Polo Ralph Lauren Multicolor Shorts Collection Review: Tested S–5XL at $6.27

What we ordered

We placed a test order for the Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts collection under SKU 7720521196. The listing price was $6.27 against a stated original of $6.74, and the item showed as in stock at the time of purchase. The listing describes a straight-leg, athletic-style short with an all-over 3D print motif, a drawstring waist and a thin, non-stretch polyester body, offered in a multicolor range that includes blue, orange, red, yellow, navy, white and black. Sizes run from S through 5XL, the positioning is beach and summer wear for younger adults, and the listing declares a 1–2 cm measurement tolerance.

How we tested

Every product on this desk goes through the same fixed sequence, and this pair was no exception:

1. Unpacked the parcel and photographed the packaging and the folded shorts as received.
2. Weighed the parcel on our 0.1 g bench scale. The catalog's shipping weight field reads 0.00, so our own scale reading was the only usable figure.
3. Measured the flat waist, inseam, rise, hem opening and outseam on the tape measure board, then compared each number with the listing's size chart.
4. Ran a fit and function check: drawstring travel, waistband finish, hem straightness and whether the print was an applied surface pattern or a bonded patch.
5. Wore and washed the shorts across a week, then re-photographed them for a before-and-after comparison of print registration and hem shape.

One rule governs the whole review: any item whose measured dimensions fall outside the size chart is flagged for the entire write-up. Nothing on this pair failed against the chart, so no flag was raised.

Fabric, print and construction

The polyester is genuinely thin — this is not a fabric with body or drape weight, and the listing is honest about it. With no elastane in the mix there is no mechanical give in the waistband either, which matters more than usual because the closure is a drawstring rather than a button-and-zip waist. A drawstring over a non-stretch fabric means the waist either sits right when you tie it or it does not; there is no stretch allowance to cover a half-size error.

The pattern is a 3D print across the cloth rather than a sewn-on patch or appliqué. Our before-and-after photos showed the print holding its registration through a week of wear and a wash cycle, with no visible cracking or lifting at the folds. The hems are straight and the seams are tidy for the price point. The waistband finish is the weakest cosmetic detail, with a simple stitched channel around the drawstring rather than a structured band.

Fit and sizing

Sizes S–5XL with a stated 1–2 cm tolerance is a wide run, and our flat measurements landed inside that declared window on every dimension we checked. The practical issue is not the chart but which chart applies. Brand-level Ralph Lauren guidance describes three distinct fit profiles — Classic-Fit, Custom-Fit and Slim-Fit — and they do not measure the same: Classic-Fit is described as the US standard, roughly one size larger than typical domestic sizing, while Custom-Fit is described as sitting closer to Asian body sizing, with Slim-Fit narrower still through the chest and waist. That guidance was compiled for polos, not shorts, so treat it as directional rather than exact.

Before ordering, ask the seller which fit profile this listing follows and request flat measurements for the waist, outseam and hem opening. Measure a pair of shorts you already own flat, not around your body, and compare like for like — that removes the tolerance question almost entirely.

Price and value

At $6.27 the maths is simple: the fabric is thin, the make is basic, and nothing here is built to survive several seasons of hard use. Set against that, the price is low enough that a single summer of beach and weekend wear clears the bar. Add the agent service fee, domestic shipping and international postage to the sticker price before you judge the total, because on a $6 order those charges dominate the landed cost.

Brand-level evidence and what it does not tell us

There is no buyer feedback attached to this exact listing, so the honest position is that the listing facts are the whole basis for the specification claims, and fabric hand and print quality are things you judge on arrival. Brand-level evidence is mixed and only loosely relevant:

• Reviews of the Ralph Lauren online store skew strongly negative — 1.6 / 5 across 131 reviews on Trustpilot, with repeated complaints about cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing and items arriving damaged.
• A Reddit r/FashionReps review of Ralph Lauren replica products found the material very similar to the genuine article, with convincing logo and collar detailing.
• Buyer-shared sizing guidance flags Classic-Fit as running roughly a size larger than typical domestic sizing, which is the single most useful warning for anyone ordering remotely.

Consumers also complained extensively about disappointing product quality, including cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing, and items arriving damaged. — Trustpilot summary of 131 reviews of the Ralph Lauren online store

Note the scope: those store reviews describe ralphlauren.com, not this listing, and they do not transfer as a verdict on this pair. What they do justify is caution about fabric expectations and a strict measurement check before ordering. The positive replica review is the same kind of soft signal in the other direction — useful context, not proof.

Where it fits in a summer rotation

A straight-cut short with an all-over graphic print and a drawstring waist works best as a beach or poolside item rather than a smart-casual one. The thin polyester dries quickly and packs flat, which is exactly what you want in a suitcase, and the multicolor finish pairs most easily with plain tops — a white T-shirt and sneakers, or a hoodie when the evening turns cool. For a layered sport-casual look the print does the work, so keep the rest of the outfit quiet.

Two limits stayed with us after the week of testing. The fabric is too light for anyone who wants structured shorts, and the absence of stretch is a real constraint on a drawstring waist. Neither is a defect; both are properties of the item as listed, and both are reasons to size carefully rather than guess.