The Polo Ralph Lauren brand provides a wide selection of all styles of shoes. The high success of Polo has led to a large number of knockoffs that can appear to be Polo, but in actuality are not. Determining authentic Polo shoes from imitations can sometimes be extremely easy to do, but it often can be challenging and confusing for consumers. Fortunately, there are key ways to determine authentic Polo shoes from imitations.

Visit the official Polo Ralph Lauren website to familiarize yourself with the look of authentic Polo shoes.

Closely examine the provided photos of the shoe if you are not purchasing them through the official website. Compare them to the official authentic Polo shoes. Although thorough inspections may be limited depending on the provided pictures, it is important to look for key characteristics.

Look for molded or stitched logos located on the outside of each shoe. The original authentic Polo logo features a polo player sitting on a horse with a lifted polo mallet. “Polo” should be molded onto the lower heel of the back of the shoe, surrounded by a molded rectangular shaped outline. A logo is often also displayed on the inside sole of the shoe, in the heel area, with “Ralph Lauren” printed above it. Any major differences from these are indications of fake Polo shoes.

When purchasing online, if there is a policy section, read it carefully. A statement similar to “these shoes are factory variants” may be present. This is a sure indication that the shoes are unauthentic.

Read all item descriptions carefully when purchasing from online user-based websites. Bad user ratings, or negative comments regarding the quality of the shoes might indicate that unauthentic Polo shoes are for sale.

Visit a Polo store or department store to observe the look of genuine Polo shoes.

Observe materials closely when shopping for Polo shoes that are not being sold in department stores. Materials should be durable and uniformly finished throughout the entire shoe. The overall look of the shoe should be neat and clean and colors should be vibrant.

Look for Polo logos located on the outside of each shoe. “Polo” should be molded onto the lower heel of the shoe, surrounded by a molded rectangular shaped outline. Also look for a logo is also displayed on the inside sole of the shoe, in the heel area, with “Ralph Lauren” printed above it. Any major differences from these are indications of fake Polo shoes.

Examine the Polo logos closely. Logos on Polo shoes should be neatly stitched or molded, not painted. The under-stitching of the logo should be neat, and the thread color should match the material color on the outside of the shoes. If there is a logo that is patchy, crooked, printed, or one that deviates from the original authentic logo, there is a good chance that the shoes are unauthentic. If there is a tag attached to the shoe, it should be attached neatly, match the size on the shoe itself and avoid misspellings.