Linen Shirt -- with or without an undershirt?

[A.K.A.]

Today I purchased a Polo custom-fit, red and white gingham, long-sleeve linen shirt. Planning to wear it for an afternoon of tailgating and an evening football game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in mid-September. No doubt the weather will be hot and humid.

Would you recommend wearing it with a v-neck undershirt, or without an undershirt?

I normally wear an undershirt with any cotton button front shirt, but never wear one with a short sleeve polo collar shirt. Since the shirt is linen I am thinking the undershirt may hamper linen's advantage to handle moisture.

 

[SpooPoker]

There was another thread about this recently, but Im not a fan of any undershirts with a dress shirt.

However, even if you prefer them with your dress shirts, the general translucency of linen, coupled with the fact that its benefit in the summer is to let air in and you stay cooler, I think another layer is defeating the purpose.

 

[A.K.A.]

Thanks. Sounds logical.

 

[Viral]

I always wear an undershirt.............

I'm going to 'Bama vs. LSU in November......................LSU biatch!!!

 

[DandySF]

Enjoy the cool that linen will provide. Don't muck it up with an undershirt. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something faintly unnecessarily Puritanical about undershirts.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

However, even if you prefer them with your dress shirts, the general translucency of linen, coupled with the fact that its benefit in the summer is to let air in and you stay cooler, I think another layer is defeating the purpose.
+1. I have the same shirt in blue/white gingham and I don't wear it with an undershirt. I feel the same as Spoo in that an undershirt would defeat the purpose of wearing linen.

 

[chrisb0109]

Originally Posted by DandySF

Enjoy the cool that linen will provide. Don't muck it up with an undershirt. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something faintly Puritanical about undershirts.
That would be the idea that the human body is too dirty to have contact with a fine shirt. Undershirt wearers surely still sleep with a board between themselves and their spouse, only removing it to make love through a hole in a clean white sheet. We all should learn the impurity of skin.

 

[MyOtherLife]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

There was another thread about this recently, but Im not a fan of any undershirts with a dress shirt. However, even if you prefer them with your dress shirts, the general translucency of linen, coupled with the fact that its benefit in the summer is to let air in and you stay cooler, I think another layer is defeating the purpose.
+ 2

 

[tokyodandy]

Originally Posted by A.K.A.

Would you recommend wearing it with a v-neck undershirt, or without an undershirt?

If it's not going to be hot and humid, then you'll be fine without an undershirt, but don't not wear an undershirt just because the shirt is linen.

I wear undershirts with linen shirts. Yesterday I was out in Ginza, wearing a linen shirt but (unusually) not wearing an undershirt on what turned out to be a hot day and ended up feeling sticky and unpleasant, as I half expected. Today I'll wear the undershirt, again with a linen shirt.

Most of the people here advising against an undershirt don't seem to live or work in genuinely hot and humid climates, in which case they're probably right to suggest you don't use one. I don't know how hot Alabama will be in September, but probably not that bad?

Here's a simple test. Go outside and walk at a normal pace for 3 minutes. If you feel the sweat start to flow, you need an undershirt. If you don't perspire, you don't need an undershirt.

More here:
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...=1#post3501243

TD

 

[black_umbrella]

Loose the undershirt. I live in the mid south (+100 F days and humid). Linen by itself is enough. Especially if you're just out tailgating with some friends. I wear an undershirt with dress shirts on hit days, but I work in AC so it's not a big issue with regards to temperature regulation. Plus linen always says "weekend" or "vacation" to me.

 

[amplifiedheat]

Originally Posted by chrisb0109

That would be the idea that the human body is too dirty to have contact with a fine shirt. Undershirt wearers surely still sleep with a board between themselves and their spouse, only removing it to make love through a hole in a clean white sheet.
People wash and dry faster than shirts. I'm generally not an undershirt wearer, but I have to admit they do prevent visible sweat.

 

[Master-Classter]

linen undershirt FTW

 

[westinghouse]

If you plan on keeping the linen shirt for many years, wear an undershirt.

 

[bowtielover]

Always wear an undershirt, v neck with work best so it is not seen with the polo.

 

[A.K.A.]

Originally Posted by Viral

I always wear an undershirt.............

I'm going to 'Bama vs. LSU in November......................LSU biatch!!!

Thanks, again. My Army days ingrained the need for an undershirt. Fayetteville, NC + Jul./Aug. + 99% humidity = undershirt.

Since your game is at LSU, then you won't hve to worry about an endless supply of corndogs, coonass! Roll Tide!