John Smedley Isis Polo review: worth it or skip?

What the John Smedley Isis Polo does well

The headline: sea Island cotton polo. The details: Fabric: Sea Island cotton; Fit: Slim; Detail: Knitted collar; Made in: England. In our list it is the pick for: knit polo. It usually sells for $200–$260 in the US.

Classic.

The trade-offs

Good: superb, value. Not so good: plain. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want pique.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Orlebar Brown Sebastian Polo ($200–$300): terry polo. Better if you want resort.

Instead, consider the Sunspel Riviera Polo ($150–$190): Riviera polo in Q100 cotton. Better if you want luxury quality for less.

Instead, consider the Sunspel Classic T-Shirt ($85–$110): supima cotton T-shirt. Better if you want the best basic tee.

Before you buy

Fabric: long-staple cotton pique and fine knitted cotton or silk keep shape and color after many washes. Collar: a collar that holds its shape (or a knitted collar) is what separates a good polo from a cheap one. Fit: luxury polos run slim; size up if you are between sizes.

Buyer tip

Polos and tees go on sale each summer; buy navy, white and gray, which never date.

Buying in Europe: Italian tailoring uses chest sizes such as IT 48 or 50 (about a US 38 or 40), while knitwear and outerwear use S–XL or IT sizes depending on the house. A European tailor can adjust sleeves and hems on any jacket.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.