Polo Shirt Status and Use

Since 1933, the tennis shirt has become so popular that it has become one of the standard categories of clothing. Virtually every major clothier makes some version or variation of Lacoste's shirt. It is today worn by both men and women in numerous non-athletic contexts. Notably, tennis shirts are worn by many semi-professional and retail workers in settings where T-shirts are not acceptable, but formal business attire is not required. In contemporary Western fashion, tennis shirts are considered more casual than woven button-front shirts while still being slightly dressy.

It is also a favored shirt for those working outside, such as groundskeepers and maintenance workers due to its ruggedness and style. During the 1990s, the tennis shirt became the standard informal business attire for the high tech industry and then spread to other industries (see business casual). A form of tennis shirt (often prominently branded with the company name and logo) is a common element of a uniform for retail companies.

In many schools that require students to wear uniforms, especially junior schools, tennis shirts are part of a compulsory uniform for both boys and girls.

The tennis shirt continues to have vast use in athletics, including non-athletes associated with sports in their employment, such as caddies and sports announcers.