Ibex 17.5 Polo (for men and women) : Nothing Preppy About This Cool Top

I'm dating myself here, but back in the early eighties the polo shirt was de rigueur in my high school (and in every other high school in the country). It started with the alligator, then moved on to the polo player. Store brand imitations just didn't cut it.

So, to save a few bucks, some of us girls shopped in the boy's department, and everyone was happy. Then I went off to my liberal arts college, discovered Polo wasn't hip, gave all my polo-style tops to Goodwill, and started wearing used clothing from a store called Ragstock that sold old men's shirts for $1.

All this is to say that polo shirts have been dead to me for years, actually, decades. Then I found Ibex's 17.5 Polo. I've never met a merino wool top I didn't like, so I gave it a try. And I liked it! It's a feminine cut with some flare and cute notches at the bottoms of each side seam. I also love the open neck -- no buttons, just a soft flat collar that I couldn't make stand up if I tried (not that I would). Naturally, it's made out of Ibex's signature merino wool, a very thin material.

It's soft, it's cute, and it comes in fun bright colors (blue, green) and in brown for people like me who only wear dark colors. The most fun thing about this shirt is that the hotter it gets, the better my shirt breathes. So, whether I'm out on a walk or sitting in the sun outside my coffee shop, it keeps my temperature regulated. (Unlike the old cotton polo shirts which, when soaked with sweat, just felt heavy and icky.)

Also available in a men's style ($95).

Bottom Line: If it's been awhile since you've worn a polo top, maybe it's time to try again. You can't go wrong with Ibex or with merino wool.--E.D. (June 08)

Price: $90

Buy Online:

Manufacturer's Site: www.ibexwear.com