Short Sleeve

The polo shirt would be better named the tennis shirt, since it was first designed by Jean René Lacoste, a world-class tennis player who was fondly called the alligator because of his vicious playing tactics. Lacoste, like many tennis players in the early 20th century, felt tennis garb was restrictive, as players had to wear long sleeved shirts and ties. In 1929, Lacoste made the polo shirt or tennis shirt out of pique cotton in a loose knit, with a button down collar that could be flipped up for extra sun protection, and thankfully no tie.