Yes, you can wear a polo to a smart casual office in Singapore, and for most days it is the smartest choice you can make. The catch is the polo itself. A thin jersey polo sags at the collar, clings by lunchtime and looks like weekend wear by the 3pm meeting. A knitted polo is a different garment entirely: a fine-gauge ribbed knit with a structured drape that holds its shape all day, an open collar that sits clean without a button, and trims that keep the silhouette sharp from the MRT platform to the last meeting. That is the polo Singapore offices respect, and it is exactly what the Portofino Polo was built to be.
Is a polo shirt considered smart casual in Singapore?
Singapore's office culture settled on smart casual years ago: polished chinos, short-sleeve button-downs, polos, loafers or clean sneakers. Style guides for Singapore workplaces consistently put a well-fitted polo in muted, neutral tones on the approved list, worn with chinos or tailored trousers rather than shorts or trainers.
The unwritten rule is structure. A polo that holds a clean line reads as considered. A polo that collapses reads as casual Friday gone wrong. That distinction has almost nothing to do with the logo on the chest and everything to do with how the fabric is made.
What makes a knitted polo different from a regular polo?
Most mass-market polos are cut and sewn from jersey, the same fabric as a T-shirt. It is cheap to produce, which is why it dominates, but it has no memory. The collar curls, the hem flips, and after a few washes the whole shirt loses its line.
A knitted polo is constructed like fine knitwear instead. The Portofino is a fine-gauge ribbed knit with a smooth hand feel and a structured drape, finished with ribbed trims at the hem and cuffs that stop the edges rolling. The differences show up exactly where a long Singapore day tests them:
| Knitted polo (Portofino) | Jersey polo (mass market) | |
|---|---|---|
| Collar | Open knit collar, sits clean without a button | Floppy, curls at the points |
| Shape through the day | Structured drape holds its line all day | Stretches out and sags by afternoon |
| Hem and cuffs | Ribbed trims prevent roll | Edges flip and twist after washing |
| Office read | Sits closer to knitwear than sportswear | Reads as weekend wear |
How does the Portofino handle a full Singapore day?
A Singapore working day is a cycle of extremes: 30 degree heat on the walk to the MRT, a carriage of cold air, an office chilled to sweater temperatures, then back into the humidity for lunch. Most clothing picks a side. The Portofino is built to ignore the cycle.
The fine-gauge rib gives it enough body to sit cleanly in an air-conditioned meeting room without needing a layer over it, and the classic comfortable fit is cut to sit clean without clinging, so it never feels heavy when you step back outside. Room to move, sharp to look at. The open collar sits flat on its own, no button to fuss with and no points to curl, which is why it still looks composed at a 7pm dinner after a 12 hour day.
- Classic comfortable fit: true to size, room to move, no cling.
- Fine-gauge ribbed knit: smooth hand feel, structured drape that holds all day.
- Contrast tipping: refined white tipping at the collar and cuffs, a quiet signature.
- Ribbed hem and cuffs: the silhouette stays put, wash after wash.
Fine-gauge ribbed knit with contrast tipping. Structured enough for the boardroom, relaxed enough for the terrace after.
What do you wear a knitted polo with in Singapore?
Keep the formula simple: knitted polo, polished chinos, loafers or clean leather sneakers. Neutral tones read best in Singapore offices, and the Portofino's black and red colourways sit naturally against latte, midnight or stone chinos.
The natural partner is the Signore Chino, a classic cut with a hint of slim, built from stretch fabric with the button set about 8cm to the side of centre for a clean front. For a sharper, tapered line, the Luxe Chino in stone is the slim, tailored option in stretch twill. Both give you the built-in stretch that makes a 30 degree walk to the MRT bearable.
Classic with a hint of slim, button set 8cm to the side of centre for a clean front. Add any chino and take $40 off the polo, so Signore and Portofino together come to $280 AUD.
How many polos do you actually need?
If a polo is your office default, one is never enough. A two-polo rotation means one is always fresh while the other is in the wash, and the knit construction means both keep their shape through that cycle. Guillo prices the rotation as one: two Portofinos come to $290 AUD, a saving of $34 on the pair.
Building the full uniform in one order works harder again. Any chino unlocks $40 off a top: Luxe Chino and Portofino together are $260 AUD, Signore and Portofino are $280 AUD. And at three or more pieces, everything drops by 20 percent, which always works out as the biggest saving. Prices are in AUD, and Guillo ships worldwide, Singapore included.
Frequently asked questions
Is a polo shirt considered smart casual in Singapore?
Yes. A well-fitted polo in a neutral or muted tone, worn with chinos or tailored trousers and loafers or clean sneakers, is standard smart casual in Singapore offices. A knitted polo with a structured collar reads noticeably sharper than a jersey one.
What is the difference between a knitted polo and a normal polo?
A normal polo is cut and sewn from T-shirt jersey. A knitted polo is constructed like fine knitwear, with a ribbed knit body and structured trims, so the collar sits flat, the drape holds its line and the hem does not roll.
What colour polo is best for the office?
Neutral and muted tones read most polished: black, navy, stone and deep tones like the Portofino's red. Black is the most versatile, working against latte, stone or midnight chinos without a second thought.
Does Guillo ship to Singapore?
Yes. Guillo ships worldwide from Australia, and all prices are in Australian dollars. The Portofino Polo is currently available in black and red, with blue returning when restocked.
The polo your office week has been missing
Fine-gauge knit, contrast tipping, a collar that behaves. Two Portofinos for $290 AUD, or pair one with any chino and take $40 off.
Shop the Portofino Polo →Ships worldwide. Prices in AUD.
Guillo.
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