Undershirt

An undershirt in American English (vest in British and South African English, banyan in the Indian Subcontinent, or singlet in Australia and New Zealand), is an article of underwear worn underneath a dress shirt so as to protect it from body sweat and odors.

Example of a T-shirt to be worn as an undershirt and usually not as outerwear

More generally, the term refers to an upper-body garment worn next to the skin (innerwear) by men. It can have short sleeves (T-shirt) or be sleeveless (A-shirt).

An undershirt may be worn to protect the body from stiff or otherwise uncomfortable fabric. It also makes dress shirts less transparent, to reduce the amount of sweat absorbed by the shirt's fabric. It can be worn during winter months as an extra layer of warmth, and reduces wear on the upper layers of clothing.^[1][2]

History

Factory mass-produced undershirts became common in the West in the early 20th century, with innovations turning the union suit into two pieces, for upper and lower body.

Types of undershirts

An A-shirt

• A sleeveless undershirt, also known as an A-shirt, tank top, has large armholes, a large neck hole, and offers little protection for armpit sweat.
• A crew neck T-shirt has a high neckline, often requiring fully buttoned shirts to avoid being seen.
• A V-neck T-shirt has a V-shaped neckline. This allows the wearer to unbutton the upper buttons of a collared shirt without the undershirt being seen.^[3]
• A long sleeved T-shirt has long sleeves, and may be designed with extra insulation for use in cool weather.
• A camisole is an undershirt for women.