The retro knit polo shirt, pullover knit shirt, knit cardigan shirt and sweaters have made a comeback. Their history extends back to the 1930s but it was the 1950s that embraced the bold patterns and loose fit.
Think clothing in Goodfellas or The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Men’s retro knitwear continued with the mods in the 1960s and the plaid stallions of the 1970s. They have come full circle, reviving these classic vintage decades and pairing them with modern fit trousers or urban streetwear.
Whether you want the true vintage 1950s look or a modern mash up these shops will have retro knit polo shirts for you.
Where to Buy Retro Knit Polo Shirts?
Starting with the cheapest options, you have a few brands on Amazon worth looking at. PJ Paul Jones, Grace Karin and Edition S. These will be synthetic knits and thin materials. Ok for a season, not great for an investment piece. Brands Stacy Adams will be a higher quality and more classic fit.
Perry Ellis – I am Very happy with my recent purchases of Perry Ellis knit polo shirts. Retro designs, classic tripped collar polos, and everyday basic the quality is solid yet not too heavy.
Collectif – Retro brand Collectif has some of the best knitwear shirts you can buy. Thick, warm, well made and VERY retro 50s-60s designs. They are one of the few brands to make knitwear T-shirts with printed designs woven in. Sizes run small for Americans and will shrink in length.
Boohoo (UK)- Oversize knit shirts and cardigans with retro designs. Some polos in a skinny muscle fit. I like the Revere collar shirts for a bit more vintage styling. They also have a few in big and tall sizes.
JD Williams (UK)- Mixed brands knitted polo shirts and pullovers with retro stripes, jacquard print, and tipped collars.
Ben Sherman With a heritage that keeps the 60s alive Ben Sherman has a good selection of retro knit polos and mod button-through knit shirts in vertical stripes and textured solids. Most shirts are 100% cotton with a slim fit!
Marks and Spencer (UK)- I am glad to see M & S jumping on the men’s retro polo shirt trend. They have cotton but mostly synthetic blends with a touch of silk at a good price point. Large size run included big and tall lengths.
Todd Snyder Luxury cotton and silk blend knitwear with hard to find details and retro prints.
Scott Fraser (UK) Recreated knit shirts from Goodfellas and Mr. Ripley movies. A strong 50s presence with a high price tag.
Men’s Retro Knitted Polos
Many of the above brands plus others offer you many good and affordable men’s retro knit polo shirts, knitted button-through shirts, knit sweater shirts and cardigans.
Vintage Men’s Knitted Shirt Ads
For the history buffs, these ads from vintage clothing store catalogs and magazines give you a clear idea of how men’s retro knit polo shirts have evolved.
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- 1946 Maroon and Grey Striped Knit Shirt
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- 1951 Men’s Knit Shirt
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- 1956 Bill Campbell polo shirt
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- 1957 stripe knit button-through shirt
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- 1966 T shirts and polo shirts
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- 1967 knitwear
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- 1968 knitted polos
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- 1969 pullover knits
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- 1971 Men’s Knit Shirts
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- 1973 Men’s Polo Shirts
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- 1972 tipped knit polos
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- 1972 knit stripe polos
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- 1975 pattern knit polos
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
