Ralph Lauren Price Tracker

Ralph Lauren started out in New York in 1967 selling neckties, named his first full menswear line Polo in 1968 and in 1972 launched the short-sleeved cotton shirt in 24 colours that became the brand's signature. The labels range from Polo Ralph Lauren and Lauren Ralph Lauren to Double RL and the top-end Purple Label. The online shop began as polo.com in 2000 and was relaunched as ralphlauren.com in 2007; the UK has its own site, ralphlauren.co.uk.

Prices fall in end-of-season sales and in the sale section, and in both North America and Europe the company runs its own outlet stores alongside its full-price shops. On ralphlauren.com, signing in to a free account gets you free shipping, though the offer doesn't cover international orders, and the Ralph Lauren app is available in the US and Canada. The brand is also sold through department stores and, especially in Europe, through many online retail partners.

The Polo shirt alone comes in several fits – Classic, Custom Slim and Slim – in piqué mesh and jersey, in dozens of colours and, in the US, in Big & Tall sizes, and each combination has its own stock and price. Set your alert on the exact version you want, because a reduction on one fit or colour doesn't carry over to the others, and the email you get should be about the shirt you'd actually buy.