The Friday Polo is the longest-running product we’ve consistently done on PS, but in the past few years I’ve found I wear it in a different way to how I used to. Although it was designed to work well with tailoring, I now wear it more commonly loose and untucked. 

Perhaps that’s just a gap in my wardrobe – I particularly benefit from an easy piece to leave tucked out in the summer. And it is something I consistently take away with me when I’m travelling now, as does Lucas. 

When we were in LA recently, it was particularly striking because we were actually going from pool to bar. We stayed at the Chateau Marmont, and would often have a swim after coming back from the day’s appointments, before going to the bar across the courtyard for a drink. (I know, it’s a hard job but someone’s got to do it.)

OK, in practice we’d usually go via our rooms to drop off hats, books and other bits from the pool. But the Polo itself transitioned effectively – I could wear a black one with a pair of tobacco swim shorts (this colour combination) then swap the shorts for a pair of linen trousers – as shown below. 

Versatility has always been a big selling point at Permanent Style, and I think that must be because we deal with so many readers who are starting out on their sartorial journeys, and therefore value clothes that do more than one job. Perhaps also, because these things are all expensive, so it helps justify the outlay. 

Either way, versatility is a significant part of the appeal of the Friday Polo, and we’ve used the photography here to demonstrate that with the three colours being stocked today: black, brown and pale yellow. 

Navy and white Friday Polos have been around for a long time, and by this point I’m sure a lot of readers already have one. But black is my favourite alternative to navy, because it looks so elegant in the evening and yet looks also great with a tan at the beach. 

Brown is perhaps the most unexpected as a summer colour, but it’s a particular favourite of Lucas’s and he finds it very versatile – both because it’s softer than black, and because it goes well with lots of colours: neutrals like grey and navy but also green and beige. 

Lucas is wearing his in two combinations here: one more standard and one more unusual. 

The more standard outfit is above, with beige shorts (cord ones, from Buck Mason). The more unusual is with jeans in a different shade of brown (below, from Taillour). 

As we’ve talked about in the past, mixing different shades of a single colour in major parts of an outfit isn’t easy, but it can be satisfying when done well. It’s almost a definition of the first stage towards advanced dressing. 

I like the browns Lucas has here, broken by the black belt and with contrast also provided by the black shoes and white tee. 

Wearing a T-shirt under the Friday Polo is a little counter-intuitive, but it lends it a pleasingly sporty, preppy feel. And it adds a little warmth, making the piece more versatile still. 

My favourite colour by far, however, is the pale yellow. 

Yellows are not easy to get right – we’ve looked for a long time for a good yellow cashmere for example, without success. But the PS Oxford Shirt in yellow is good because it’s so pale, and the same goes for this version of the Friday Polo. 

You could almost call it cream it’s so pale, but a light or pale yellow is probably more accurate. It’s certainly a shade more yellow than the oxford. 

Yellows like this are especially nice with blue denim, and that’s how I enjoy it most. But in a casual mode, worn with shorts, it’s also wonderful with beige, navy, green, brown. It has that faded upper-class vibe that’s so key to many Ivy looks, and indeed has become more trendy in recent years as ‘old money’ style.  

With tailoring, I like the pale yellow under a grey jacket, a light green or navy. A nice navy cotton Harrington in particular is excellent. 

The Friday Polo is in stock now in black, brown and pale yellow, plus the existing colours of navy and white. I am wearing a size medium in the pictures, while Lucas is wearing a double-extra large. 

For all other details on the Polo, see the product page here. 

The other clothes shown are:

On Simon:

Vintage Ralph Lauren cap
Vintage Levi’s 501s
EB Meyrowitz ‘Hardy’ sunglasses
Rubato brown pigskin belt
Edward Sexton Hollywood-top trousers
Baudoin & Lange ‘Sagan’ loafers

On Lucas:

Moscot ‘Lemtosh’ glasses with ‘Cliptosh’ sunglasses
Chan Luu ‘Santos’ agate necklace
Buck Mason ‘Beach Cruiser’ cord short in natural
PS Undershirt
Vintage Brooks Brothers belt
Edward Green Pimlico loafers
Taillour ‘Atelier’ jean in brown