Original Penguin isn’t like every other apparel brand out there. It can be hard to put what we mean by that into words, but your eyes can sense it at first glance. The company’s offerings are just delightfully different and have been for 70 years. An Original Penguin polo can simultaneously feel retro, modern, playful, and dressy all at the same time. It can provide an avenue to express yourself overtly while still allowing you to fit in. We’re not sure how they do, but we like it.
What we know today as Original Penguin started by accident in 1955 and the company’s polos have been a part of golf culture spanning a timeframe from the game’s Golden Age up to today. Dean Martin. Arnold Palmer. Chi-Chi. Pete the Penguin.
Icons.
Sitting back on that kind of heritage would be the easy choice for any brand, but Original Penguin seems to keep moving forward. With the power of Perry Ellis, Inc. behind them, the company has become a golf apparel juggernaut in style and fabric design. With that said, let’s look at their Spring/Summer 2025 Collection and see what Pete has in store for us.
Original Penguin Apparel – Polos
With Original Penguin, it all starts and ends with the polo. They’ve made what are possibly the most instantly recognizable polos in golf from day one. We sampled four polos from the Spring/Summer Collection, each bringing a different feel to match whatever mood might strike you.
Original Penguin provides a very consistent fit from polo to polo, which is impressive when you consider just how many shirts are in their catalogue. A defined collar, square shoulders, and form fitting chest will provide an athletic look, while the midsection provides enough room to mask a belly. If you are really looking for a form fitting option, sizing down is an option, but for most people we consider them true to size.
All-Over Lifesaver Print Golf Polo
The All-Over Lifesaver Polo ($90) is a perfect example of how an Original Penguin polo can fit in anywhere. It’s daring, but in an incognito sort of way. We wore it in the in the Bright White color option, though the pool-inspired print really brings the mint green accents into focus. Whatever you want to call it, it’s fresh and can match with a variety of bottoms from gray to khaki to black. The Lifesaver was perfect for a warm and sunny late Spring day walking the golf course. The 56% Polyester/30% Recycled Polyester/14% Elastane blend wore lightly on the body and provided fantastic heat dissipation.
All-Over Micro Abstract Printed Golf Polo
The All-Over Micro Abstract Polo ($90) is an option for the bold print lovers. Available in French Blue and Sprucestone (pictured), this is a shirt that will be noticed when you step out of your car and into your shoes. In some ways the pattern is floral and in some ways it reminds us of digital camo (on the Sprucestone color, at least). As we’ve come to expect, a slightly oversized Pete the Penguin graces the chest. In terms of feel and performance, the Micro Abstract is much like the Lifesaver, providing ample room to swing while keeping you cool.
The Heritage Stripe Golf Polo
The Heritage Stripe Polo ($80) is classic Original Penguin and we want it in every color. It delivers a hint of retro vibes, modern accents, and comes in a variety of fun and quirky colors. We loved the Heritage in Charm Pink for those times when we wanted to feel just a bit dressier while maintaining a sense of eccentricity.
White piping runs down the three-button placket, adding a sense of class, and an embroidered Pete lets us know exactly what we’re wearing at all times. While the fabric blend on the Heritage Stripe is officially the same as what we see in the rest of the Spring/Summer 2025 line, something about the Heritage just feels a bit different. It’s almost as if the fabric is just a bit thicker, though it didn’t seem to impact the polo’s ability to keep us cool. It’s possible the piping around the placket influenced our perception of the fabric, as it does an element of plushness in an area that is front and center.
All-Over Print Underwater Mosaic Golf Polo
Lastly, the All-Over Underwater Mosaic Polo ($90) brings the summertime vibes, especially in the French Blue color option. The pattern literally swims before your eyes. While it will certainly not be a pattern everybody can pull off, we felt our mood improve every time we put it on. Play a few rounds, get a tan on those arms and find a great pair of white shorts. You’ll feel it too.
Like all Original Penguin polos, the Underwater Mosaic washes and dries easily and is great at resisting wrinkles.
Original Penguin Apparel – Bottoms
A quick survey of past THP reviews of Original Penguin apparel will show we have a long-term love affair with the company’s bottoms. Both their pants and shorts collections are consistent winners when it comes to looks, affordability, and fit. The Spring/Summer 2025 line includes a new pair of pants that quickly got our attention.
Players Pants
We have five pairs of Original Penguin Technical 5-Pocket Trousers in the closet already, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the new Players Pants in the Quarry color option. New styles are always welcome, especially if they still manage to please the senses like our reliable favorites.
The Players Pants are constructed of new blend of 78% Nylon / 22% Elastane that features Tricot Fabrication. To learn all the various types of weaves in the garment industry would take more time than we have here, but Tricot Fabrication is a way of producing a close-knit structure that is very stretchable, sleek looking, and silky to the touch.
That description really nails the overall feel of the Players Pants perfectly. They are thin, have a great in-hand feel, and seem to move incredibly well with the body. The fit is a bit more relaxed in the legs than the more form-fitting Technical 5-Pocket Trousers but still provide an athletic and flattering look that we loved. This is definitely a pair of pants you could walk 27 holes in comfortably. Even better, the Quarry color option is slightly lighter than some of the grays we expect from Original Penguin, making these pants easier to match with a variety of tops.
Flat Front Solid Golf Short
The Flat Front Solid Golf Short is a classic option that belongs in every golf wardrobe. With a 9” inseam and moisture-wicking, 100% Polyester construction, this is a safe pair of shorts that can be worn comfortably on the warmest days. The Flat Front Short is also available in an 8” inseam, which we personally prefer, but those that like a bit more leg coverage will find the 9” inseam just about perfect.
The Flat Front Short is available in six color options that should provide plenty of matching options. We found the Chinchilla color to be a less “boring” version of khaki, and the slightly darker shade seemed to work well with a variety of tops.
Original Penguin Apparel – Outerwear
Lastly, we sampled a couple outerwear options from Original Penguin’s Spring/Summer 2025 Collection. The Midwest has seen typically schizophrenic weather patterns this year, with days in the 80’s followed by days in the 50’s and having solid layering options has been vital to making the best of our time on the course. Original Penguin has a wide variety of outerwear that ranges from quilted jackets to lightweight pullovers, making it easy to find a suitable option for the day’s conditions.
Performance Earl Golf Hoodie
We love the evolution of golf outerwear in recent years, and much of that is related to the acceptance of the hoodie. The Performance Earl Golf Hoodie (pictured in Bright White) is a versatile option constructed of 83% Nylon/17% Elastane in a lightweight knit that can work as a base layer or as outerwear. It’s a great option for temps in the high 50’s and above, depending on your sensitivity to chilly temperatures. The moisture wicking properties ensure that as the temps rise you won’t drown in perspiration.
The Performance Earl fits true to size and is just form-fitting enough to highlight our best attributes while masking our worst. In many ways, Original Penguin has designed it to be a base layer, and it did fit quite well underneath a polo.
Quarter Zip
The Quarter Zip is an essential, and Original Penguin offers a variety of options that range from lightweight to thermal. The version we sampled in French Blue had a very similar feel to the Performance Earl Hoodie, meaning it was lightweight and had ample stretch.
The French Blue color option is a deep blue that will stand out anywhere, and the white piping and zipper-hood around collar add a unique touch that is distinctly Original Penguin. Like the Performance Earl hoodie, this is a great option for cool mornings that you won’t feel desperate to pull off at the first hint of the sun coming out.
The Details
More information on the entire Original Penguin 2025 line can be found on the company’s website, originalpenguin.com. One last thing we love about this brand is that they always seem to have some sort of sale running, so it pays to keep an eye on the website. Aside from golf apparel, the company has a full line of casual wear and apparel for racquet sports that is worth taking a look at as well. Have you tried Original Penguin? Join thousands of other golfers on the THP Forums and join in the conversation!
