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We picked this as the representative Polo Ralph Lauren short. Their lineup has other options in the same tier.
- ✓You buy direct from Polo Ralph Lauren — we just help you decide
- ✓Price honesty checked, not just listed
Stretch Classic Fit Prepster Short
About Polo Ralph Lauren’s shorts: Polo's shorts run from the elastic-waist Prepster (around $79-$89) up through the flat-front Stretch Classic Fit chino short and twill cargos topping out near $125; the pony-logo prepster is the preppy benchmark.
Is the price honest?
At $89 you're paying partly for cloth and partly for the pony — the stretch twill and finishing are genuinely good, but a near-identical drawstring chino short from a house brand runs $40-$55, so a chunk of this is the logo and the prep equity. Fair if the badge and the colorway range matter to you; on construction alone it's a $55-$60 short. Wait for Polo's frequent sales (it drops under $50 regularly) and it becomes an easy buy.
Our take
This is the short that defines "prep" — a stretch cotton-twill Prepster with the embroidered pony, a 6-inch inseam, and a pull-on elastic waistband with an interior drawstring (it still has a real zip fly and angled front pockets). Owners like the soft hand of the washed twill, the easy drawstring comfort that doesn't bite when you sit, and the deep bench of colorways Polo cycles every season. The honest knocks are consistent across reviews: sizing runs small and a little inconsistent batch-to-batch, so a lot of guys size up; the dyed twill can fade unevenly after repeated hot washes, and the pony embroidery is the first thing to fray or pucker if you tumble dry it hard. It's a well-made, pre-broken-in short — but you're paying a clear logo premium over an essentially identical drawstring chino short from a mall label.
Own Polo Ralph Lauren shorts?
No owner reviews here yet — and we don't fake them. If you've actually worn these, tell us how they held up: fit after washing, wear over time, where they fell short. Named, honest, with a photo if you've got one.
Write the first honest reviewThe details
- Material
- Mid-weight washed cotton twill with a touch of elastane for give; soft and pre-broken-in rather than crisp.
- Fit
- Classic fit with a pull-on elastic-drawstring waist and a 6-inch inseam — relaxed through the seat and thigh. Sizing runs small and is a bit inconsistent, so most guys size up.
- Quality
- Solidly made — sturdy washed twill, a clean zip fly and an adjustable drawstring waist — but the dye fades unevenly with hot washing and the pony embroidery frays first if you dry it hot.
- Best for
- Classic preppy and smart-casual wear for guys who want the recognizable Polo look and an easy, drawstring-comfortable cut over a slim structured one.
- Care
- Machine wash cold and hang or tumble low to protect the dye and the embroidered pony; hot wash and high heat are what dull the color and pucker the logo.
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