This Is Not A Polo Shirt

Part of the way a Polo shirt became distinct from the Tennis or Golf shirt is because of the longer fabric on the back. This was recognised as a way to allow the Polo player to be active on his horse, without the risk that his shirt would become tangled and rise-up. ‘This is Not a Polo Shirt’ was launched in 2009, as a sub-brand of Band of Outsiders, and when Scott Sternberg stated “I make clothes”, the above functionality was exactly what he had in mind.

‘This is Not a Polo Shirt’, in reality, specialises in the antithesis of its name. Dedicated to the sole production of Polo shirts, Sternberg creates pieces which are undeniably wearable. Predominantly using washed fabrics and pared down colourways, Sternberg creates pieces which fit into the “All American Prep” lifestyle which his mainline collections exude.

By using slimmer silhouettes, luxury fabrics, or contrasting collar and hems for example, the Polo Shirts themselves become ‘special’ garments rather than something used merely as a way to dress casually – such as in your country club retreat in the Hamptons. This combined means that ‘This is Not a Polo Shirt’ crosses the boundary between formality and casualwear – whether in the ‘West Side Story’ theme of his Summer 2012 Band of Outsiders Mainline collection, or in Palm Springs where Sternberg himself relaxes.

Collaboration with Surfing photographer Leroy Grannis for Summer 2011, however added apreviously unexplored theme for the brand. Images used were eerily reminiscent of the Beach Boys haunting ‘Lonely See’, suggesting a darker note, which is yet unexplored. Perhaps, therefore, These are not Polo shirts as we know them.