The Polo Shirt, Hardcover

Embodying a chic casualness and ease that is uniquely American, the iconic Polo shirt has become a cool cultural symbol, worn by everyone from movie stars and presidents to athletes and artists.

The Polo Shirt is to Ralph Lauren what the "swoosh" is to Nike, what Mickey Mouse is to Disney, or what the Empire State Building is to New York. It's the signature of the company he created fifty years ago. Whether worn layered with the collar popped up in a classic preppy style or open and untucked, or dressed up under an elegant suit jacket, the Polo shirt has come to embody the optimism and confidence of American style. An astute observer of culture and style once declared that the shirt is "the most democratic of garments, as ubiquitous as a pair of jeans."
Featuring a gallery of iconic stars and celebrities from the worlds of fashion, sports, politics, film, art, music, and even royalty--everyone from Leonardo di Caprio and Spike Lee to Bill Clinton and Prince Harry, to Q-Tip and Pharrell to Venus Williams and Barry Bonds--as well as everyday people around the world who have made the polo their personal canvas for self-expression, The Polo Shirt is a fascinating look at the enduring cultural cool of a wardrobe classic.
Also included are more than 200 pages showcasing the full range of colors, styles and fits the shirt has been produced in its more than fifty-year history. From the classic white to the weathered polo, from the striped polo to the US Olympic, US Open, and Wimbledon Championship collaborations, this comprehensive catalogue of polo styles is a collector's dream.
To celebrate the many colors of the Polo shirt, the book's cover is offered in six different classic colors.

Ralph Lauren began his career in 1967, designing neck¬ties under the label Polo. Today, his collections include menswear, womenswear, accessories, fragrance, and home. He has received numerous awards for his work in fashion, philanthropy, and humanitarian causes and is the only designer to receive the CFDA's four highest honors: Womenswear Designer of the Year, Menswear Designer of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement.
Ken Burns is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker.