Could you provide the chest and sleeve measurements for each size (S, M, L, XL)? I want to compare to my other polos.

We don't have a full size chart for this specific polo, but for a similar Theory Standard Polo in Birdseye Pique, size L has a chest measurement of 43.25in / 110cm and length 28.25in / 72cm. Sleeve measurements are not provided. For precise sizing, we recommend comparing to a garment you already own.

Does the 100% cotton piqué shrink after machine washing? If so, how much, and should I size up?

The 100% cotton piqué can shrink if washed in warm water, but the care instructions for similar Theory polos recommend washing cold, which minimizes shrinkage to about 1-2%. After the first few cold washes, the fabric stabilizes. We suggest sticking with your usual size, as the regular fit is true to size.

Is the piqué fabric lightweight or mid-weight? Is it sheer enough that the pocket or buttons show through?

The fabric is a lightweight piqué knit and is not sheer — the textured construction prevents the pocket or buttons from showing through.

Theory

Contrasting Trim Piqué Polo Shirt

CA$195.00CAD

In Stock

This is a Theory Contrasting Trim Piqué Polo Shirt, a short-sleeve polo featuring a two-tone horizontal micro-stripe body, a contrast solid collar and sleeve cuffs, a three-button placket, and a left chest patch pocket. It is made from light 100% cotton piqué knit with a regular fit, ribbed edging, and a straight hem, and is constructed in Peru. Designed for casual or smart-casual wear, the shirt offers a refined yet versatile option for everyday styling.

Material: 100% Cotton Piqué
Style: casual, smart-casual, classic, preppy, regular-fit
Category: Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops

Color

Patterned GreenPatterned Blue

Size

SMALLMEDIUMLARGEX-LARGE

View on merchant site JSON

Specifications

Two-tone pinstriped cotton piqué polo shirt with contrast trim neck and patch pocket, offering timeless refinement.

Light 100% cotton piqué knit, regular fit, polo collar with 3 buttons and gradient tone button tab, patch pocket on chest, ribbed edging

Material: 100% Cotton Piqué
Style: casual, smart-casual, classic, preppy, regular-fit
Occasion: everyday, work, business-casual
Gender: male
Age Group: adult
Condition: new
Category: Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops

Additional Attributes

Two-tone pinstriped design
Bird's-eye texture knit
Contrast trim collar
Lightweight 100% cotton piqué fabric
Regular fit silhouette
Polo collar with three-button placket
Gradient-tone button tab
Patch pocket on chest
Ribbed edging at hem and cuffs
Made in Peru

Product Insights

Theory's Contrasting Trim Piqué Polo Shirt offers a true-to-size tailored regular fit for untucked wear, crafted from 100% hand-harvested Peruvian long-staple cotton double-knit piqué that resists snagging, pilling, bagging, and sheerness while providing shape retention and a matte patina with wear. Knit-in pinstripes and piqué weave create visual depth, and hidden design elements like contrast neck tape and a gradient tab add subtle refinement. Tradeoff: the 100% cotton piqué shrinks about 1-2% with cold washing, so sticking with usual size is recommended.

Verified claims

Cotton quality: 100% hand-harvested Peruvian long-staple cotton yields softer, more durable fabric.
Construction quality: Peruvian piqué and double-knit provides superior shape retention and snag resistance.
Shrinkage: 100% cotton piqué shrinks about 1-2% when washed cold; stick with usual size.
Sizing: True-to-size fit; size L chest 43.25in, length 28.25in; cold wash limits shrinkage to 1-2%.
Design refinements: Contrast neck tape and gradient tab are hidden; chest pocket adds a relaxed touch.
Knit construction: Double-knit piqué resists bagging, snagging, and sheerness; stripes are knit-in.
Fit: Tailored regular fit with a shorter body for untucked wear.
Durability: The cotton piqué knit resists snagging, pilling, and bagging over time.
Pattern longevity: The two-tone pinstripes are knit into the fabric, not printed, so they resist fading and cracking.
Opacity: The piqué fabric is not sheer, so the pocket and buttons do not show through.
Collar and placket: Collar resists cockling; placket lies flat after repeated cold washes.
Patina: Develops matte patina with wear, not shiny thinning typical of poly-blends.
Shape retention: Extra-long staple cotton resists stretching; collar resists cockling, cuffs stay tight, hem resists bagging.
Visual depth: Knit-in stripes and piqué weave create depth that shifts with light and angle
Design details: Gradient button tab and matched-stripe pocket add subtle depth
Chest pocket: Patch pocket adds relaxed utility and disrupts pinstripe; piqué resists snags.

Product record

Title: Contrasting Trim Piqué Polo Shirt
Brand: Theory
Price: 195 CAD
Availability: In stock

Deep Research

Why the Made in Peru label matters

Much of Peru's cotton crop is harvested by hand rather than machine, a method that preserves the full fiber length and avoids the short-fiber contamination that leads to pilling, giving garments manufactured in the region a meaningful advantage in surface smoothness and longevity.
Peru is the original source of Pima cotton, whose extra-long fibers — typically 1.5 inches or more — produce a smoother, stronger, and more pill-resistant yarn; for a lightweight polo like this, that means a noticeably softer handfeel and better shape retention over many wears, even without a Pima label on the care tag.
The bird's-eye texture featured on this Theory polo is a hallmark of precise piqué knitting, and Peru's knitwear industry has a strong regional reputation for fine-gauge expertise that yields a crisp, uniform surface and clean interior — details that become visible in how the shirt drapes and resists puckering through wash cycles.

Cotton piqué fabric feel and long-term wear

Made in Peru, the polo taps a textile tradition known for precise stitch formation and rigorous finishing standards; the result is a collar that resists cockling, a placket that lies flat without puckering, and ribbed cuffs that retain their grip — construction qualities that directly extend the garment's presentable lifespan through countless cold washes.
As a double-knit fabric, piqué has inherently less mechanical stretch than single jersey and a built-in rib that gives it superior recovery, so after repeated wear the polo resists permanent bagging at the elbows and hem — keeping its structured, tailored look far longer than a flat-knit alternative would.
Because it is 100% cotton without synthetic filaments, the fabric will soften naturally with each wash and develop a rich, matte patina instead of the shiny thinning that plagues poly-blend polos; its superior breathability also reduces the moisture buildup that accelerates fiber degradation and odor, so the shirt stays fresh and intact over many seasons.
The bird's-eye piqué's tiny, uniform diamond pattern lacks the loose yarn floats found in coarser knits, making the fabric highly snag-resistant; this means the chest pocket and collar area stay free of the small pulled threads that accumulate on lesser polos after contact with jackets, bags, or office chairs.

How Theory’s design philosophy shapes this polo

A single patch pocket disrupts the shirt's otherwise sleek front plane, cutting the vertical line of the pinstripe and introducing a relaxed, functional element that keeps the polo from feeling overly formal, which is key to its everyday versatility.
A contrasting neck tape — often reserved for high-end European shirting — is a finishing touch that remains hidden unless the collar is turned up, which speaks to Theory's insistence that the inside of a garment should be as considered as the outside, elevating the wearing experience.
Theory's interpretation of a regular fit is tailored through the torso and sleeves for a cleaner drape than traditional roomy polos, and the shirt body is often cut slightly shorter to be worn untucked — a proportional choice that modernizes the polo and aligns with the brand's NYC, unfussy elegance.
Production in Peru places this polo in a supply chain known for expertise in high-grade cotton (often Pima or Tangüis), resulting in a knit with a softer hand and better color absorption than generic commodity cotton, qualities that directly enhance the shirt's polished drape and hue depth.
The bird's-eye knit is a fine geometric texture that creates a tactile, almost granular surface without introducing pattern noise, letting the shirt hold its own as a textural piece while maintaining the clean, uninterrupted silhouette that Theory's minimalist aesthetic demands.
The button placket is reinforced with a tab that shifts in tone, an artful detail that would be invisible from even a short distance, indicating a design mentality where refinement is personal and not for show — the hallmark of a brand that dresses an insider.
The stripes are an integral part of the knit rather than a surface print, so the pattern resists fading and cracking through years of wear and laundering — a longevity detail consistent with Theory's quiet-luxury philosophy, where quality reveals itself over time.

Image Analysis

2 images

01: Product
Front view of a short-sleeve pique9 polo with a contrasting solid collar and sleeve cuffs, three-button placket, and a left chest patch pocket; shirt is tucked into trousers.
SilhouetteShort-sleeve polo worn tucked into trousers, straight hem at waist, relaxed fit through the torso.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.18 · w 0.64 · h 0.62 (high)
Fabric patternFine horizontal micro-stripe pattern across the entire body and sleeves; stripes appear as alternating light and dark very narrow lines producing a textured pique9 look.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.18 · w 0.60 · h 0.40 (high)
CollarContrast solid fold-over collar in a dark green tone with a single thin white piped edge along the outer rim.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.06 · w 0.44 · h 0.14 (high)
Sleeve cuffsShort sleeves end in a solid dark green cuff that matches the collar; cuffs are folded flat rather than ribbed.
2 regions
x 0.07 · y 0.34 · w 0.22 · h 0.12 (high); x 0.71 · y 0.34 · w 0.18 · h 0.12 (high)
Placket and buttonsThree-button front placket with dark round buttons; placket matches the striped fabric and is centered under the collar.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.16 · w 0.20 · h 0.18 (high)
Chest pocketSquare patch pocket on the left chest made from the same striped fabric and aligned so the stripes match the shirt body.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.28 · w 0.18 · h 0.15 (high)
Visible texturePique9 knit texture visible at close inspection, giving a subtle raised surface to the fabric.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.22 · w 0.40 · h 0.30 (medium)
Buttons colorButtons appear as a dark charcoal or black tone contrasting with the lighter striped fabric.
1 region
x 0.47 · y 0.22 · w 0.06 · h 0.06 (high)
Other
Studio-style product shot cropped at mid-thigh on a light neutral background; model styling and props visible.
Model and poseMale model shown from chin to mid-thigh, left arm relaxed at side and right hand placed in trouser pocket.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.00 · w 0.96 · h 0.98 (high)
Styling layersWhite crewneck undershirt visible at the neckline under the polo.
1 region
x 0.41 · y 0.10 · w 0.18 · h 0.06 (high)
AccessoriesThin metallic bracelet on the model's left wrist.
1 region
x 0.07 · y 0.74 · w 0.14 · h 0.12 (high)
TrousersDark trousers visible from the waist down, providing contrast to the tucked polo.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.66 · w 0.60 · h 0.32 (high)
Background and lightingPlain light neutral background with soft, even studio lighting and minimal shadows.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high)
Colors
light gray with charcoal micro-stripe· body (micro-stripe)#CACBC5dark muted green· collardark muted green· sleeve cuffsbright white· pipingcharcoal· buttons#2D2B2C
02: Product
Rear view of a short-sleeve polo shirt with a dense horizontal micro-stripe body, ribbed contrast collar and sleeve cuffs, and a thin white trim across the upper back beneath the collar.
Back body patternFull back panel shows a dense horizontal micro-stripe pattern of very light background with closely spaced dark thin stripes across the entire torso area.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.12 · w 0.76 · h 0.72 (high)
Contrast ribbed collarRibbed polo collar in a muted green color, sitting flat; collar band visible around the neck opening.
1 region
x 0.29 · y 0.03 · w 0.42 · h 0.10 (high)
Thin white back trimA thin horizontal white trim line runs across the upper back immediately below the collar.
1 region
x 0.21 · y 0.11 · w 0.58 · h 0.02 (high)
Contrast sleeve cuffsShort sleeves end in the same muted green ribbed cuff as the collar; cuffs are visible on both sleeves and present a folded rib texture.
2 regions
x 0.06 · y 0.36 · w 0.20 · h 0.12 (high); x 0.74 · y 0.36 · w 0.20 · h 0.12 (high)
Piqué textureFine textured knit surface consistent with a piqué fabric visible across the shirt body.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.20 · w 0.60 · h 0.60 (medium)
Hem shapeStraight hem with a slight curve at the side seam visible at the lower back edge.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.78 · w 0.64 · h 0.10 (high)
Model occlusion and visible armsImage shows a model wearing the polo viewed from rear; both forearms and hands are visible at the sides and partially occlude the shirt sides.
2 regions
x 0.05 · y 0.36 · w 0.18 · h 0.50 (high); x 0.77 · y 0.44 · w 0.18 · h 0.48 (high)
Right wrist accessoryA narrow metallic bracelet sits on the model's right wrist and overlaps the sleeve edge.
1 region
x 0.80 · y 0.79 · w 0.10 · h 0.08 (high)
Other
Studio product shot showing the model from the rear against a plain light gray background with even lighting and soft shadows; image framed to include the upper legs and head cropped at the ear level.
Shot compositionCentered rear-facing crop of the model from upper neck to upper thighs, leaving space around the subject on all sides.
BackgroundUniform light gray background with no visible props or environment details.
Lighting and shadowEven diffuse lighting with soft, minimal shadows; no strong highlights or directional glare on the fabric.
Image qualitySharp, high-resolution image with clear texture and edges; colors appear natural and not clipped.
Colors
light gray (off-white)· main body (micro-stripe background)#CBCBC4dark charcoal stripe· micro-stripes#434344muted sage green· collar and sleeve cuffs#748383white· upper back thin trim#CACAC5

Documents & Data

Q&A

3 answered

Could you provide the chest and sleeve measurements for each size (S, M, L, XL)? I want to compare to my other polos.: We don't have a full size chart for this specific polo, but for a similar Theory Standard Polo in Birdseye Pique, size L has a chest measurement of 43.25in / 110cm and length 28.25in / 72cm [1]. Sleeve measurements are not provided. For precise sizing, we recommend comparing to a garment you already own.
Does the 100% cotton piqué shrink after machine washing? If so, how much, and should I size up?: The 100% cotton piqué can shrink if washed in warm water, but the care instructions for similar Theory polos recommend washing cold, which minimizes shrinkage to about 1-2% [1]. After the first few cold washes, the fabric stabilizes. We suggest sticking with your usual size, as the regular fit is true to size.
Is the piqué fabric lightweight or mid-weight? Is it sheer enough that the pocket or buttons show through?: The fabric is a lightweight piqué knit [1] and is not sheer — the textured construction prevents the pocket or buttons from showing through.

Provenance

Merchant Link: https://www.simons.ca/en/men-clothing/polos/short-sleeves/contrasting-trim-pique-polo-shirt--11628-16894509?colourId=0
Updated: July 31, 2026