Men’s Undershirts: Pros & Cons and How to Wear Them RIGHT

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Perhaps one of the more divisive elements of men’s underwear, whether or not you incorporate an undershirt into your everyday wear is quite a personal choice. But how much do you know about undershirts? And is wearing an undershirt the best choice for you? We’re here to help with our ultimate guide to this unique piece of underwear.

The Ultimate Undershirt Video Guide

YouTube video

Preston is on hand to give you all the information you need on the history and how-tos of the undergarment, as well as a few tips on finding the best men’s undershirts out there.

What Is An Undershirt?

You’d be forgiven for thinking that an undershirt is simply a T-shirt worn underneath your dress shirt, or whatever outer layers are present in your outfits. While the tee and undershirt do resemble one another, they are fundamentally different garments.

Undershirt Anatomy

1
Your undershirt should fit like a second skin

Undershirt Fit

Unlike t-shirts, undershirts are cut to fit very close, almost like a second skin. This is because you want the other layers of your outfit to fit you properly, and a t-shirt with a looser fit would spoil the lines of well-fitting outer layers.

2
Undershirts are typically cut longer than a t shirt

Undershirt Length

A standard tee is cut to finish at around your hips, whereas an undershirt is typically cut longer. This is to allow a good overlap between the top of your underpants and the bottom of your undershirt. It will also prevent the undershirt from riding up and becoming untucked throughout the day.

3
The neckline of your undershirt should be a deep v shape

Undershirt Neckline

Classic t-shirts are usually finished in a crewneck style, but you don’t want this style in an undershirt. This particular neckline is cut way too high, therefore is guaranteed to either peek out of an open shirt collar, or create an unsightly, lumpy ring around your neck when worn with a tie. Therefore, undershirts should be cut with a deep v-neck finished with a thin, flat seam to alleviate these issues.

4
The sleeves on an undershirt are longer than the sleeves of a t shirt

Undershirt Sleeve Length

T-shirt sleeves are cut quite short, so it may surprise you to see that undershirt sleeves are usually longer by comparison. One purpose of this is to help with protecting your outer layers from underarm odors, as the undershirt covers a larger area of your armpit this way. Another reason is for comfort, as a shorter sleeve has the potential to bunch-up underneath your arm throughout the day, which is very unpleasant.

The Classic White T-Shirt

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If all this talk of undershirts has inspired you to explore more about its big brother, the t-shirt, then this video is the one for you. Here, Kyle will demonstrate six of his favorite outfits that incorporate a classic white tee as a stylish base layer, so that you can effortlessly incorporate this timeless garment into your wardrobe, too.

The History of the Undershirt

Is the undershirt a new thing, or has it been around for many years? When did men start wearing undershirts, and why? Read on as we discover the roots of the undershirt, taking us up to where we are today.

The Evolution of Clothes & Undergarments

We’ve all likely seen the famous Jockey advertisements from the 1970s and 80s, and the 21st Century has seen a wealth of marketing showing models sporting various styles of underwear. But it wasn’t always this way, as for many centuries, it was considered taboo to showcase underwear so publicly. This means that today, it is very difficult to find paintings, illustrations, or photographs of underwear that predate the 20th century.

Undershirt around 1345

A Rare Example

Illustrated around 1345, we can see an example of medieval underwear. Especially present are the stockings or “hose” that cover the subject’s legs and are tied at the waist. These are the precursors to modern-day socks, and although we enjoy over-the-calf socks at the Gentleman’s Gazette, these stockings are a bit extreme!

Throughout the evolution of clothes, one can observe two schools of thought. On the one hand, the church understands clothes and undergarments to be a means of covering up people’s sense of shame. Even the Bible implies that Adam and Eve wore a fig leave because of it. On the other hand, sociological and anthropological studies have shown that clothes – and, in fact, any form of accessories – were worn to make oneself as attractive as possible.

The Original Purpose of Underwear: Protecting Expensive Clothes

Initially, undergarments were not designed to protect the body from the elements nor to add another layer of insulation. Instead, the purpose of an undershirt or any other style of underwear was to protect the outer layer of garments from touching the body, especially since regular bathing did not become commonplace until the 18th century.

Weavers workshop in the 17th century
Weaver’s workshop in the 17th century, where cloth production is lengthy and expensive. Image credit: Wikimedia

It took time and a lot of money to create garments before the Industrial Revolution and the rise of mass-manufactured clothing. Fibers needed to be gathered, spun, and woven, which took time and skill to do well. If clothing was to be colored, the dyeing process was even trickier, and any embellishments, such as embroidery would have been painstakingly achieved by hand.

These were primarily the clothes worn by the rich and noble, but the working class also wore undergarments as protection; but instead of protecting the clothes from them, they wanted to be protected from their clothes!

People without the means to afford expensive garments would have resorted to rough, cheap, and uncomfortable fibers. Plus, dye-colored clothing wasn’t necessarily reliable at a lower price point, with the possibility of a poor-quality dye discoloring the wearer’s skin. Therefore, undergarments were an essential part of protection for all people during this time.

The Undershirt Evolves

By the 15th century, young men of nobility began to wear at least part of their shirts exposed and while there was some criticism at first, the trend of revealing the shirt prevailed over time. After a while, even respectable men in society would show more of their decorative shirts, such as revealing collars and cuffs.

An 1887 advert illustrating different styles of collars and cuffs

Cuffs & Collars

Up until the end of the 19th century, you’d never see much of a shirt other than the cuffs and collars, which is why detachable collars and cuffs were invented. That way only the visible parts had to be washed consistently. To this point, what we know as a dress shirt today would have been strictly considered an undershirt!

While a gentleman would only wear a shirt without an additional undershirt, the poor working class would sometimes wear a tunic that later developed into the sleeveless undershirt as we know it today. Usually, it was made of wool or flannel to keep them warm. On the other hand, if a gentleman were too cold, he would wear more overgarments, but he would not add a layer underneath.

Union Suits were the earlier onsies.
Without a doubt, the early Union Suits resembled what we’d consider “onesies”

In the US, the so-called Union Suit was an overall style undergarment that was patented in 1868. Although first worn by women, it was later adapted by men as well, though it was always associated with a blue-collar, rural demographic, as opposed to the elegant set.

At the beginning of the 20th century, soldiers would often wear undergarments to protect their uniforms from dirt, and in hot climates, it was more comfortable to wear just the undershirt.

In 1934, the always elegant Clark Gable revealed in It Happened One Night that he did not wear an undershirt. Legend has it that undershirt sales in the US dropped by 75%. Apparently, it took until WWII for sales of undershirts to recover, and then, soldiers wore them on their own as a form of outerwear. While it was considered to be poor taste in the beginning, by the fifties, Hollywood stars such as Marlon Brando and James Dean would wear them in public, and so the T-Shirt as we know it today became a success.

Undershirt FAQs

What is the purpose of men’s undershirts?

At its basic purpose, an undershirt creates a barrier between your skin and your outer garments.

Why do people wear undershirts?

Some enjoy the extra layer of warmth, while others like a barrier between their skin and their outer garments. Some claim that an undershirt wicks away the natural body moisture such as sweat, too.

Should a man always wear an undershirt?

Whether you choose to wear an undershirt or not is entirely down to personal preference. Some men may have grown up wearing undershirts and can’t imagine dressing without one. Other men prefer to go without. Whichever you choose, it has to be right for you.

Should undershirts be tight or loose?

An undershirt should fit close to your body, much more so than a t-shirt. But it shouldn’t be so tight that it’s restrictive. In order to get the correct fit, most undershirts have a blend of elastane in order to achieve a good level of figure-hugging stretch.

Why did men start wearing undershirts?

Undershirts evolved from looser garments worn under the outer layers. Originally, undergarments were worn to protect the clothing from the skin, and vice versa. This is due to clothing being either fine and expensive or made from rough and uncomfortable fibers, depending on how wealthy you were.

Why are undershirts so tight?

Undershirts need to fit closely in order to maintain a clean and flattering line when you wear layers over them. This has the added bonus of being more comfortable than wearing a looser-fitting t-shirt that would likely bunch up uncomfortably underneath your clothes.

Do undershirts have to be white?

Historically, undergarments were white in order to clean them well without removing any dye or detailing. Nowadays, with the advent of better laundry technology, undershirts can be in a range of colors. White is traditional, but something closer to your skin tone is going to be best.

What color undershirt is least visible?

Being able to find an undershirt closer to your skin tone can be a challenge, therefore it’s best to go with a neutral tone such as heather grey. This tone works particularly well as it’s not so dark that it makes lighter-colored shirts look dirty, and it isn’t bright enough to show through darker shirts.

The Best Undershirt Tips

Today, you can find all kinds of undershirts, ranging from “performance shirts” that make comfort claims to the classic sleeveless shirt, sometimes also referred to as a tank top, or if white and ribbed, a “wife beater”. Here are some top tips for your undershirt shopping, purchasing, and wearing pleasure.

DO Wear an Undershirt, Not A T-Shirt

It is important to highlight that an undershirt is NOT the same as a t-shirt. Since it is meant for layering, an undershirt is generally thinner and more lightweight. Traditionally, undershirts are ribbed because a ribbed shirt can stretch more and is, therefore, more comfortable. So if you want to wear an undershirt,  do not use a T-shirt because they are too big, too stiff, and too thick to be comfortable underneath a dress shirt.

DON’T Wear White or Black Undershirts

Forget white. In an ideal world, your undershirt should match the color of your skin, or it should be darker such as heather grey, so you do not see the outline of the undershirt on top of the shirt. This may seem odd at first but even underneath a white dress shirt, a skin-colored undershirt will be less visible than a plain white T-shirt, or white undershirts. This is especially true in the areas between the skin and the t-shirt around your biceps and collar. Unfortunately, skin tones vary greatly so there is no easy way to buy skin-colored shirts. Some offer undershirts in heather gray and they are better than white.

A skin tone undershirt is the best option to avoid any possible show through

Skin-Tone Undershirts

Take a pure cotton undershirt that fits you well and brew some strong black tea. Put the shirt in the solution in a basin to avoid staining your sink and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Finally, rinse off the excess, and the shirt will have a color value very similar to that of bare Caucasian skin – and the stain will be relatively permanent. Repeat the process to match darker skin tones. Of course, it goes without saying that you should not bleach the shirt when washing it!

DO Wear Close-Fitting Undershirts

It’s not often you’ll see us recommend a slim fit, but if you decide to wear an undershirt, make sure it fits your torso closely, and has short sleeves and small armholes. Otherwise, you may feel rather uncomfortable and constricted in your movement with a larger undershirt. Also, you want it to be long enough, so it doesn’t come untucked.

DON’T Wear Sleeveless Undershirts

You can get white sleeveless undershirts pretty much anywhere, rather inexpensively. They are usually made out of 100% cotton or cotton and polyester blend with a fine ribbed look. Many men still wear them today for work as an undershirt and some even wear them to the gym because they like the increased range of movement.

The sleeveless undershirt is often associated with some less than stylish memories
The sleeveless undershirt is often associated with some less-than-stylish memories! Image credit: Etsy

However much history these may have, stylistically, they leave a lot to be desired. Worn under shirts, you can usually see the outline of it even if you wear a jacket, and if you take it off, it becomes even more apparent that you are wearing one. Functionally, if you use undershirts to absorb sweat, then this style doesn’t work well because your armpits aren’t really covered.

DON’T Show Your Undershirt

One of the worst style mistakes you can make is to show your undershirt when you wear your shirt unbuttoned or when the lines show underneath your dress shirt. If you wear summer shirts with thin fabric, it is impossible not to see the undershirt.

Avoid Crew Neck Undershirts

Crewneck undershirts should be avoided
Crewneck undershirts should be avoided

The crew neck undershirt has a high neckline that is somewhat visible when you wear your dress shirt buttoned-up, but it looks particularly terrible.

Do Wear Deep-Cut V-Neck Undershirts

If you want to wear undershirts, always opt for deep-cut V-neck styles with flat seams, because one can see whether a man wears an undershirt underneath his dress shirt even if it is buttoned all the way, and he has a jacket on. If you take off your jacket, chances are you will show some rings on your upper arm unless the undershirt is extra thin and close-fitting.

Pure Cotton or Blends

Most men who wear undershirts today either go with a classic crew neck or v-neck style. Plain white shirts are available everywhere and even solid-colored versions can be found easily.

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Just like the sleeveless shirts, they usually come in pure Pima cotton or poly blends, though lately there have been all kinds of cotton blends with spandex, viscose, modal, etc. Usually, the goal of these additions is to either make the shirts softer or more durable, but they generally come with a higher price tag.

Performance Underwear

In the last few years, many sports outfitters have come up with all kinds of artificial fibers that are designed to transport moisture away from your body and make you feel dryer.

When you are going for a hike, down the slopes, or rafting, these are totally fine – but they are really ill-suited as an undershirt for a dress shirt because they often come in patterns, bright colors and always with a contrasting logo that will be visible through your shirt.

10 Reasons You Should & Shouldn’t Wear an Undershirt

You may wonder whether you should wear an undershirt at all, and it depends on several factors that we’ll explore below:

Why Should You Wear an Undershirt?

Sweat control

Preston showing some perspiration in the armpit area of his shirt
Sweating through your shirts and jackets is a source of anxiety for many men.

If you sweat profusely so that your jackets show it, wearing an undershirt will help you. Many people claim that undershirts have moisture-wicking properties, and while it’s true that your undershirt wicks away some of the sweat, the reality is it simply provides a barrier between your underarm and your dress shirt fabric.

Added Comfort

Wing Collar, Single-End Bow Tie, Marcella White Tie Shirt, and Waistcoat with boutonniere, pocket square, and top hat
It may be stylish, but a stiff-fronted dress shirt can be uncomfortable against the skin.

Even today, we occasionally encounter uncomfortable clothing like a stiff-fronted evening shirt for black tie and white events. Wearing an undershirt can help avoid chafed skin, and it is invisible underneath the thicker bib shirt front.

Temperature Control

An undershirt adds a layer of warmth to your outfit, which is great for colder climates and transitional seasons. Because a lot of modern-day clothing is constructed from lighter fabrics, an undershirt is especially helpful for maintaining a more consistent body temperature.

Better Style

Undershirts can smarten you up by keeping your nipples from showing or ample chest hair from poking through the surface of your shirt. Plus, well-cut undershirts are not visible in the collar area, even if you wear your top two shirt buttons unbuttoned.

Less Wear & Tear

Without an undershirt, your dress shirts will inevitably get deodorant stains. Although you can remove those stains with Deo-Go, it is less convenient than wearing an undershirt. This is especially true if you wear an undershirt with knitwear such as turtleneck sweaters, which can’t be laundered as simply as dress shirts.

Why Should You NOT Wear an Undershirt?

Inelegant

A 1930s fashion illustration of various warm-weather menswear formalities
A 1930s illustration from Apparel Arts highlighting warm-weather menswear ensembles at various formality levels

Historically, elegant men did not wear additional undergarments under their shirts. Many elegant men included in our list of some of the most stylish people in menswear prefer not to wear undershirts underneath their dress shirts, and you can’t deny their timeless class.

Restrictive

In terms of comfort, not wearing an undershirt should reduce the feeling of constriction that can come with wearing multiple similarly shaped layers.

Too Hot

Raphael in his Spier Mackay brown striped shirt.
An undershirt would show through an open weave cloth, like this linen shirt.

Although some men choose to wear an undershirt regardless of the temperature, an extra layer of cloth against the skin in hot climates won’t let you feel cool against the natural breeze, and may even promote perspiration. Warm-weather clothing is also designed to be lightweight and breathable, so not only is an undershirt counter-productive, but it will also likely show through an open-weave shirt.

Layering Alternatives

If you wanted to add warmth to an outfit, there are many other elegant ways to do so. Heavy-weight shirts like flannel shirts are an excellent alternative to adding an undershirt layer; hats, scarves, and gloves can be added if needed, and who doesn’t love a classic overcoat? All of these are more elegant solutions to colder weather than an undershirt.

Regular Laundry

Some argue that it is more hygienic to wear undershirts, however, if you shower regularly and wash your dress shirts after they are worn, you should have no problem. After all, an undershirt won’t protect the inside of your shirt collars and cuffs, so it’s not advised to wear the same shirt for days in a row, anyway.

Our Original Undershirt Video Guide

As we mentioned in our video at the top of this guide, said video serves as an update to our original “Undershirt Guide” video, published in 2015. If you’re curious to see how our presentation style has evolved, you can watch the original video here!

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Are you a wearer and supporter of undershirts, or do you prefer to go without? Let us know in the comments!

Reader Comments

  1. There is another issue. I’m a Caucasian guy but I have – excuse me for over sharing – dark skin on my nipples. Generally with a lighter shirt – white or light blue – you can see them through the shirt. Not a good look at all.

    Early in my banking career we had a HR person give us a talk on dress requirements and she said “Gentlemen, if you have dark nipples then wear an undershirt or a vest or leave your jacket on. Nipples showing through your shirt is not a good look and you don’t want your boss asking you to go out and buy an undershirt!”

    Ever since then I’ve worn one!!

    1. I just want to add that my “headlights” are always “on” and an undershirt helps minimize that sometimes embarrassing aspect of my physiology. It also prevents misinterpretations.

  2. As far as I can see, the sensible question here can only be, “Should I wear an /invisible/ undershirt or not?” For visible undershirts, after all, there isn’t really any question. They are tasteless and beyond the pale (notwithstanding countless Americans and Europeans who often even seem to want to show their white T-shirts underneath their shirts).

    Regarding truly invisible under-T-shirts: Yes, why should I not wear them. For me, it’s a purely thermoregulatory thing.

    I once made a considerable effort to create a stack of elastic, deep-V-neck T-shirts coloured in my natural skin tone. I use these underneath my shirts in cold months. And the cold months clearly outnumber the warm months where I live.

    I’m glad I have them when it’s cold. A heavy shirt fabric just won’t give you that extra warmth you want to have in badly or unevenly heated rooms in the wintertime.

    If one custom-dyes the undershirts in one’s own skin tone, has them tailored to a well-proportioned torso and makes sure the V neck is deep enough to remain invisible with the top shirt button(s) open, then they certainly don’t look tasteless to whoever gets to see them once one takes one’s shirt off (in case that is the main concern). They rather look like somebody’s taking care of himself.

    It’s an important menswear topic, though. Somewhat underrated.
    Thanks for the dye tip. I’ll experiment with black tea soon.

    1. That’s certainly a lot of effort. personally, I’d always opt to keep on my jacket or add a vest in a cold room, but each to his own. I’d love to see your self dyed undershirts. Would you mind sharing? We could add a paragraph about it to this article.

    2. Good article, but I have to disagree with one thing. I don’t find that wearing an undershirt in warm weather makes me feel too hot. On the contrary, that’s when i want that sweat barrier the most! Also, it actually traps an additional layer of air against you, which is how some people in hot climates (Bedouins, for example) keep cool.

  3. PS: I must protest against the generalizing caption under the last photo which reads, “Undershirts are visible underneath a shirt”. That’s precisely the point: if they were, then they would be out of the question. But they can be invisible. You acknowledge that yourself earlier in the blog post and three photos earlier…

    1. Even if you get the “invisible undershirts shirts” they are not 100% invisible, which is why I put them in quotation marks. The result is much better with a shirt in your skin color but not 100%.

  4. Personally, I do not wear an undershirt. I do not see the point: it just adds bulk. I would like to observe the irony that when a man dresses for a special occassion, he adds more and more garments, e.g., pants, shirt, jacket, underwear, socks, etc. By contrast, when a woman dresses, the number of garments might be kept to a minimum, e.g., a dress, optionally, underwear. Just saying.

    1. Interesting aspect. I guess, it depends on the fabric but in your case, I would have gone for the vest – what better reason is there to wear a three piece suit? ;)

  5. For many years I hated the white T- shirt under a shirt and I still dislike the look coupled with certain shirts… That said I often used those classic ribbed shirts or T- shirts as additional layer on cold days ( no reason why this should be a non elegant thing as they are invisible then, especially if your shirt is buttoned up)… And for the classic Ivy League Look (not the rubbish “Preppy Look” a la Tommy Hilfiger) – a look that isn’t very “elegant”, but without a doubt very influential and classic (think of the time when Jazz Cats like Miles Davies had style) it is a “must” to wear a plain white T under an Oxford Cloth Button Down, especially when worn casual… The ever well dressed Anthony Perkins or Even Montgomery Clift and Paul Newman did that with great effect. Not to forget Steve McQueen…

    1. Thanks Dominik, would you mind sharing a few pictures of the people showing how it’s worn. I don’t think Oxford Cloth Button Down requires a T-shirt – where did you get that from? That aside, best regards to Austria. How did you hear about Sanders and how do you like their boots?

  6. Yes, I do wear undershirts, but not to work. A wife beater is always good for a sex club, but not for work in the lattitude where I live.

  7. Perhaps the only excuse for a t-shirt, is to prevent a white dress shirt from getting prematurely stained under the arms. And that is insufficient excuse for a clothes wearing man. One can always buy another white shirt. The subject matter of the t-shirt is rather dandily handled in The Dandy Peacock or Enigma which is recommended to all. The opinion of that wonderful tome regarding the T-Shirt is decidedly pollice verso.

  8. I live in a climate where the temperature can vary from 100+ to 0, with varying degrees of humidity. I have a brief walk to the subway. It’s just long enough in the summer months for me to perspire all the way through my shirts, especially the solid blue ones. On goes the “invisible” slim fitting deep v neck or crew neck, to hide this act of nature. The biggest problem is the difficulty finding these undershirts, especially in a fine weave. The fine weave works better in both summer and winter months. I seem to be forced to go online to the manufacturer to get them. Pity, more people would benefit from them if they were more readily available.

    1. I agree with you. I used to only wear them in the winter but they’re even more necessary in the summer with the extreme and no a/c on the subway. It helps make summer tolerable.

  9. I wear them every day.The tropical heat requires you to wear to prevent sweats from sticking to the back of your shirt and suit jacket.You may ask’is it not hot “?.Malaysia is always hot,but it is comfortable in the air conditioned office.

    Nik

    1. Interesting. Tropical climates are definitely different. At the end of the day, it’s all about testing and finding out what works for you. I plan to add all of these examples later to produce a better article. Thanks for sharing!

  10. I wear undershirts only because I hate deodorant stains. Especially on my nice collard shirts. Perhaps I should switch deodorants… Great post, I’ll try out the black tea idea soon!

  11. Tee shirts are simple garments and can look great when worn by guys with the right shape…..
    sadly they are frequently worn by guys who mistakenly think that they are the right shape.
    The saddest sight in the world is a tee shirt streched over a pot belly!

    1. The focus of the article was to t-shirt as an undershirt. I just used James Dean and Marlon Brando because these pictures are so iconic…

  12. Thank you for your reply… I am on holiday at the moment, so my access to the world wide web is limited through my smartphone :) I will reply when I am back at home and have access to my desktop computer next week. Best regards, Dominik

  13. Greetings all, as usual great article, thanks. I wear an undershirt, usually v-neck, every day. Living in Queensland Australia it gets very hot and humid. The one thing I cannot stand is seeing large visible wet sweat marks under the arms often creeping out to be visble even with arms down. I have found the undershirt pretty much eliminates this problem.

    I also find the undershirt gives me a sense of comfort, almost the putting on armour thing. The snug feeling around my body adds a degree of comfort and security as the outer shirt does not stick to the skin when sweaty and moves about you freely. In my opinion this keeps you looking sharp all day.

    Undershirts I have found also protect your shirts and jackets from deodorant marks. I don’t know about others but I do invest a lot of money on quality business shirts. I want to protect them. I have some Brioni and Canali shirts I bought in the late nineties, they are still in excellent condition and are worn quite regularly. I have also found that fragrences tend to last much longer wearing an undershirt whilst not being overpowering. This has past the most stringent tests… Positive comments from women I do not know…

    1. Thanks for sharing your experiences Kurt. I have never thought about the fragrance aspect because I usually apply it on my neck, not my body…

  14. I’m in the military and we are required to wear undershirts. During the summer, I have found the most comfortable ones to be polyester or a cotton/poly blend, heavy on the poly. The polyester helps absorb sweat and keeps the shirt from sticking to me. I’ve even started wearing a polyester shirt under a normal cotton undershirt when I have to wear cammies; a black poly shirt is nearly invisible when worn with a colored cotton shirt but still provides the same level of comfort. Needless to say, polyester underwear is great as well.

    The Japanese have a wide variety of “summer wear” undershirts, ranging from polyester and poly blends to moisture-wicking cotton. These are all superior to the regular cotton undershirts normally available. If you prefer to wear undershirts, or are required to, I recommend looking into polyester; you don’t have to get sport-grade shirts anymore.

  15. Thanks for this very nice article. Well discussed valuable topic. Just my two cents:
    I never ever wear regular t-shirts below a dress shirt. But in the colder months, being many in Hamburg, I wear Albert Keuzer invisible shirts with deep v-neck. They definitely are invisible in combination with most shirts and hold back sweat effectively (until a certain degree at least). One of the best founds in regards of my wardrobe I did in a long time.
    In summer months like now I mostly don’t use them as it is too warm. Then it is really important to use a deodorant that in combination with sweat doesn’t impact the shirt, correct!

  16. I always thought the real gentleman wears waistcoats and braces and never ever takes off his jacket. So undershirts will stay invisible: Problem solved. Not many men wear a waistcoat at all times anymore but even if they were, you can still sew the neckline as shown in the picture.

    1. Jean, only very few men wear waistcoats today, and even if they were you could still see the neckline of the T-shirt in most cases…

  17. Great article Mr. Schneider,
    whenever I consider myself getting properly dress I indeed do wear an undershirt(and this is not to imply that not wearing one means not being properly dress)and certainly it’s comes down too a matter of one’s preference….however in your follow-up article on undershirts can you inform your readers if there is any undershirt being manufactured out of breathable materials that pulls the body sweat away from the body while at the same time keeping the body cool, with today’s technology I can’t imagine why not? Thanks for the informative article.

    P J Weatherby

  18. Wearing a dress shirt without an undershirt is a matter of personal preference. I feel like pro-undershirt people look down way too much on us. I do recognize my responsibility to make sure no nipple or chest hair is visible and that sweat marks don’t ruin my nice dress shirts. But you don’t need to wear an undershirt to stop these. A dress shirt with a higher price range will resist longer to sweat stains and in many cases come in thicker material so no nipple or chest hair will show. You don’t need to own any undershirt in this case.

    By my experience, an undershirt does absorb sweat HOWEVER, this creates a sweat trap on you. Your sweat doesn’t dry up where as when you have no undershirt on you have more air circulation and therefore getting you dry faster, especially when you enter an air conditioned building. So don’t panic when you have no undershirt on and start sweating. You probably will find yourself in an air conditioned building in no time :-) Sweat-phobia needs to stop.

    Besides, if you are a single guy at a wedding or a fancy party dancing the night off, the single ladies love the no undershirt look.

  19. Sven – you seem to have missed my comment. No one wants to see your nipples through your shirt so for me an undershirt/singlet is a necessity! It’s too hot in summer to wear a jacket or vest and I don’t want my nipples on display. Therefore I have to wear an undershirt or singlet.

    Not trying to grandstand or over share. To me it’s a very valid reason and one no-one has ever mentioned in all of the to wear or not to wear an undershirt discussion. I’m a conservative dresser anyway but there really is no other option for me.

    Cheers,

    Peter

  20. My perspective is that shirts – all shirts – are undergarments. Except when engaged in a hot weather casual sporting activity, I always wear an over garment. For business attire I regularly wear both a waistcoat and jacket. In casual situations I remove the jacket – but the waistcoat is not removed in public. A gentleman does not appear in public in his undergarments.
    Consequently, I rarely wear a second undergarment under my dress shirt, and then only in the coldest of weather.

  21. One point that has not been mentioned is that a white undershirt makes your shirt look whiter. I decidedly dislike white shirts of thin fabric through which one can see the skin. A white (!) undershirt, of course longsleeved and with a crew neck, prevents that unfortunate look and makes your shirt look properly white. On the downside, you have to keep your shirt buttoned up and wear a tie in order to keep the undershirt invisible. If one wants to wear a shirt of very thin fabric – which I can’t quite understand – then I think one should wear an undershirt. Skin-coloured undershirts prevent hair showing through, which is good, but cannot prevent light wheight shirts looking slightly pink.

    I really enjoy your articles – thank you for all your effort!

    Greetings from Switzerland

    Th. Pirani

  22. Gray tees are virtually invisible when worn under most dress shirts (much less visible than white tees), and don’t require home dyeing. I generally wear a light heather-gray tees under most of my dress shirts, with a sufficiently deep v-neck that even when worn with the top dress-shirt button undone, the tee doesn’t show.

  23. I was raised that it is proper to wear one with a dress shirt. That is probably from my father having been in the army in the 50’s but the habit has stuck. Later in life, I found that it helps hide the youthful indulgence in getting tattoos as I have had comments made when the white dress shirt clung to my ink and it showed through, wearing a white tee shirt underneath solves that issue.

  24. Hi Raphael, just on wearing perfume / fragrence on the neck… When speaking to the kind folk at Floris in London and the Chanel girls at our local boutique the advise given was to never place fragrence on the neck as the alcohol and oils can dry out the neck as it is exposed to air and makes the neck area all pruneish and aged. It can also visably discolour the neck parts of shirts or jackets. Their suggestion is after bathing apply a small amount of unscented body moisturiser to the chest and abdomen area, leave 10ish min and apply fragrence. I have found this to be extremely successful, even in hot humid weather, with fragrence lasting much longer then you would expect. The undershirt, in my experience, kind of locks the fragrence scent in close to the body and as you sweat absorbers into the shirt. Because the undershirt remains warm it releases the fragrence quite nicely. I know that often when ironing my undershirts you get beautiful scents of residual fragrence steaming up.

    Regards

  25. It is interesting how much the discussion involves the niceties of wearing an undershirt or not. Surely personal preference, circumstance and hygiene gives the answer to the individual.

    What is interesting is how tolerances have changed in recent decades. If we remember that the shirt itself (not the undershirt) is really underwear, the only parts intended to be visible being collar and cuff, why do we not think it odd for TV presenters to appear on our screens with shirt sleeves and braces (suspenders) on show? Is this not the same action as coming into the studio wearing just socks and boxer-shorts?

  26. The choices in materials and colors today is wide there is no excuse not to wear an undershirt. I prefer a thin layered none stretch 100% cotton. It must be a snug fit I don’t like them loose. Most importantly I try to always match my undershirts to the color of my shirt. If the shirt is stripped , then I try to match the lighter shade of color. This method I feel brings out the color of the shirt and makes the shirt technically invisible. Perhaps the only time I would go without an undershirt, is that if I was wear a double ply shirt.

    I hate plain white shirts in general, and would almost never attempt to wear one unless I had too!

  27. hey what about these guys over at http://www.ministryofsupply.com/
    they got some pretty cool technical material to help regulate body temp (NASA tech) and wick sweat easily, have yet to try their gear though, they have undershirts as well.
    im a heavy sweater and enjoy walking so will be looking into the MOS shirts fa sure, cotton don’t help

  28. Hi guys,
    I personally like to ware undershirts in the winter under regular clothes but never under Shirts when combined with a suit. And I prefer my undershirts from Zimmerli who, in my opinion, manufacture the best underware available. They have different styles and they are all of excellent Quality!
    Solong
    Ginger

  29. Interesting discussion on undershirts. The climate (mid-Atlantic, U.S.) and being in the military make wearing undershirts second nature for me. I’ve always wondered how to minimize the silouette they create though. I do sweat a lot and there was a day when, in a pinch, I wore a new, microfabric undershirt I’d purchased for the gym under a dress shirt. I did sweat, and I liked the way it “wicked” the sweat away from me as it’s designed to do during exercise. I have problems with stains in the armpits, collars, and cuffs. Any “sweaters’ know how to keep your collars and cuffs stain free?

    About 9 years ago, my 17 year old son asked if he could borrow one of my “wife beaters”. I’d never heard the term before and asked him what he meant. When he explained it to me, I must’ve laughed all day. It still strikes me as a hilarious reference and I was surprised to see it here. Apparently the womenfolk haven’t yet gotten up in arm’s about it in these politically correct times.

    1. Interesting, wife beater is the first term I ever learned for this kind of undergarment.

  30. hey there gentlemen!

    great discussion going on here about undershirts!

    sven shared this article with me and i decided to publish an article about it, and share some additional thoughts about wearing/not wearing undershirts.

    here’s the article:
    http://www.undershirtguy.com/going-undershirtless-why-you-should-not-wear-an-undershirt/

    i definitely agree that it seems to boil down to personal preference, but if you wear one, the rule-of-thumb is to ensure your undershirt does not show.

    this can be done via an undershirt with collar line that cannot be seen though your outer shirt (i.e. deeper v-neck), a neutral colored undershirt (heather grey, body-colored), or no undershirt at all.

    for many, i suppose they feel that so as long as the undershirt is thin, fitted, and cool-wearing — if it doesn’t show, it’s a fine item to wear as it will protect the outer layer from sweat, body oils, colognes/perfumes, and deodorant marks.

    for those that don’t wear undershirts — that’s cool too. i do believe, it’s a matter of personal preference.

    this is a great discussion, and one that i’m very happy that sven surfaced.

  31. Whether or not to wear an undershirt and the style that you select are very much a personal preference. I always wear an A-shirt even though it is sometimes visible through my dress shirt. Quite honestly, the comfort factor is more important to me and I am never self conscious about wearing an A-shirt. Because I perspire more in the chest and back areas, this style of undershirt provides the protection that I desire. We have choices because there is not a type that fits everyone’s preference.

  32. Absolutely delightful read your post especially because just a few weeks ago a friend and I discuss the matter. He maintained to wear a shirt underneath was unsightly, he said.. if the shirt is visible looks awful… and some cases is true but in my case most of the time the shirt labels despite being a good brand hurt my skin or is simply unbearable.

    Now I try not to use shirt underneath but sometimes the neck label just killing me. Why do you think that some manufactures put so many labels or even why use so harsh materials? and if you try to remove it you damage the stitching neck. I have a beutiful TH shirt that I could not use it again for this reason.

    The english is not my native language so I hope you can understand my “english”. Great website, great publications. Greetings from Bogotรก.

  33. In the South, typically we wear a crew neck white undershirt. Even under a polo shirt. It is a look thatโ€™s has become normal and to do otherwise leave the wearer sticking out. I understand the rules, most of us do, however this is a compromise to convention.

  34. Very surprised that no one mentioned the Japanese brand uniqlo.com – they have a good line of no show t-shirts in pima cotton and man-made fibres and various colours including light tan. As for neck tags, Jockey prints their label on the inside of their pure cotton tee’s.

  35. Unlike some who commented they like them in tropical weather to wick up moisture, I like them in winter as an extra layer. I agree with the consensus that a gent will wear a v-cut undershirt with an open shirt, so it doesn’t show. Though I wouldn’t do it, I see nothing wrong with an undershirt that shows if it is colour coordinated with the outerwear. At least some semblance of style has been contemplated and mixing and matching is as valid for men as it is for women. JASA

  36. I just want to add that my “headlights” are always “on” and an undershirt helps minimize that sometimes embarrassing aspect of my physiology. It also prevents misinterpretations.

  37. Iโ€™ve been wearing Tommy John deep Vโ€™s for several years. The only downside to them is they get fairly discolored within a year or so. I can stretch it a bit longer if I donโ€™t dry them in the dryer. Intrigued about ribbedtee.

    I grew up being taught to always wear a undershirt with a button-down. I recall watching Casino Royale and Daniel Craig wearing that thin tux shirt and no undershirt. It was see-thru!!!

    Some companies even make long sleeve undershirts for cooler weather. I just go with a flannel shirt and a cashmere or thick merino sweater.

  38. Wearing a uniform for many years, personally, I do believe in undergarments. Changed daily, they keep the outer clothing clean, allowing them to be re-worn multiple times before washing–especially with a uniform.

    More than often I do wear an undershirt under any shirt (T-shirt included), or sweater, I wear when I am out. Although I do wear colored undershirts, the white undershirt is my color if choice because it is a nice neutral color that matches many different colors.

    I disagree in entirety that undershirts should remain hidden as it makes for a focal point just below the face like wearing jewellery. V-neck T-shirts are, in my opinion, dated, or for crotchety old men.

    Providing the same function as an undershirt, on the other hand, underwear, even bikini bathing suits, should remain hidden, and only revealed to those select individuals with which a person cares to share them, and themselves.

  39. This guide is terrific. I needed to learn about undershirt apparel as I had never worn it before, this article really helped me learning about it. Thank your!

  40. Excellent post. I like that you highlighted the difference between an undershirt and a tshirt. The differences may not be dramatic, but they are certainly significant. Tshirts generally arenโ€™t form fitting and have a propensity to bunch and look sloppy due to excess material. Proper undershirts fit close to the body which reduces excess material; effectively eliminating the bunching problem. Anyway, thanks again. Good read

  41. I like how you talk about the importance of wearing undershirts especially in today’s day and age when it comes to dressing fashionably and looking smart while keeping cool and dry at the same time. The importance of selecting the right undershirt to wear as well can impact the rest of the wardrobe you wear atop said shirt. I’m looking to replace all of my current undershirts because they’re all unsightly and I need to look more professional in a business suit!

  42. Yes I wear undershirts the sleeveless with low cut neck. Gives me second skin feel and no sleeves allows me flexibility. Been wearing them for 50 years. When itโ€™s cold I wear t shirts with short sleeves.

  43. A lot of mentions about the kemptness of wearing T or undershirts that help hide sweat and nipples. My main reason why I wore them, whether dress or polo is an under garment always seems to hold the top garment is place almost like a low-tack velcro. When wearing a T-shirt I rarely had to re-adjust my main top shirt regardless of when I stood or sat at a desk and rose from it. The under garment always held it in place thanks to to cotton “grip” it seemed to have. Helped to keep that crispness and smoothness a bit longer during the course of a work day.

  44. A vee-neck undershirt is often, but not always, the best choice. These can sometimes show though around the neckline of a light colored top shirt. In this case a crew neck can be the better choice. In my opinion, one really needs some of each.

  45. I mostly agree. Particularly about how awful it looks to have a crewneck poking out of your open collar. The problem, though, is that deep V undershirts are fine under darker shirts, but the outline is visible under a white shirt and looks almost as bad as the crewneck popping out above. As a general rule, I wear a crewneck with a white shirt and tie, but with no tie, I usually donโ€™t wear an undershirt at all. Is there some solution that Iโ€™m missing?

    1. Hi Mark, have you tried an undershirt colour closer to your skin colour? We outline in the article that heather grey is typically going to be less of an obvious choice underneath a thin white dress shirt, too.

  46. Obviously, you have never lived in the South.

    We wear undershirts year-round because they do wick, and when the wicking takes place it is actually a cooling effect. The second reason an undershirt, particularly with dress shirts, they are often made of fabrics that a somewhat shear (as compared to Oxford Cloth) and do not mask your skin color, or scars. body hair and other aberrations of the body. See the letters below!

    1. Quite right, David, I’ve never lived in the South (of the US, I presume?). That being said, I have experience of wearing undershirts and prefer to go without year-round. In hotter months, I’ll opt for a shirt that is made of a cooler cloth that breathes well, as I’ve noticed many people in the warmer parts of Europe tend to do. Ultimately, it’s all about personal preference, and what works best for us all as individuals.

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