Ever Present Past: Some T-Please

This week is all about our everyday uniforms for work, school, play and so much more. The definition for what we will be talking about this week is below.

T-Shirt also known as the Tee Shirt (tē’shûrt’) n.  1. A short- sleeved, collarless undershirt worn by men and boys 2. An outer shirt of a design similar to the T-shirt and worn by men and women [From its being shaped liked the letter T.]

The Tee Shirt was really just an evolution from union suits that men would wear under there clothes while working in the mines and farms. Yet somehow, someone thought of cutting it in half and like magic- a one piece under-shirt was made. It was even more popular when it was issued to men during the Spanish American War who fought in the Navy. Later in the Great Depression, it was found to be essential due to its affordability, lightweight fabric and modesty. Many people felt it was not really fashionable to wear by itself until Marlon Brando (Streetcar Named Desire) and James Dean (Rebel Without a Cause) were seen wearing only jeans, T-shirt and jacket. They inspired so many people, men and women, to wear just those three pieces everyday for the past 60 years or so.

While the T-shirt has been reinvented over the years Madge Evans first showed off her horizontal jersey knit shirt that Jean Seberg would make popular in her film debut Breathless which has made a huge resurgence in girls closets in the past two years or so. Later, the 70s introduced the concert tee to us, which is my guilty pleasure due to the fact I go to concerts more than I can afford to. Then again the popular graphic tees of today have everything from supporting social change to I “Heart” (insert word here.)

Everyone from American Apparel to Wildfox Couture has made a company from this basic indispensable item. Another great thing that started just this year is that Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen have started an affordable T-shirt line called StyleMint,  which is an online store that offers a new shirt every month that’s catered to your style. You’ll take a quiz when you first sign in to get a style profile. From there, you’ll get your top styles and after that be able to shop for the perfect T-shirts.

I hope you enjoyed this little article about a basic clothing option the T-shirt that is underrated in our everyday lives, I think.