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

We ordered the Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts collection (SKU 7720521196) through Kakobuy, unpacked the pair on camera and ran it through the desk's usual checks: seams, waistband channel, drawstring ends and print registration photographed in daylight. The listing is one shorts shape offered across a long run of colourways, so the questions worth answering are about fabric hand, fit and how much the 3D print shifts between variants. On our five-point scale this lands at 4.1 / 5 — easy and cheap to wear, with no margin for a sizing miss.

What we checked on the received pair

Priya Nair fitted the sample on a size-set mannequin and on two human testers, then photographed the crotch seam, hems, waistband channel and drawstring ends. QC photos were laid beside the received garment: waistband height, inseam and leg opening matched within the 0.5 cm threshold we use to flag discrepancies. Nothing on the received pair contradicted the flat measurements the seller provided.

Construction is simple and consistent with the price. Single-needle stitching runs the hem and side seams, the waist is a flat woven cord through a plain channel rather than an elasticated band, and there is no lining, pocket bag or interior finishing beyond the basics. Nothing arrived damaged.

Fabric: thin, non-stretch polyester exactly as listed

The shell is thin, non-stretch polyester, and the hand confirms the listing rather than contradicting it. There is no elastane, so the fabric does not recover or give — the straight-leg cut is what creates the ease. That makes this a warm-weather short rather than a structured one: it is light, packs down small, and reads as beachwear rather than something you would wear with a collared shirt to dinner.

• Light enough for beach and summer use, with a genuine straight hem.
• No stretch in a thin fabric means a tight size has nothing to fall back on.
• Wash cold and inside out; heat is the enemy of both the print and the cord.

The 3D print: colourways are not equally clean

Because the motif is printed allover rather than sewn on as a patch or appliqué, there are no embroidered edges to fray or lift — a real advantage at this price. The trade-off is registration. On the busier colourways the print edges can sit slightly off against the seam line, and across the image set the calmer options (navy, black, white, blue) look the most consistent, while orange, red and yellow reward a closer look before you commit.

This is normal behaviour for a screen-printed polyester short, and it is the sort of thing you should judge from the variant image set rather than from the main photo alone. Confirm the colour you actually want against its own images, because the same pattern placed on a different base colour does not always read the same way.

Fit, sizing and the 1–2 cm tolerance

The listing states a 1–2 cm measurement tolerance, which is wide enough that two adjacent sizes can overlap. Combine that with a non-stretch fabric and sizing becomes the single most important decision on this page.

How we applied brand sizing guidance

Ralph Lauren publishes more than one fit profile. Buyer-shared guidance notes that Classic-Fit runs roughly one size larger than typical domestic sizing, while Custom-Fit sits closer to Asian body sizing. The listing does not state which profile it follows, so we treated the fit as unconfirmed and leaned on flat measurements instead of the size letter alone.

Ask the seller which fit profile this listing follows and for flat waist and inseam numbers in your size before ordering. With a 1–2 cm tolerance and no stretch, guessing is the expensive part of a cheap short.

What remains unverified

There is no independent buyer feedback for this exact listing, which is why our notes rest on the garment in front of us and the seller's stated specs. Brand-level feedback is a separate matter and should be read as context about the label, not about this pair: on Trustpilot the Ralph Lauren store page carries 1.6 out of 5 from 131 reviews, with frequent complaints about cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing and items arriving damaged. Retail sizing commentary also repeatedly flags fit inconsistency.

There is a counterweight worth stating. A Reddit r/FashionReps review of Ralph Lauren replica polos — not this short — found the material very similar to the genuine article and the logo and collar detailing convincing. That supports the idea that RL replicas can land close to retail in look and feel, but it is brand-level evidence and does not certify this specific garment.

Two things we cannot settle inside one testing cycle: colourfastness of the brighter colourways after repeated sun and chlorine exposure, and how the print holds through many washes. Wash cold, inside out, and air dry.

Price and value at $6.27

At $6.27, down from a listed $6.74, this is a budget beach short and should be judged that way. What you get for the money is a wide S–5XL run, a printed allover pattern with no appliqué to detach, and measurements that matched what the seller stated. What you do not get is stretch, weight or structure. If you want a heavier short with give, this is the wrong page; if you want a light holiday short and you have confirmed your flat measurements, the price is not the risk here — the size letter is.