Now, you may still wonder whether you should wear an undershirt at all. Simply a matter of personal preference, there is no right or wrong here.
Some of the advantages of wearing a vest for men:
- If you sweat profusely, wearing an undershirt will help absorb the sweat.
- Evening shirts with a stiff front for black tie and white, inner vest can help avoid chafed skin, and it is invisible underneath the bib shirt front.
- If you are always cold and you’d like an extra layer of cloth to stay warm, an undershirt will help.
- A vest under formals can restrict chest hair from glimpsing on the surface of the shirt.
- Without a brief vest, your dress shirts will inevitably get deodorant and sweat stains.
- Well cut undershirts, are not visible in the collar area even if you wear your top two shirt buttons unbuttoned.
Benefits of wearing an undershirt under formals
- The basic purpose of an mens inner vest is to absorb your sweat. It provides a defensive layer between your body and your more expensive clothing.
- A good undershirt can also provide insulation when needed, and some lend shape and support to the upper body. But for the most part, it’s a sweat-absorbent material.
- The easiest way to define men’s inner vest is to equate it with underwear but for your upper body. Some guys skip it while many have their own preferred style, but for most of us, it’s a basic necessity that keeps the rest of our clothes from getting gross.
- A thick, knit men’s under vest with long sleeves and a high collar is more winter suitable. For humid countries, a short-sleeved cotton-blend variety with a deep V-neck or scoop neck is more apt.
- Add in the really high-tech ones — athletic gear and compression shirts, mostly — and you’ve got a wide range of products. Some are plain and utilitarian; the upper-body equivalents of plain white cotton briefs.
- Others are stylishly designed for visible wear, especially in the athletic sector and performance wear.
- Showing your vest can be looked upon as a bit crass. But the lines have blurred in modern fashion. High-performance athletic garments are functional “undershirts,” and made in stylish cuts with designer patterns, with the assumption that they’ll be worn as the top layer. 2019 gave rise to loungewear being worn as outerwear on the ramp.
- Actors in major motion pictures routinely strut around in light knit shirts and nothing more on their upper bodies — think Robert Downey Jr. in all the recent Iron Man films or Daniel Craig in Skyfall.
Let us take a look at the best undershirts for sweat, why wear an inner vest? What are the various undershirt styles?
White Cotton Tank Tops
In the lowest rung in the style ladder lies the negligible white cotton tank top.
These are decidedly undershirts. They shouldn’t make an appearance as your outer layer. In fact, they shouldn’t make an appearance at all, except when you’re dressing and undressing. These are really only useful for those who don’t sweat a whole lot, or for men who want to wear very short-sleeved and low-necked summer shirts.
Crew Neck T-Shirts
The original cotton t-shirts for men style stemmed from an undervest and soon was a ubiquitous youth garment by the 1950s. You can style a brief vest either way and a closely-fitted look works best. Mostly, though, these are also best as undershirts. They provide good sweat protection, especially if they’re fitted close to the chest and under the arms.
V-Neck T-Shirts
Replacing the crew neck with a V-neck is the obvious solution for men who want to wear a shirt with a few buttons left undone. The depth of the V-shape can vary, but most are cut so that you can wear at least one button of a typical dress shirt open without showing your inner vest.
These are a more practical option for undershirt purposes and retain the same good absorbency of the T-shirt style, but they’re even more casual when visible.
Athletic Undershirts
These have moisture-wicking properties as athletic shirts and are designed much like traditional undershirts. These use micro-fibre and synthetic material to create a garment that stays light and dry much longer than a basic cotton shirt.
The high performance of a lot of these tops is offset by a style that’s not really designed for “under” wear. Most male versions come in dark or vividly bright colours, with logos and patterns that are meant to be seen.
A quick glance at the best Undershirt Fabrics!
Undershirt fabric should be fairly thin and stretchy to prevent it from showing through. You have a wide choice of good options:
- 100% cotton is durable and trustworthy. Go for higher-quality cotton like Egyptian or Pima cotton if possible.
- Another good choice is stretch modal blends, a combination of cotton and synthetic fibres that create a smooth look and stretchy feel that retains its shape.
- Bamboo fabric is the most cutting-edge in vest fabrics currently and great for activewear.
- Finally, there are modern technical fabrics, often synthetic, that are specially designed with sweatproof or moisture-wicking properties.
What should we check when buying an inner vest?
When buying an inner vest, it's important to consider several key factors to ensure comfort, durability, and functionality. Here's a brief guide on what to check:
Fabric :
As you are going to wear a vest inside it’s important to choose a light and breathable fabric, especially for summer so you may feel comfortable and cool. You can opt for cotton as it is a popular choice for many and has moisture-wicking properties that can soak out the moisture and make you feel comfortable and cool for long periods of time.
Colour
When it comes to the men’s under vest colour does matter. Go for some neutral colours like white, black, or grey as they are versatile and can be worn under anything. For formal occasions or work, white or light-coloured brief vests are often preferable as they look clean and professional. For casual wear, you can experiment with different colours or patterns. Additionally, darker colours inner vests are perfect for the gym session as they can help hide sweat stains.
Size
When buying an inner vest, make sure it fits your body comfortably. It should be snug enough to look neat but not so tight that it restricts your movement. You should be able to move your arms and torso freely. The men’s inner vest should also be long enough to stay tucked in, preventing it from riding up during the day. If you prefer wearing it untucked, ensure it’s not too short. Look for vests with a bit of stretch, like those with elastane or spandex, to help the vest fit better, keep its shape after washing, and allow for comfortable movement.
Looking back at some of the men's undershirt rules one should follow!
Summarizing what we have written in this blog:
- Don't let them show your inner vest unless they're hiding chest hair, tattoos, or other marks.
- Your undershirt should be thin, stretchy, and close-fitting.
- If you have light skin, your best undershirt colours are white, light grey, or beige.
- If you have dark skin, your best undershirt colours are brown, dark grey, or black.
- Collar and tie: Wear a crew neck.
- Collar, no tie, smooth upper chest: Wear a deep V-neck.
- Collar, no tie, hairy upper chest: Wear a crew neck.
- Your t-shirt is not an undershirt.
- Your undershirt is not a t-shirt.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What kind of fabric is used for vests?
Fabric for vests is mostly moisture-wicking and breathable like a cotton-modal mix or a bamboo!
2. Are vests in for men?
Yes, they definitely are.
3. Should the vest be tight or loose?
They should be close-fitting. Neither tight nor loose.
4. What are the undershirts?
An undershirt is used to wear beneath a shirt and absorbs sweat while making your body feel cooler.
5. Why do men wear vests?
Men wear a vest to protect their skin or body from the stiff or uncomfortable fabric of a shirt and also to absorb sweat throughout the day.
6. Are gym vests and athletic undershirts the same?
Gym vests and undershirts are essentially the same thing and are made of similar fabric that is moisture-wicking and soft. However, you can choose coloured vests for the gym to enhance your look.
7. What type of vests men should wear?
Men should prefer vests made from cotton and Modal fabric that is soft and absorbs sweat and moisture. It is also stretchable and provides adequate movement while working out.
8. Which fabric is best for men’s undershirts?
Combed cotton should be used for men’s undershirts because it is super soft and more comfortable as compared to regular cotton.
9. What are the benefits of wearing undershirts?
Undershirts help absorb sweat and moisture, make you feel cool and relaxed and are super comfortable for all occasions, be it the gym or the workplace.
10. Should a man always wear an undershirt?
Depending on your type of clothing, you can choose whether to wear an undershirt, but whenever you have a long day or have to work, wearing an undershirt is the best option.
11. Why are undershirts so tight?
Body hugging and slightly snug undershirts provide a better fit and make your shirt look more tailored. However, you should select an undershirt based on your appropriate size chart.
12. Do undershirts have to be white?
Undershirts can be white or coloured.
13. What colour undershirt is least visible?
Depending on your outer shirt, a white undershirt will be less visible if you wear a white shirt, similarly, darker shirts will make a black undershirt less visible.
14. How to measure the size of undershirt?
You can measure your chest size and refer to our size chart to choose the best undershirt for you.