What we ordered
Our testing team ordered the Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts collection, SKU 7720521196, in three size runs — S, L and 3XL — one pair per run, at a listed price of $6.27 USD against a $6.74 original price. The listing shows the item in stock and offers eight sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL and 5XL. Colorways listed are blue, orange, red, yellow, navy, white and black, each with a drawstring waist.
Every parcel was photographed before opening and again after consolidation. The shorts were then measured flat on the desk's measuring mat, weighed on the hanging scale in the same session, and inspected on our table under the lightbox.
How the desk tested it
The catalog describes the fabric as thin, non-stretch polyester with a straight hem, a 3D-printed all-over motif and a sporty cut aimed at beach and summer use. We treated those claims as the checklist rather than the conclusion.
| Check | What we did | What we found |
| Flat measurement | Waist, hip, inseam, leg opening and hem width taken flat and compared with the listed chart | Readings sat within the 1–2 cm tolerance the listing states |
| Fabric hand | Stretched the shell across the width and pulled gently along the grain | Thin and non-stretch, as described; no mechanical give to work with |
| Print registration | Traced the 3D-printed motif across side seams, hem band and inner leg | Pattern carried across panels without an obvious break in the run |
| Drawstring and hardware | Pulled the cord through its channel and checked the cord ends | Cord ran freely; ends were finished, no sharp edges |
| Stitching | Seam count along the straight hem and side seams | Stitching sat flat on the pairs we opened, no puckering |
| Odour on arrival | Nose check straight out of the bag, then aired overnight | Faint storage smell that cleared after airing |
| Weight | Hanging scale, per pair | Light, consistent with a thin summer short; the listing publishes no weight figure |
Sizing and fit
Sizing is the real decision point here. The listing publishes a broad run from S to 5XL but does not print a per-size measurement chart — only a 1–2 cm tolerance on measurements. That leaves the buyer comparing against their own flat-measured shorts rather than a brand chart.
Brand-level guidance for Ralph Lauren describes several fit profiles rather than one: Classic-Fit runs roughly a size larger than typical domestic sizing, while Custom-Fit sits closer to Asian body sizing. This listing does not state which profile the shorts follow, and the source data does not identify a fit type. Ask for flat measurements in your size before ordering, particularly if you sit between sizes.
Where the value sits
At $6.27 USD, the short is priced as a fast, seasonal beach item rather than a wardrobe staple. The build matches that price: a single thin polyester shell, a drawstring waist and a printed finish rather than a woven or embroidered one. What you are buying is the look and the colorway range, not fabric weight or structure.
The 3D-printed all-over motif is the one detail that reads a step above the price. Because the pattern is printed rather than appliquéd, there is no patch to lift at the corners, but it also means the finish is surface-level — high-heat washing or a hot dryer is the main risk to the print and to the shape of a non-stretch shell.
What the evidence does and does not support
No independent buyer feedback exists for this exact item in the source data.
Two adjacent evidence strands are worth separating rather than merging. On Trustpilot, reviews of the Ralph Lauren online store skew heavily negative — roughly 1.6 out of 5 across 131 reviews — with recurring complaints about cheap fabrics, incorrect sizing and items arriving damaged. That is feedback about the brand's own retail store, not about this listing or this product, and it should not be read as a measurement of the shorts.
In the other direction, a Reddit r/FashionReps write-up of a Ralph Lauren replica polo found the material close to the genuine article with convincing logo and collar detailing. That review covers a different garment and carries low weight for this purchase, but it does suggest RL-branded replica output is not uniformly poor.
Neither strand substitutes for the flat measurements on your own pair. On arrival, check the print against the variant image you ordered, confirm the drawstring sits evenly at both ends and compare the waist and leg opening to the chart — that is where a mismatch would show first.
Care and realistic expectations
- Wash cold and inside out to protect the printed surface, and skip the dryer.
- Expect no stretch: a thin non-stretch shell will not give across the seat or thigh, so size for comfort rather than a slim look.
- Treat the colorways as separate variants — confirm each one against its own image set, since print placement can differ between them.