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Browse all John Elliott t-shirts →OS Rugby Polo / Washed Rio Red
The verdict
Fit
Rugby polos offer roomy shoulders and a relaxed body. Rio red is vivid and will shift after several washes—expect the boldness to mellow. Size true.
Quality
Rugby construction is typically robust, but red dyes are fugitive. Expect good seam work but visible fading within 6–12 months of regular wear.
Is the price fair?
At $168, this is premium casual. The rugby construction is solid, but the red dye is the bottleneck for long-term appearance.
Best for
Statement-casual wearers who embrace patina; good for weekend wear, outdoor activities, or anyone comfortable with evolving color.
Care
Wash inside-out and separately from whites. Cool water and lay flat to dry to slow fading of the rio red.
What owners report about John Elliott t-shirts
Forum owners on Styleforum and NikeTalk discuss the tee range mostly as a fit question: most cuts are reported true to size, owners commonly size down one on the oversized models for a regular fit, and the Co-Mix and all-cotton versions are said to run slightly smaller than the other fabrications. Owners report little shrinkage because the fabrics come pre-shrunk, provided the tees are washed cold and hung to dry. Criticism of the brand centers on price and after-sales service: one detailed owner account of a John Elliott garment wearing through in the armpits after two wears concluded the brand "has incredibly poor quality goods" and reported the company ignoring repeated complaints across email and social channels.
- Strengths
- Owners report consistent, well-documented fits across the tee lineup with minimal shrinkage when care instructions are followed.
- Watch out for
- Premium pricing draws mixed value sentiment, and at least one detailed owner account describes a garment failing after two wears with no response from customer service.
- Sizing
- Most of the tees run true to size; size down one on the oversized models for a regular fit, and expect the Co-Mix and 100% cotton versions to run slightly smaller than the other fabrics.
About John Elliott's t-shirts line as a whole. Sources: The John Elliott Community Guide to Collections and Stockists — Styleforum · John Elliott — official affiliate thread — Styleforum · John Elliott + Co Thread — NikeTalk · John Elliott — expensive clothes poor quality and awful customer service — Well Dressed Dad
