9 Reasons to Add an Undershirt to Your Wardrobe

If you’re disillusioned with undershirts, it’s probably because you didn’t have a great experience the last time you wore one. And chances are you’re currently struggling with pit marks and end-of-day stink that leave you feeling awkward at work and social events.

If you love to dress well, you don’t want to ruin your costly shirts and suits with unsightly yellow marks, which is where a quality undershirt can help save the day. You want an undershirt that feels soft and light on the skin withstands excessive sweating and stays undetected under your workwear.

Here are nine good reasons to help you reconsider wearing an undershirt by helping you understand how an undershirt does its job, how it’s different from a regular t-shirt and how to choose the right undershirt when choices abound.

3 reasons you should consider wearing an undershirt

It keeps your outer shirt from getting wet with sweat

If you live in a tropical climate or spend a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to wear a soft and absorbent undershirt beneath your workwear. Without an undershirt, your dress shirt and even your expensive jacket could be ruined with unsightly sweat marks or deodorant stains.

A quality undershirt serves as a protective layer between your skin and outer clothing and enables you to feel and look fresh all day long. If you’re looking for an effective solution to stinking shirts and ugly sweat rings, a good undershirt may just be what you need.

It gives an even undertone to light-colored dress shirts

An undershirt in a neutral color helps create an even surface beneath a light-colored shirt, lending a layer of concealed sophistication to your look. In addition, it covers chest hair and prevents the shirt from sticking with your skin because of sweat or static. Many men who don’t sweat a lot or mostly work indoors prefer to wear an undershirt because it functions as a great concealer and somewhat compresses the body.

In addition, if you live in a cold place a good undershirt can work as an extra layer to keep you warm.

It protects your expensive outerwear

If you sweat a lot, moisture can seep through your work shirt and into your designer jacket, spoiling a good outfit and causing you embarrassment at work. Wearing an undershirt helps prevent frequent washing (or dry cleaning) of your workwear, saving you time and money in the long term. Invest in a quality undershirt with superlative fit and you can prolong the life of your formal workwear or party wear by at least a couple of years.

3 reasons a t-shirt cannot be used as an undershirt

Many men tend to believe they do not need an undershirt as they can simply wear a V-neck tee under their work shirts—that’s until they’ve actually tried a good undershirt. The reason undershirts came into being is to serve a specific purpose, which is why they are designed differently from the regular t-shirt. Here are three reasons a tee cannot pass as an undershirt.

Undershirts are invisible

A well-fitting undershirt is meant to be worn under a collared shirt, while a t-shirt is meant to be worn as outerwear. An undershirt is longer so that it can be tucked into your pants. In addition, it has a much better fit and takes to your body shape without making you feel smothered.

With short, fitted sleeves, a well-cut undershirt can be comfortably worn under a shirt for long hours. Lastly, undershirts come in neutral colors that can be worn unnoticed under most work shirts.

Undershirts are light and thin

An undershirt made of high-quality lightweight fabric can be conveniently worn all day long. Unlike a regular t-shirt, it won’t feel bulky or rise upwards as you go about your day. An undershirt allows swift evaporation of sweat, thus preventing it from spoiling your work shirt. This feature keeps your body cool (and your mind calm). A t-shirt, however well designed, will not give you the same comfort as it’s simply not designed to be worn as absorbent underclothing.

Undershirts are underwear; t-shirts, outerwear

A simple difference between undershirts and tees is that the former is designed to provide undetected support as underclothing while the latter is worn standalone as a regular outfit. Just like brief or boxer shorts, an undershirt serves a special purpose and solves specific problems. Someone who knows the importance of quality underwear would inevitably opt for an undershirt over a t-shirt.

If you’re looking for a good undershirt to manage sweat and/or conceal nipples and body hair, maybe one of these will work for you.

3 tips to help you choose the right undershirt

Pick the right material

The fabric used to make an undershirt is the topmost factor that determines its performance. Natural fibers help the skin breathe and make evaporation easier, which is why the primary material in your undershirt should be a natural fiber such as cotton or high-quality cotton blend.

Don’t worry, however, if you find a small percentage of synthetic fiber in your fitted undershirt as it adds elasticity to the fabric, allowing for a better fit and shape retention with repeated use.

Buy the right fit

Undershirts come in many different fits. You can choose between a close-fitted or relaxed-fit undershirt based on your intended use and personal preference.  Opt for a slim-fitting variant to wear under form-fitting dress shirts. For comfortable all-day wear, invest in a few long undershirts with deep V-neck and short sleeves.

Choose the right colors

Instead of just wearing a white undershirt or t-shirt under everything, buy a few feel-good undershirts in basic colors such as off-white, white, black, grey and beige. If you often wear a crisp white dress shirt to work, a grey or skin-toned undershirt would work better than a white one. Also, buy more pieces of the color you use most to avoid frequent washing.

For best results, avoid low-quality run-of-the-mill undershirts and opt for a high-quality product that will pay for itself as you use it.