Wondering if you should wear an undershirt under your t-shirt? Here are the top reasons to consider whether or not you should (or shouldn’t).
The writing of this article was inspired by this reader’s question:
Hey Tug!
Your site is awesome, so you were the go-to guy when I ran into the issue of wearing undershirts under t-shirts. I like to wear an undershirt everyday under whatever I have on, as considering my job it’s usually something collared (depending on what’s needed, polo or dress shirt or whatever).
But now it’s summer, so I’m wearing t-shirts. It’s not exactly easy to wear an undershirt under them.
I feel really gross with the sweat and everything without one, and it just looks kinda weird to wear a t-shirt under a t-shirt…doesn’t it? Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help!
– Peter
Firstly, let’s define the difference between the t-shirt and undershirt. Often confused with each other, the undershirt and t-shirt are, in fact, two completely separate items of clothing with different purposes in your wardrobe.
The Undershirt
The UNDERSHIRT is a base layer shirt worn next to the skin. Its function is to minimize the everyday sweat and underarm deodorant stains from soiling your dress or t-shirts, helping to minimize the number of times they need to be laundered and therefore extend their life.
The undershirt is actually not a shirt, it is underwear. Just as you wouldn’t go outside in your jockey shorts, you should not be wearing an undershirt as your outermost item of clothing.
The undershirt is made to be worn under another shirt, so it is thinner and lighter than a t-shirt. It is available in a limited number of muted colors such as white, grey, black and tan so as not to show through your outer shirt.
Undershirts are usually worn under a collared work shirt. They also give you an extra layer of coverage under a lighter fabric dress shirt, thus avoiding that embarrassing see-through look.
Undershirts are slightly stretchy with a snug fit and are not made to be worn on their own.
The T-Shirt
The T-SHIRT, however, is worn on the outside exactly like a normal shirt.
It is thicker than an undershirt and comes in a variety of colors, fits, and collar styles — absorbing sweat like any other shirt. For sake of clarity, unless otherwise noted, I’m referring to crew neck t-shirts most of the time in this article. Crew neck t-shirts are those with the round collar (Wikipedia).
For those looking for the best selection of t-shirts that have close fitting collars, be sure to check out my tight neck t-shirts article.
Undershirts and t-shirts are not interchangeable, however, so it is not advisable to wear a t-shirt as if it is an undershirt. This is because, under most circumstances, it will bunch up and show visible lines through your outer shirt. Not a cool look and probably a little uncomfortable too.
T-Shirt vs Undershirt?
Looking for more information on the differences between undershirts & t-shirts? Check out my T-Shirt vs Undershirt article covering the top ways they are different.
Should you wear an undershirt under your t-shirt?
Now that we’ve defined the difference, should you wear an undershirt under your t-shirt – or even golf or polo shirt?
The answer is both YES and NO.
Can you wear a t-shirt without an undershirt? Sure, many do — and it really boils down to personal preference & comfort.
Should you wear an undershirt under your t-shirt? Absolutely, especially if you want to add extra life to your outer shirts.
Here’s why it’s important to wear an undershirt even under your t-shirt:
Protection from Body Sweat and Odors
Wearing an undershirt under your t-shirt prevents the armpit areas from becoming stained and stiff from sweat and deodorant staining.
It will extend the life of your t-shirts as they will need less laundering.
Stays Tucked-in Better
The typical T-shirt cut is very short and won’t stay tucked into your pants all day.
Undershirts are cut longer than your average t-shirt, so they stay tucked into pants or shorts and provide a more pulled-together look.
Protection from Stiff or Rough Fabric
An undershirt is comfortable and soft and can protect your skin from an itchy or rough fabric.
If your current undershirt isn’t soft, you are wearing the wrong type.
Makes White T-shirts Less Transparent
Light-colored t-shirts can be transparent. With a little sweat or water, they can become embarrassingly see-through.
Wearing a good-fitting undershirt underneath a light-colored t-shirt ensures a solid visual barrier which will absorb the sweat that may have made it transparent.
Streamlines Your Appearance
Undershirts help smooth out your body contours.
Nipples, man boobs, or chest hair peeking through your shirt can be somewhat of a fashion faux pas. So, a well-fitting undershirt that contains a little compression will help reduce the appearance of any unsightly characteristics of your physique.
Helps Regulate Body Temperature
Not only can a good quality undershirt feel good against the skin, but it can also help regulate body temperature.
Today’s undershirts will either keep you warm in the winter or cool in the summer. A thicker undershirt helps you stay warm in the winter and a breathable, absorbent shirt to wick the sweat away helps your body temperature remain stable in the summer.
If you are wearing your favorite t-shirt on a warm day, be sure to add an undershirt with a cooling fabric underneath to keep you comfortable.
What fabric should you choose for an undershirt?
Here are my suggestions –
Fabric options:
- Undershirt fabric should be thin, stretchy and soft
- If prefer cotton, choose high-quality, extra-long staple 100% cotton such as Egyptian or Supima cotton
- Another option is a stretchy combination of cotton and synthetic fibers (such as rayon) that retains its smooth shape
- Modern technical fabrics, such as TENCEL are buttery-soft with sweatproof or moisture-wicking properties
What undershirts styles are there?
Undershirt style options include:
Style | Description |
---|---|
Tank top | Sleeveless; doesn’t absorb underarm sweat making its main function to absorb sweat on chest & back, hide nipples and smooth down chest hair. |
V-Neck | Wear this with v-neck tees so you can be stylish without your undershirt peeking through. |
Deep V-Neck | Wear deep v-neck undershirts when you’re wearing any open collar shirt (polo, button-up, dress shirt) with 2 or more buttons unbuttoned — showing more chest. |
Crew Neck | The most common style to wear with a typical standard tee, or when wearing a tie. |
Long Sleeve (crew neck usually | Great for warmth or to cover arm tattoos. |
Compression | Best for smoothing the appearance of lumps and bumps. See my Compression Shirts for Fat Guys article or my Shapewear category for more information. |
For those looking for crew neck undershirts that have good sturdy, no sag collars, check out my list of tight neck undershirts.
What Should I Know About Undershirt Fit?
Your undershirt should be close-fitting with small armholes to allow it to absorb sweat under your arms. When an undershirt is fitted, it helps prevent bunched excess fabric underneath your t-shirt.
It should feel snug but comfortable, without restricting your movement – and should stay tucked into your pants.
Also, make sure the neck opening is bigger than your t-shirt collar. This will prevent the collar from bunching around your neck or peeking out from under your t-shirt.
A carefully crafted, quality undershirt smooths out the torso, so your shirt lies flat across your body.
What Should I Wear Under A V-Neck T-Shirt?
Generally speaking, you should never let your undershirt show.
When wearing a t-shirt with a lower neckline, such as a v-neck t-shirt, wear a thin, close-fitting v-neck undershirt so that it isn’t visible underneath.
Two v-neck styles to choose from:
Type | When To Wear |
---|---|
Regular v-neck undershirt | These are best for wearing under a v-neck t-shirt or under a shirt with the top button not fastened. Note: Sometimes called high v-neck undershirts |
Deep v-neck undershirt | This style works best under a deep v-neck t-shirt, or of course, a button-up shirt with the top two buttons left unbuttoned |
Should I Wear A Tank Top Under A T-Shirt?
Tank Top undershirts can be a great option to wear under your t-shirt, especially in the summer or hotter climates. See my article about Wearing Undershirts In Summer for more specifics.
They have less coverage than a sleeved undershirt, so they can sometimes be cooler to wear. But, they do a good job of absorbing chest and back sweat, keeping your t-shirt cleaner than if you weren’t wearing an undershirt.
Additionally, most tank top undershirts are fitted, so they offer some smoothing & shaping, chest/nipple flattening, and can help your t-shirt drape better.
Lastly, if your t-shirt is a little coarse, a tank top undershirt will help prevent nipple chafing and will generally provide more comfort than going without.
The Bottom Line
The undershirt should be a staple in every man’s wardrobe and can be worn a t-shirt if done properly.
It’s practical, comfortable and preserves the life of both t-shirts and dress shirts alike.
Try one on, wear it for a day or two, and you just may never go back to wearing your t-shirt without an undershirt under it.
This article has been updated, re-written, and republished. The original comments below have been maintained for historical purposes.
To the tank top guy the tank top has no armpit protection so it’s really not doing anything for you my guy I don’t see the purpose of tank tops worn under any kind of shirt
Heres the thing with wearing an undershirt under a T especially if it’s an expensive T then it’s definitely a no brainer the problem tho is the collar sticking out tho right I try to get same color undershirts to help with this but really the solution should be a collarless undershirt to be worn with t shirts.
College-educated, socially active young professional here. I wear beaters every day under every kind of shirt. I started wearing them in college and haven’t looked back. Nothing else gives the look and tight, confident feel that a beater does. Wearing one right now under a V-neck tee at a coffee shop, brings out my defined chest better than anything else.
TUG – do you think it is /ever/ acceptable to pop a couple of buttons to, purposefully, expose the neckline of a beater tank? I’ve done this on-occasion because beater tanks are the most masculine undershirts out there IMO.
I wear them a lot in spring under t-shirts to protect more my stomach and chest while having the comfort (and look why not) of bare arms, but I really take them off in summer. Though I can really see wearing them for the sweat, but that has never been a big problem on me as I do very moderately even if it’s really hot.
Great article! I always wear a tank top under my T-shirt whatever the season. It just feels completely natural and comfortable. I get a lot more wear out of my T-shirts as a result and it’s much nicer to have the super soft cotton of my tank against my skin than the coarser fabric of my T-shirt. I also find a tank looks much smarter under a white T-shirt than having my nipples and chest hair visible!
Hey Tug,
Would you recommend wearing a Nike Pro under a T-shirt or Shirt for the posted situation?
hey mo, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. the nike pro line includes a bunch of different types of dri-fit performance t-shirts. some of them are like muscle shirts (no sleeves) and the others range from short sleeve crews to long sleeve tops (assuming you’re not considering long sleeve). in general, these types of performance tops might be ok to wear underneath a t-shirt, but it really depends on many factors.
first, the nike pro looks to have a higher collar line (their stretch-tape neckline) which might be visible with a t-shirt over it, depending on the t-shirt’s collar design.
second, the nike pro line is made with their dri-fit fabric technology (aka polyester/spandex blend, some of the fabric in mesh) which is by it’s very design, moisture wicking. if the challenge with wearing a moisture wicking product as your base layer is that if the fabric does it’s job well, it will pull moisture away from your body and transfer it to your outer t-shirt where the sweat stains may soak through.
third, it will be important to find one that fits tight so it’s not bulky underneath your t-shirt.
and last but not least, if you’re going for the sleeveless (muscle) nike pro, you won’t have protection for your underarms. now, that might not be important for you specifically, but it’s something to consider.
one other thing, the nike pro line is pretty expensive with per shirt prices ranging around $40. while these might work for you, you might be better served with something less expensive and an undershirt that absorbed moisture vs. wicked it. if you have additional thoughts or questions, let me know!
Caught your article during an internet search… I almost always wear two tees at work and home. Exceptions are when it hits 90 or above with high humidity. At work… I’m a glorified mechanic… the sweat hits the undershirt and doesn’t show through the top layer, The sweat is felt, though, definitely. The shirts are selected to minimize the appearance of a second tee, but the look doesn’t bother me. In fact I’m interested in short-sleeve sweatshirts. Side note: I’ve read that two layers of tees are forbidden in some prisons, because an inmate might beat another inmate and ditch the top tee, to hide any blood stains. Whew.
Just to throw a few more insights into the mix: DEFINITELY go for the beater under the plain white tee. The tee looks whiter, it provides a second barrier for hiding chest hair (crucial), and you just look better. As for colored tees, de-sleeved a couple white tees with good necks and make them into ‘muscle’ shirts. When you remove the sleeves, make sure you actually pop the seam and not just cut them off. When you cut, the leftover material has a tendency to roll up and cause issues. When you pop the seam, get your good sharp pocket knife and run the blade over the stitching holding the sleeve to the body of the shirt. It takes some time/patience, but you end up with a shirt that hangs cleanly, sits tight on the neck, and doesn’t have sleeves with length issues. Oh — added bonus — even without the sleeves, the shirt still manages to fulfill its sweat-catcher responsibilities in the pit area. (And I’ll shut up now!)
great suggestions Big C! thanks so much. particularly like the recommendation on how to de-sleeve an undershirt. great stuff!
thanks ray! that’s a good suggestion too!
Great post as always TUG. Another reason to wear an undershirt beneath a t-shirt could be for fashion. While I don’t recommend wearing a t-shirt underneath a tank top, wearing similar styles in different colors could add a pop of fashion.