Shortly after Clyde the Caveman discovered the benefits of wearing bearskin, the question arose around the fire as to whether he should wear an undershirt underneath. And while wearing bearskins and Clyde are both, well, dead, the question of whether or not gentlemen should wear an undershirt is still very much alive.
The choice as to whether or not to don an undershirt is really a matter of personal preference and style. You may decide to wear an undershirt for reasons of warmth, comfort, hygiene or style. But if we may, let us begin with the answer in mind. Yes gentlemen wear undershirts.
Undershirts give you a clean, crisp, polished look, extend the life of your wardrobe investments and protect your shirts and sweaters from sweat, body oils and deodorant stains. So stop reading and go out and buy some quality shirts right now. Oh wait, you need to know what to get. So keep reading.
Why should I bother?
1. The most obvious answer is that it helps men that sweat by absorbing perspiration and by keeping their dress shirt dry. It also prevents those nasty yellow stains from wrecking your expensive white dress shirts.
2. By absorbing perspiration and body odor, wearing an undershirt allows you to go longer between launderings with your better dress shirts and sweaters.
3. Comfort is another reason. Many garments, especially wool just don’t feel that snazzy on your skin all day long.
4. Wearing an undershirt also keeps things under wraps like nipples and chest hair. While you might be exceptionally proud of these manly attributes, they’re best brought out for special occasions and not introduced during sales calls and board meetings.
5. We believe that properly fitted, an undershirt helps you and your dress shirt look better and give you an overall finished appearance.
What types of undershirt should I wear?
A-Shirt
These shirts have gotten a bad rap in recent years being associated with domestic abuse, gang violence and the like. These shirts are the thinnest of undershirts, sleeveless and usually distinguished by a ribbed pattern that shows through the shirt. These shirts are best worn with a Camel cigarette hanging out of your mouth and a Schlitz beer in your right hand (dang, see what we mean about bad rap). Trust us, never wear these shirts, especially when cutting the lawn.
Crew neck
Just about every guy has these and they are the most common. These shirts have the round collar and are usually worn under dress shirts and designer bearskins.
V-Neck
Similar to the crew neck shirt except that the collar has a V shape and can be worn when wearing your shirt with an open collar.
Can I pick up a 10-pack of these at Walmart?
Well, yes but don’t. Believe it or not quality does matter. Even though the undershirt isn’t supposed to be seen, unless of course, you are prone to dribbling your lunch and wearing narrow ties, undershirts are meant to be smoothing layers so that the outer garment drapes better and looks better. So fit and material are everything.
Economy shirts just are not up to the task. First, they are hang on your body instead of conforming and instead of smoothing they add bulk. They are usually constructed of thick cotton and add a soggy, smelly marsh between you and your crisp white shirt. Lastly, they tend to run short making them difficult to keep tucked in. And they don’t wash well.
So once again, you get what you pay for. Look for thin, high quality blends containing a stretch modal fiber. These shirts are like micro-fibers, breathe nicely and help to keep your shirt tucked in all day.
What kind should I buy?
If money is not an object and you are looking to do a little “sculpting” shall we say, Equmen, an Australian brand, is really the ultimate. This collection of underwear offers men the ultimate control and support with its line of core precision control underwear and undershirts.
Under Armour is also a good alternative with built-in HeatGear moisture transport, ArmourStretch 4-way lightweight fabrics and built-in Odor Technology that prevents the growth of odor causing microbes.
Tommy John Undershirt
Another excellent choice is Tommy John. These micro modal undershirts simply do the job by absorbing moisture and keeping it out of your dress shirt, and creating a smooth look.
Final Tips
1. Here’s the lowdown on those pesky yellow armpit stains. The real cause is your antiperspirant. Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex mixes with colorless perspiration and causes the yellow stains. Plus, it doesn’t sound like something you want close to your body anyway. So look for better deodorants that don’t contain this junk.
2. Fit is important,. Too tight and you’re uncomfortable. Too big and it’s bulky and your dress shirt doesn’t lay right.
3. Only wear undershirts once between washings. While they help with body odor, unless you enjoy working alone and long distance relationships, splurge and put on a fresh one every day.
4. We believe that the undershirt should not be seen. If you are buttoning up and wearing a tie, opt for the crew neck. If you are wearing an open collar then choose a V neck.
5. Don’t wear your undershirts as outerwear. If you want to wear a T shirt that’s fine, just get one that has a slightly heavier fabric, better stitching and is meant to be seen.
6. Consider wearing a heather gray undershirt. It blends better with your skin tone and is virtually invisible under your dress shirt.
I had not thought about the issue of it lumping. I always think of it as under my cloths. Always great information here. Thanks!
Hey thanks Steve. We are so happy to be of service.