Men7 minute read
Henley vs polo: the difference and when to wear each
How a henley differs from a polo, which to wear for work and for weekends, what our cotton henleys and polos are made of, how each should fit and how to care for them.
Henley vs polo comes down to the collar: a polo’s collar folds down, while a henley has a round neckline or a narrow band. Both have a short buttoned placket, but the collar makes the polo the smarter of the two, for the office or under a blazer. The henley is the more relaxed choice for weekends and for layering. Below are the two side by side, what the Masidas henleys and polos are made of, how each should fit and how to wash them.
Henley vs polo, side by side
| Detail | Henley | Polo |
|---|---|---|
| Neckline | Round, or a narrow band collar; nothing folds down | A fold down collar |
| Placket | Short and buttoned, usually with 2 to 5 buttons | Short and buttoned |
| Fabric | Usually a knit, such as jersey; it can also be a woven shirt | Usually a knit, traditionally cotton piqué |
| Sleeves | Short or long | Usually short, with long sleeve versions too |
| Formality | Casual to smart casual | Smart casual |
| Under a blazer | The relaxed end of business casual | The smarter choice |
Henley vs polo: the collar makes the difference
Both have a buttoned placket, so the buttons are not what sets them apart; the collar is. A collar frames the face and sits neatly inside the lapels of a blazer, which is why a polo reads as a shirt. A henley’s open neck reads more like a tee with buttons, so it looks at home under an overshirt, a cardigan or a casual jacket.
Our long sleeve cotton polo has a clean collar and a buttoned placket, and its page suggests it with chinos or under a jacket. The short sleeve cotton henley has a buttoned placket and no collar. Some henleys have a band collar instead: a narrow band that stands up around the neck without a fold. The band collar long sleeve henley has one, and so does the cotton henley shirt in White and Off white. Its other colors have a round neck.
Henley vs long sleeve polo
In long sleeves, the choice comes down to where you are going. A long sleeve polo, tucked into tailored trousers or worn under a blazer, is smart enough for most offices without a tie. A long sleeve henley in a solid color sits at the relaxed end of business casual, under a blazer, an overcoat or an overshirt. It also works on its own at the weekend.
Our long sleeve cotton henley is 100% cotton, and its page says it layers under a jacket or stands alone. The band collar long sleeve henley is a smooth jersey that its page suggests layering under a cardigan. For more ways to wear a polo, see our guide on how to style a knit polo.
Cotton henley shirts: what ours are made of
How much cotton a henley holds differs from piece to piece, so each of our pages states the fabric. Four of our henleys give their cotton share:
- Long sleeve cotton henley: 100% cotton, with a little stretch.
- Chevron knit henley: 97% cotton and 3% polyester, in a chevron knit with good stretch.
- Short sleeve cotton henley: 95% cotton and 5% elastane, with a little stretch and a clean, close fit.
- Cotton henley shirt: 90% cotton, in a crinkled weave rather than a knit, with long sleeves that roll and button to a tab.
The band collar long sleeve henley is the exception: its page gives no percentage, so we give none.
What our polos are made of
- Long sleeve cotton polo: 95% cotton and 5% elastane, with a little stretch.
- Ribbed knit long sleeve polo: 65% polyester and 35% cotton, with good stretch.
- Waffle knit polo: 100% polyester.
- Tipped knit polo: 66% viscose and 34% polyester.
Cotton breathes, but it creases and can shrink in a hot wash or a hot dryer. A little elastane adds stretch and helps a piece recover its shape, as our fabric guide explains. The cotton henleys and the cotton polo sit together in men’s cotton, alongside our cotton shirts.
How a henley and a polo should fit
- Shoulders: the seam sits at the edge of your shoulder.
- Chest: it skims the body without pulling at the buttons. The placket should lie flat; if it ripples or gapes, the shirt is too tight.
- Length: the hem falls at the belt or just below it, so it looks right untucked.
- Sleeves: short sleeves end around the middle of the upper arm; long sleeves reach the wrist bone.
For a knit with a little stretch, our measuring guide suggests a garment 1 to 3 in larger than your chest. Size names differ between makers, so read the fit line on each page. The band collar long sleeve henley is cut in Asian sizing. Size M measures 37.8 in around the chest, which suits a US S, and its page says most US shoppers go one size up. The tipped knit polo is in Asian sizing that runs small, and its page says most US shoppers need two sizes up.
Should you tuck in a henley or a polo?
On a henley, leave the top one or two buttons open, or fasten them all for a neater line under a jacket. On a polo, leave the top button open. Tuck a polo into tailored trousers for work. Wear a henley untucked with chinos or jeans, as long as the hem sits no lower than the middle of the zip.
How to wash a henley and a polo
Follow the care line on each page. The cotton henley shirt and the tipped knit polo are machine wash cold, hang to dry. Every other henley and polo named here is machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Cotton knits can shrink in hot water or a hot dryer, so wash them cold, turn them inside out and store them folded.
Questions about henleys and polos
What is a henley shirt?
A henley is a shirt with a round neckline or a narrow band and a short buttoned placket, usually with 2 to 5 buttons. It is usually a knit, but it can also be a woven shirt.
Is a henley more casual than a polo?
Yes. The polo’s collar makes it the smarter of the two, so it suits the office and sits well under a blazer. A henley, with its open neck and buttoned placket, falls between a tee and a polo.
Can you wear a henley to work?
In a business casual office, yes. A long sleeve henley in a solid color under a blazer or an overcoat suits the days when most people dress down. In a more formal office, choose a polo or a collared shirt.
Should I wear a henley or a long sleeve polo under a blazer?
The long sleeve polo is the safer choice, because its collar sits inside the lapels the way a shirt collar does. A plain henley in a solid color looks more relaxed under a blazer without padding. Our unstructured cotton blend blazer has no shoulder pads or heavy canvas, so it wears like a shirt jacket over either.
Does a henley have to be 100% cotton?
No. A henley in 100% cotton breathes. A little elastane, as in our 95% cotton short sleeve henley, adds stretch and helps it recover its shape. Four of our henleys state their cotton share on the page, from 90% to 100%.
Are henleys and polos sized the same?
Not always, so read each table. The short sleeve cotton henley, the chevron knit henley and the long sleeve cotton polo share the same body measurements in each size. In size M, each measures 42.5 in around the chest. The band collar long sleeve henley and the tipped knit polo are cut in Asian sizing and run smaller.
Masidas sells knitwear, coats and dresses for women and men. See every piece in men’s henleys and polos, and more for the office in the men’s work edit.
