun nyt tarkemmin katsoo niin kauluksessa - mutta vain kauluksessa - tosiaan esiintyy jo selvää nukkautumista. Tähän kun saisi vähänkään paremmin kulutusta kestävän materiaalin niin viides tähti olisi siinä, oli rintataskua tai ei.
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CancelMaterial is to warm for central European summer but doesn't scratch.
I can't fault it for the features I myself find not necessary like that radio pocket. I am not current on Radios so I can neither tell if this is useful or at a proper location, I found no use for it so far.
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CancelThe shirt, being 80% merino wool, is also super comfortable and can be worn without an undershirt (as you should with a polo)
I will agree that it seems like the front and back panel is cut and sewn at the arms in such a way that you can get a little extra material collected around the armpits if you slouch, and the back feels a little tight across the shoulder blades as a result too. I am also not happy with how flimsy the collar is, almost like it wants to be starched.
With any merino wool product: Avoid washing it, if you do wash it I strongly suggest the mildest detergent and a hefty amount of something like that sonnet wool care that is sold on the site as, well as hang drying only. Tumble drying is just going to fuzz the shirt to no end with the amount of wool content.
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