Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video, we'll explore how you can incorporate
that increasingly versatile white t-shirt that's in your wardrobe.
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To many, a white t-shirt is a simple and unassuming piece of clothing, something
that you just throw on without any thought, or you may even view it as a piece of underwear.
But, we certainly feel differently, that the t-shirt is worthy of a bit more respect.
We see it as a must-have item in your wardrobe for a variety of looks. Now, before we dive into
how many ways you can wear a white tee, let's first take a look at its humble beginnings.
Now, it's important to note that T-shaped clothing has been around for centuries - from medieval linen tunics
to Victorian dress shirts - but I think you'll agree that these don't resemble a modern day
t-shirt too much. It's around the 20th century that we begin to see the t-shirt as we know it today.
Now, the underwear of choice for many was the "union suit." The historical onesie was a figure-hugging
undergarment, which is to keep the wearer warm and their clothes clean. Now, we say clean, but
it's important to remember that this was happening during the Industrial Revolution. Those performing
hard manual labor found the all-encompassing onesie to be very hot and uncomfortable.
So, they took to cutting the suit in half at the waist in order to be able to wear the top half
tucked into their trousers. That wasn't long before underwear manufacturers
cottoned onto this and started making undershirts. Wait a second. Did I just make a Preston pun there?
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Now, one of the most notable companies was the Cooper Underwear Company. As you can see in this
advertisement, they introduced wearing a stretchy shirt which can be pulled over the head.
This is without the button fastening of a union suit. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate this ad?
A complete suit, free? Where do I sign up? Now, the result was a smooth comfortable garment that laid
flat to the body and helped to better regulate the wearer's temperature. The t-shirt will continue on
as an undershirt; first being introduced to the US Navy in 1913. They were made of white
cotton and had a crew neck. They also sported short sleeves. Fun fact: the term "crew neck" literally comes
from the Navy as the rounded neck was actually synonymous with the sailors. Like most items of
menswear with military roots, the practical t-shirt was soon adopted by the general public,
with the term "t-shirt" entering the American English language and the term being actually introduced to
the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 1920. Aside from being an undergarment, the t-shirt was very popular
among younger audiences and was also something that was worn when doing chores. A t-shirt is far
easier to launder and maintain than a button-down shirt. It's with the 1951 film "A Streetcar Named Desire"
and Marlon Brando that the t-shirt became an item of clothing on its own. As the character of
Stanley Kowalski, Marlon Brando wears the t-shirt to show the character's crude and unrefined manner.
The previously unknown Brando shot to fame and then went on to film in 1953's "The Wild One," again
sporting a white t-shirt and jeans as a symbol of his character's rebellious nature. Two years later,
in 1955, James Dean took the mantle of rebellious t-shirt wearer in the film "Rebel Without A Cause."
He also sported a Harrington jacket, which you can find out more about in our guide here.
As James Dean and Marlon Brando popularized the idea of wearing jeans and t-shirts together,
it wasn't long before people started referring to it as a bit of a uniform - t-shirts and jeans.
You can find our take on the Levi's 501s here. Moving on from the 50s, the t-shirt continued to have
a bit of a double life as both an undergarment and a fashion item. You can see in the "Mad Men" TV series that
the t-shirt was a very popular choice. Although, I think Don could have learned how to wear a
better undershirt from our guide here. Otherwise, the 60s saw an increase in t-shirt wearing as a
fashion item, this time taking the form of colorful tie-dyed garments. Of course, the
trend for colorful t-shirts continued in earnest. They eventually developed into other types of
printed slogans, images, and colors in the coming decades. The 70s, for instance, saw the increased
use of printed color t-shirts for a marketing tool, acting as a wearable billboard of sorts.
With one or two lesser-known companies being the first to do so. The logo trend continued into the
80s and 90s and people started becoming more aware of the fit of the t-shirt. Typically speaking,
it was fashionable for women to wear t-shirts that were slim and short. Whereas for men, things took a
turn for a more oversized aesthetic. And finally, in the 2000s, the t-shirt, which began its life
as an undergarment, has now become a bit of an overgarment in this unforgettable layering trend.
I'm so glad that trend is over. I don't know about you. And today, the t-shirt is a much seen piece of
clothing that I'm sure almost everyone has worn at least once. As history has proven, the t-shirt
is a very changeable garment. And, as often the case with classic style, you simply can't go wrong with
a white tee. But, how do you pick the right one? What makes a quality white t-shirt? When looking for a
white t-shirt, it's all about making sure you're looking for a garment of high quality. As with
most seemingly simple things in life, the key to success is in the details. And with a white t-shirt,
there's little to no room for errors, as anything that's not up to scratch is easy to be seen.
The Fabric. Undoubtedly, the best choice when it comes to a white tee is 100% cotton. It's clean and crisp and
feels great when worn as a t-shirt. It also has a natural elasticity. You can find many blends of
cotton on the market, each with many benefits and their own drawbacks. Cotton blended with linen,
for example, will make a wonderfully light and airy-feeling t-shirt. Something like this would be
great for summer, while cotton blended with silk will give you a very soft and luxurious touch.
However, blends can be a little bit trickier to maintain and to launder than 100% cotton.
Blends with synthetic fibers are usually created to be able to keep costs low for the manufacturer and
these typically don't stand the test of time very well. So, we'd suggest you avoid synthetic blends
whenever possible. Now, for more information on cotton and how to select the best, check out this
guide here. Knitted t-shirts. Usually knitted from merino wool or cotton or linen, the knitted t-shirt
is a delightful alternative to the traditional flat-woven t-shirt. Merino wool is the material
of choice when creating knitted t-shirts because they can be spun into a thin yarn. It also has a
great natural elasticity. This means it's even less prone to creases and wrinkles than cotton.
A knitted merino wool t-shirt is constructed as if it were a thin and cropped sweater.
All with a distinctive ripped collar and openings. It can provide a nice and dressier look than a
traditional cotton t-shirt might. Otherwise, there's the pique knit. This is typically constructed in
cotton and produces a unique texture. It's the type of thing you might see more commonly expressed in
polo shirts, but the technique can be applied to t-shirts as well. The weave has a sportier look
to it, but is fine enough to add visual interest and texture to your smart outfits. As a bonus,
the piquet knit is an open weave, which is great for breathability. Now, this makes it a great choice
for warm weather outfits and it's also perfect for those of us who do run hot. Next up, let's look at
the style of your t-shirt. V-neck versus crewneck. And as we already know, the crewneck is the most
traditional and the most commonly seen of t-shirts. But, is that for everyone? Just like we explored in
our shirt collar guide here, the next style of your t-shirt plays an important role in your
overall look. And your body type will play a large role in helping to decide which neckline is best
for you. A v-neck will be more flattering than a crew neck if you have a shorter or wider body type.
The downwards point will de-emphasize a shorter stature or a wider frame. And the same logic means
that a taller or a slimmer person should avoid a v-neck as you will simply appear even taller
and slimmer than you actually are. Instead, go for the classic crew neck, which will fit your frame best.
If you're one of those in the middle body types, then you can pick from either neckline.
But, if you're in doubt, go for the crew neck. After all, you can't beat a classic.
No logos. This is simple. A white t-shirt is just that. So, keep your t-shirt clean of logos, slogans, and prints.
All of these things come in and out of fashion, but simplicity is always stylish. Next, let's talk
about fit. Finally, as is the case with any item of clothing, the fit of your t-shirt is paramount.
Unlike a tailored suit or dress shirt, a t-shirt is not heavily constructed. In the same way that the
neckline has an impact on the overall look, so does the fit of your t-shirt. It's easy to figure out
fit by looking at the two ends of the spectrum here. By wearing a t-shirt that is too loose
or too tight. I get it. At the gym, it can be useful to have clothing that doesn't get in the way.
And when you're at home, who doesn't love a little bit of Netflix and chill? But, we're not talking about
wearing a white t-shirt as sportswear or nightgown. Instead, you want to be looking for that sweet spot
in the middle. A nice straight fit on the body, sleeves that don't hug your arms or billow like
wings, and generally drapes well on your frame. And when your white t-shirt fits like this, it makes it
that much easier to combine with different outfits. So, let's do just that. How to wear a white t-shirt
anytime. And we've got to start with the classic, white t-shirt and jeans, inspired by the likes
of both Marlon Brando and James Dean. You can't go wrong with this style. Like we've previously
discussed, the beauty of this outfit is in its simplicity. So, make sure everything fits you well,
and don't over accessorize. Doing so can actually clutter the look. For footwear, a simple pair of
classic suede boots or Chelsea boots might add a great classic touch to this outfit. And if you want
a bit of a different flavor, go for understated leather sneakers. Next, we have the modern gent.
White t-shirt, trousers, a navy jacket, and boots. A great topic of discussion in the menswear
sphere is whether a t-shirt can be worn with a jacket. And, naturally, we've added our two cents,
which you can find here. Now, while Raphael and Preston might not necessarily agree to this,
I am okay with sometimes wearing this. Don't worry. We all still get along. Now, the key to pulling it off
is how you choose your tailored garments. Now, by selecting an odd navy jacket or blazer, which has
little or no padding, has more of an unstructured look, creates a little bit of harmony when paired
with the casualness of the t-shirt. Now, the casual element can also be reflected in the shoes
as a pair of loafers or even dress shoes of a more casual nature or look or style can help create
a little bit of balance between the tailored garment and the casualness of the t-shirt.
Now, if I'm choosing to wear this with the dress shoes, of course, I'm going to add in my Fort Belvedere socks.
But, you can always choose to try to wear this outfit combination with loafers and go for that
"no sock look" to help add to the casual look. As with the jacket, keep your trousers similarly unfussy to
create a clean aesthetic. Polish everything off by keeping things in proportion. How to wear a white
t-shirt when it's cold. When the temperature drops, a white t-shirt might not be your first choice of
clothing. But, it can still look great when paired with a casual jacket. The first outfit includes a
brown veal skin jacket. I really enjoy the softer silhouette of this outfit and it's something
that's quite easy to layer in a light sweater underneath you. Now, for this look, regardless of
your body type, do not wear this with a v-neck t-shirt. The multiple v-neck look only works
if you're a Jedi. Now, this look could also look really good with a pair of flannels in the winter
or even a pair of sturdy chinos. It all depends on how formal you want to be. Even some dark denim can
look great with this option. Next, casually coated. White t-shirt, overcoat, scarf, chinos, and boots.
Nowadays, most buildings are temperature controlled and this means you'll typically be in the same
temperature for the better part of the entire year. Now, by skipping a mid-weight layer like a jacket
or a sweater, you can go all the way to a heavier item like an overcoat. This way, you'll be able to
maintain warmth as you go from one place to the next and be at a comfortable temperature when
you're back indoors by removing the overcoat. And whichever overcoat you choose to add,
you can't go wrong by adding a pair of chinos to this outfit. Much like the rules of business
casual dictates, chinos aren't as casual as jeans but not as formal as the odd trouser. They're the
perfect middle ground. And as we're dressing for colder weather, a pair of boots is a must
for this outfit. Moving on to warmer temperatures, a white t-shirt can look remarkably dressed
up when paired with linen. By adding a pair of linen trousers, you get a more relaxed elegance
than if you were wearing a dress shirt. For example, with this warm weather outfit, you can seamlessly
transition from the beach to the café and be appropriately dressed in either location.
As linen is a wonderful fabric to enjoy in the warm weather seasons, it's the perfect opportunity
to take advantage of the natural colors, which translate to linen so well. Greens, browns, and blues
will all look incredible in this combination. Top the outfit off with a pair of loafers to
further refine the outfit. Once again, I prefer the relaxed, sockless look as it also helps to keep me
cool in the ensemble. But, you can add socks if you want to. And last, we have resort-ready. Finally,
hot weather, for many, means shorts and a t-shirt. And I say go for it. But, instead of just grabbing any
pair of shorts and a t-shirt, take a look at how we can elevate this ensemble by choosing a pair
of simple stylish shorts, which fit you well. You carry over many of the same style elements that
make long trousers look good. And what sets this look apart is the inclusion of an overshirt.
As you can see here, it's one of our favorite items for layering when dressing in between seasons.
With many overshirts being crafted from lightweight fabrics like linen, they make great
options to be worn in this ensemble. And unlike a jacket, you can roll the sleeves if you wish.
This will add a touch of sprezzatura to the outfit. Round the look off with
a pair of boat shoes. A warm-weather classic, boat shoes will keep you comfortable in the heat
and strike the perfect level of formality. So, today, I'm wearing a brown veal skin jacket, a white
crewneck t-shirt, brown belt, dark denim, and a pair of white leather sneakers. Rounding off the outfit
with a pair of Fort Belvedere socks. Check out the Fort Belvedere shop here for socks like these.
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