The Dawn of the T-Shirt
It used to be that t-shirts were consider under shirts or layers, and while many men may continue to wear this undershirt under work or formal attire, it is now very common to see many wearing t-shirts as outerwear and whole industries have sprung up around what sayings to put on these shirts that are broadcast all around.
You Should Wear a T-Shirt As Outerwear
There are obvious reasons why one would wear a t-shirt as outerwear:
- T-Shirts are not as light weight as they once were.
- T-Shirts allow for displaying personality, and often have cute quotes and quips.
- Society promotes and accepts T-shirts as outwear.
- Having only one layer to wear makes one cooler.
I’m sure you could come up with others.
Last week we featured Diviine Modestee and part of their main business is modest and feminine t-shirts. Shirts with bows and in solid colors are their claim to fame—especially because they are extra long.
You Shouldn’t Wear a T-Shirt As Outerwear
My grandfather could always be found in a white, button-down shirt for almost any job—and he was an appliance repairman. He proved that you could do almost anything in dress clothes. There are good reasons not to wear a t-shirt as outerwear:
- They are overly casual—they bring what was just inside the house wear into the public much like the current Pajama’s in Public movement.
- They only provide one layer of protection—they tend to run tighter and shorter (unless you get the shirts from DM or similar modest company above).
- They can easily become translucent: It’s easy to see why it’s a “spring break” phenomenon to have “wet t-shirt contests” and such that are anything but modest.
- They serve best as under layers.
Our Results
We polled our readers a week ago asking how often they wore t-shirts, and here’s the results we got:
How often do you wear t-shirts?
- 7 days a week! (I live in them!) (36%, 5 Votes)
- Couple of Days (36%, 5 Votes)
- 6 days a week (21%, 3 Votes)
- Most Days (7%, 1 Votes)
- Weekdays (0%, 0 Votes)
- Never (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 14
So, it seems like a majority of our readers wear t-shirts fairly regularly. What’s your opinion—why do you wear t-shirts, and do you think it’s a positive thing or have we lost something?
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I wear T-shirts because they come longer than woven ones. So I don’t know what that says. :/
As long as t-shirts aren’t tight, low cut, or have attention drawing graphics on them, I think they’re a non issue. You don’t have to worry about buttons gaping, and they are quick and easy to throw on – no having to iron your shirts every day. (:
I don’t normally just wear t-shirts, but they don’t bother me. I agree– kind of a non issue. T-shirts are now thicker, longer (usually), and some have pretty embellishments so they don’t look like undershirts.
I agree with Elanor! That said, I agree about T-shirts being (almost always) casual wear. Quick and easy is good, but not always “best.”
I’m actually wearing a pale blue T-shirt at the moment. But with a pin-stripe vest over top, and a long skirt. So that brings up the question, is it “dumb” to “dress up” a T-shirt? I think not. Opinions? :)
Is it dressing up, or is it using a t-shirt as a layer? That’s a really good question, AnneGirl.
I hadn’t thought of that – t-shirts, by themselves, definitely are casual, whereas button-up woven shirts are more formal. I wouldn’t wear a t-shirt to, say, a job interview! Though, what about polo shirts? They’re knitted, like t-shirts, but they have a collar and button up halfway. Personally, I think they’re in between. (:
^^Edit – I meant, “Though, what about polo shirts – would you consider them casual or informal?”, not whether one would wear them to a job interview. :P
Interesting question, Elanor. Obviously, many people wear polo shirts as outerwear, and I don’t know anyone that would wear them as inner wear. The company that I work for considers it a part of "business casual" so I think that it lies inbetween formal and casual.
I wear T-shirts most of the time in the summertime. I think they’re right for certain situations and not appropriate for others. With the dressing up that we’ve done to T-shirts, they are no longer overly casual necessarily, and they are definitely cooler.