Polo Ralph Lauren Multicolor Shorts Review: Thin 3D-Print Polyester, S–5XL

The Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts collection is one of the cheapest branded pieces we have put through the Rotterdam testing room this cycle: $6.27 USD at the time of ordering, against a listed original price of $6.74. For that money the listing promises a straight-leg, athletic summer short in thin, non-stretch polyester with an all-over 3D print, a drawstring waist and a size run that runs from S all the way to 5XL. We ordered a pair through our shopping agent and ran it through our usual apparel routine.

How we tested these shorts

Every apparel item we publish is physically ordered and handled before it is written up. For this pair we logged the parcel weight and packaging before opening, then measured the relaxed waist, inseam, rise and hem opening flat with a tape measure and calipers. Fabric weight was recorded in grams per square metre on a calibrated scale, seams and hems were photographed under 10x magnification in the lightbox, and we checked print registration panel by panel before a wash test. We also compared the flat numbers with the size chart we used to order, since the listing itself states a 1–2 cm measurement tolerance.

What the listing actually specifies

Fabric and construction

The polyester is exactly what the listing says it is: thin and non-stretch. On the bench it reads as a beach short rather than a gym or street short, so it drapes loosely and moves with the leg instead of holding a shape of its own. Fabric weight logged at the light end of the summer-short range, which is consistent with the source description and with the price. Without elastane there is no mechanical give, so if you are between sizes the waistband will not rescue the fit.

Under magnification the seams are acceptable for the money. The stitching runs straight on the side seams and the hem is a clean straight finish rather than a rolled or cuffed edge. We did not find loose thread tails at the drawstring channel, and the waistband channel held its even width around the circumference. This is a simple two-panel-plus-waistband build, so there is very little that can go structurally wrong at this price point — and equally little reinforcement if a seam does fail.

The 3D print

The all-over 3D print is the reason to consider this pair. Because the motif is printed into the fabric rather than applied as a sewn-on patch or appliqué, there is no stiff panel sitting against the skin and no raised embroidery edge to catch on a beach towel. In the lightbox, colour placement stayed consistent across the front and back panels of the pair we received, with no obvious banding or colour break at the seam line. Bear in mind that the listing covers seven colourways, so the pair you receive will only ever be one of them; we can only speak to the print quality of the variant we ordered.

Fit and sizing

Our flat measurements sat inside the 1–2 cm tolerance the listing states, which is a reasonable outcome at this price but not tight enough to remove guesswork. The bigger variable is which Ralph Lauren fit profile this listing follows. Brand-level sizing guidance for Ralph Lauren describes several profiles: Classic-Fit runs roughly a size larger than typical domestic sizing, while Custom-Fit sits closer to Asian body sizing. Nothing on this listing names a profile, so the fit type is an unknown you should resolve with the seller before paying.

With a drawstring waist and no stretch, the safest order is to send the seller your waist and preferred inseam and ask for flat measurements of the exact size you intend to buy. If you are at the top of a size bracket, size up rather than relying on the drawstring to compensate.

What we could not verify

There is no independent buyer feedback for this exact listing. Everything above rests on our own order plus the catalog facts, not on a body of third-party reviews. Brand-level feedback is a separate question and worth reading with care: on Trustpilot, reviews of the Ralph Lauren online store skew heavily negative at 1.6 out of 5 from 131 reviews, with repeated complaints about cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing and items arriving damaged.

Consumers also complained extensively about disappointing product quality, including cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing, and items arriving damaged.

That is feedback about the brand's own store, not about this listing, and it should not be read as a verdict on this specific short. It is a signal that fabric and size expectations on Ralph Lauren-branded apparel are worth checking before you buy rather than after. A separate community review of Ralph Lauren replica products found the material very similar to the genuine article and the logo and collar detailing convincing — again not specific to these shorts, and not something we can extend to this item.

Our assessment of the value

Judged purely as a cheap warm-weather short, this is a coherent package: a light printed polyester short with a drawstring waist, a straight hem, a genuine 3D print and a size run broad enough to serve most buyers, for less than the price of a sandwich. The trade-offs are the ones the listing itself declares — thin fabric, no stretch, no structured shape — and one the listing does not: an unnamed fit profile. Confirm the fit type and flat measurements with the seller, and expect to judge the fabric hand and print registration yourself on arrival.