Our hands-on pair of the Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts arrived light, thin and non-stretch, with crisp 3D print and a clean straight hem. Sizes S–5XL at $6.27, but confirm the fit profile before ordering.
A light, straight-hem beach short with a sharp allover print and a very wide size run at a low price. Thin, non-stretch polyester and an unnamed fit profile are the trade-offs; confirm fit type before ordering.
- What works
- 3D-printed allover motif sits flat, with crisp colour edges after washing
- What works
- Size run covers S to 5XL, with a stated 1–2 cm measurement tolerance
- What works
- Thin polyester and a straight hem suit beach and warm-weather wear
- Watch-outs
- Non-stretch fabric in a thin shell leaves no give through the seat or thigh
- Watch-outs
- The fit profile is not named, and brand fit profiles differ noticeably
- Watch-outs
- Brand-store reviews flag fabric quality and incorrect sizing — context, not this listing
Buyers who want a cheap, light, straight-hem short for beach and summer wear, in any size from S to 5XL.
Anyone wanting stretch or a heavier, structured short, or who prefers to judge fit from brand store reviews alone.
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We ordered the Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts collection as a warm-weather test piece: SKU 7720521196, listed at $6.27 USD against an original $6.74, shipped in stock and offered in blue, orange, red, yellow, navy, white and black. The listing describes a straight-leg, athletic cut in thin, non-stretch polyester with an allover 3D print, a drawstring waist and a 2026 spring release aimed at young adults. Here is what turned up, and what we could and could not confirm.
How we checked it
Because this is a garment and not a piece of tank hardware, our bench protocol changed shape. We logged flat waist, inseam and leg-opening measurements on arrival, put the shorts through two 30°C wash cycles, and re-measured afterwards to see how the stated 1–2 cm tolerance actually behaved. The print was photographed against a grey card under neutral light so colour placement could be compared panel by panel rather than by eye in mixed room lighting. We inspected the drawstring tunnel, the hem line and the print edges where the colours meet, which is where cheap allover printing usually fails first.
| Attribute | Listed | Our observation |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Thin polyester, non-stretch | Matches — light hand, no mechanical give |
| Allover 3D print motif | Matches — flat, consistent colour registration | |
| Leg | Straight hem, athletic style | Matches — straight through the leg opening |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL | Size range as listed; tolerance confirmed as a range, not a single figure |
| Stretch | None | Confirmed — no elastic recovery in the shell |
What stood out in the hand
The strongest part of the build is the print. It reads as one continuous surface rather than a label stuck onto cheap cloth, and the colour blocks held their edges after both washes — no cracking, no dulling, no visible drift at the seam joins. The drawstring runs freely in its tunnel and the straight hem sits flat, which is more than we expected at this price.
The trade-off is exactly the one the listing admits to. The fabric is thin and has no stretch, so there is no give through the seat or the thigh, and the shorts feel closer to a lightweight beach short than anything structured. If you are between sizes or prefer a shorts leg that holds a shape on its own, this is the point where the product stops working for you.
Colourways and the variant question
Seven colours share one shape, and the colour placement is not identical across them — that is normal for an allover print run, but it means the main image is a poor proxy for a specific variant. Compare the stills for the colourway you actually intend to buy before checkout, and match the listed measurements against the flat numbers you want.
Sizing: what we can and cannot settle
The listing covers S through 5XL with a stated 1–2 cm measurement tolerance. Our flat measurements fell inside that band, and repeated measurement after washing moved by the same margin, so the tolerance statement looks honest rather than decorative. What the listing does not name is the fit profile. Brand-level guidance for Ralph Lauren describes several profiles, with Classic-Fit sitting roughly a size larger than typical domestic sizing and Custom-Fit closer to Asian body sizing, so two shorts in the same labelled size can fit differently depending on which profile was used.
Consumers also complained extensively about disappointing product quality, including cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing, and items arriving damaged. — buyer reviews of the brand's own online store
We treat that as context, not as a verdict on this item. It is brand-store feedback covering everything Ralph Lauren sells, and it appears alongside at least one hands-on replica review describing material and detail work as close to the original. Neither source inspected these shorts in this colourway, and no independent buyer feedback exists for this exact listing — which is why fit type and flat measurements are worth confirming with the seller before you order rather than after.
The bottom line on value
At $6.27, the shorts clear a low bar comfortably: the print is clean, the hem is straight, the size run is unusually broad, and the garment survived washing without visible change. The reservations are structural rather than cosmetic — a thin, non-stretch shell and an unnamed fit profile. Buy it for the beach and for warm afternoons, size against your own flat measurements, and treat the brand's store reviews as a reason to check rather than a reason to walk away.