The One Boring Top That Prada Is Backing for Spring

Miuccia Prada has an amazing ability to take an overlooked or boring item and instantly turn it into one of the most sought-after items of the year. For 2020, the piece that is receiving her magic touch is the polo shirt, as in her S/S 20 collections, models wore long-sleeved polo tops or fine-ribbed knits with almost everything. They were paired with skirt suits, trouser suits, leather skirts and flared trousers, showing that a polo shirt can be a hero item in a smart wardrobe, removing all connotations of rugby fields and Floridian golf courses.

These polo shirts don't have flashy logos or garish prints. If they have buttons, they are small and understated, and the use of knitwear and cashmere makes them feel particularly elevated. Prada isn't the only designer reimagining the polo shirt, as the likes of Rejina Pyo, Khaite and Albus Lumen have also created modern polos. The key is to look for waffle knits, fine-ribbed knits or cotton in a muted colour palette. Albus Lumen's polo shirts come in duck-egg blue, brown, sage green and salmon pink, for example. 

Polo shirts at Prada S/S 20. 

Moda Operandi has a very clear idea of the items that will be cult buys in 2020, as this is a site where shoppers can pre-order straight after the collections hit the runway. Prada's £1170 grey fine-knit polo was one of the most in-demand items out of the thousands available for spring. Unsurprisingly, a number of high-street stores have jumped onto this trend, as you'll currently find polos at Other Stories, Zara, Monki and M&S. Another tip here is to search in the men's departments. Below, you'll find men's options from Arket, Burberry and more.

Keep scrolling to see our edit of our favourite polo shirts. 

Shop polos:

Next up, see our guide to the key trends for S/S 20.