Do you wear an undershirt? Why?

[bertie]

I think the t shirt provides another layer which can add some more heat trapping but would not have the same insulating properties as wool suiting or coating.

I use industrial strength deodorant which both leaves a residue and can stain fabric. T shirts reduce the amount of chemicals getting through to my dress shirts.

But mostly I like the extra warmth.

 

[cataan]

I've never forgotten this despite it being over 20 years ago: had a college professor who was wearing a dress shirt without the jacket while giving a lecture to a 40 student management class in a fully air-conditioned room...

How do I know he wasn't wearing an undershirt? The two obvious sweat stains in the arm pits of his shirt. Nasty. Do I remember what he lectured about that day? Nope. But those sweat stains were imprinted in my brain as something to always avoid; thus I always wear undershirts.

 

[heldentenor]

As a professor, I can empathize--I wear prescription strength antiperspirant, but sweat through my undershirt/visibly into my shirt nearly every day. Four hours a day of lecturing to 80-100 people means I sweat from anxiety/stress like crazy!

 

[AZsundevil]

Undershirt = Underage.

However...

I've never forgotten this despite it being over 20 years ago: had a college professor who was wearing a dress shirt without the jacket while giving a lecture to a 40 student management class in a fully air-conditioned room...

How do I know he wasn't wearing an undershirt? The two obvious sweat stains in the arm pits of his shirt. Nasty. Do I remember what he lectured about that day? Nope. But those sweat stains were imprinted in my brain as something to always avoid; thus I always wear undershirts.

This is an excellent lesson in distractions as a speaker. That professor failed as a speaker because he inadvertently did something (in this case, allowing his pits to sweat through) that distracted you from the actual material that he was presenting. It has EXACTLY the effect that you mentioned: Your mind is going to be drawn to the distraction instead of the presentation. If the professor notices that he consistently has sweaty pit stains at the end of the day, he needs to do something to address that.

As a professor, I can empathize--I wear prescription strength antiperspirant, but sweat through my undershirt/visibly into my shirt nearly every day. Four hours a day of lecturing to 80-100 people means I sweat from anxiety/stress like crazy!

Have you considered that the undershirt is actually making you sweat more?

 

[archibaldleach]



Have you considered that the undershirt is actually making you sweat more? 

I'm not an undershirt wearer, but I'd think you'd have to sweat considerably more for the sweat to go through both the undershirt and the dress shirt. Even if you sweat less without the undershirt, all of the sweat would be immediately visible.

 

[heldentenor]

Undershirt = Underage.

However...

This is an excellent lesson in distractions as a speaker. That professor failed as a speaker because he inadvertently did something (in this case, allowing his pits to sweat through) that distracted you from the actual material that he was presenting. It has EXACTLY the effect that you mentioned: Your mind is going to be drawn to the distraction instead of the presentation. If the professor notices that he consistently has sweaty pit stains at the end of the day, he needs to do something to address that.

Have you considered that the undershirt is actually making you sweat more?

Yes; considered it and tested both ways. No noticeable difference in sweat produced, but when I do sweat, the lack of undershirt makes it immediately noticeable. I wear the undershirt and teach in a jacket to try to avoid exactly the kind of visual distraction you allude to above.

 

[cataan]

One can purchase very thin undershirts that breath well yet provide sufficient enough of a layer to keep sweat from reaching the dress shirt. Heck, Fruit of the Loom sells these. I don't think they're thin to be targeted at dress shirts - they're thin because the company is cutting back on material to save money; however, they end up being very functional for wearing under a dress shirt especially when it is warmer.

 

[TheWraith]

I wear undershirts (or singlets as they're known here) in the colder months.

 

[scotchman]

I wear an undershirt--t-shirt, not tank top of course (pointless). T-shirts, like someone said above, allow you to wear your dress shirts more than once, which is a huge advantage because it means your dress shirt will last at least twice as long.

 

[archetypal_yuppie]

^ +1

 

[VinnyMac]

I don't have a sweating or body odor problem, so I generally don't wear undershirts. A lot of days, I don't wear deodorant (just cologne scented shower gel), so I don't have to worry about the deodorant stains. On days when I know that I'll break a sweat, I wear a t-shirt, but they're usually tight so that they don't add extra bulk.

On anther note, a t-shirt peeking out from the neck of a collared shirt is UGLY. If you're not going to button up, then don't wear a t-shirt.

 

[archetypal_yuppie]

v-neck. /epiphany

 

[VinnyMac]

v-neck. /epiphany

They're usually not low enough. Most people undo more than just the very top button. You can still see "the horrors within."

 

[TactileOne]

For those of you who do not wear undershirts, I hope for heaven's sake that you do wear briefs or boxers. Same purpose to keep your clothes clean.

 

[Winston S.]



They're usually not low enough. Most people undo more than just the very top button. You can still see "the horrors within."

I generally don't have issues with mine and I undo the top two buttons when it is warm and still have no issue.

Alfani ones do have that issue though that the V is not deep enough. I find that 2xist, Polo, and Uniqlo v-neck tees are fine.