# Male Dopers: Do You Wear Undershirts When Wearing Suits? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041 "2013-08-24T07:37:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/41 "2013-08-26T12:08:58Z")
I have one suit that is brought out for weddings or funerals, and since a $10 shirt looks and wears just fine I see no need for an undershirt. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/42 "2013-08-26T12:15:11Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > And yeah, some people have spotted tatts through the white business shirts, so what? Well, it’s a matter of opinion if course, bit tattoos clash with business style. And half-seen ink looks like a mess. Show them or cover them up. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/43 "2013-08-26T12:19:51Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > An undershirt can soak up sweat instead of the dress shirt. People used to change undershirts everyday and dress shirts every few days from what I understand. Used to? I still do. That is, I change both each day (though I don’t launder my shirt after every use). ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/44 "2013-08-26T13:33:15Z")
Always when wearing a dress shirt, for some of the reasons mentioned earlier such as not let the dress shirt get sweat-spotted thus giving it longer life. Also, you may think it counterintuitive, but in hot muggy weather I find a pressed and starched dress shirt against a bare torso can be quite uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/45 "2013-08-26T16:27:33Z")
Yes, always. It keeps sweat from showing through, extends the life of the shirt, looks better, and is more comfortable than a starched shirt on bare skin. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/46 "2013-08-26T16:41:49Z")
It depends on many factors, such as how hot it is, how formal the occasion, what I’m going to wind up doing in the suit, what type of (over)shirt I’m wearing (including whether I can wash it), how much time I have, what clothes I have clean, whether I will be able to take off the coat, and probably many more things that I’m not thinking of. With that many variables, having only one answer seems, well, unintelligent. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/47 "2013-08-26T16:52:04Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > :rolleyes: Why the emoticon? He’s 100% correct. If you can’t tell just by looking, and have to do something else, then clearly it was not about looking proper. This is like making sure someone shaves even if they don’t have any facial hair. The goal is to look a certain way, and, if they look that way, they’ve succeeded. And if you have a counterargument to this, I’d suggest giving it rather than thinking an emoticon will do it for you. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/48 "2013-08-26T16:55:52Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > An undershirt can soak up sweat instead of the dress shirt. I’ve forgot to respond to this. I know this is the theory, but, in practice, I find that undershirts do a lousy job of this. What would seem better to me would be breathable fabrics. The only thing I’ve seen this work for is socks, and that’s only thicker sock, like the athletic kind. And undershirts are never that thick. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/49 "2013-08-26T16:56:23Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > With that many variables, having only one answer seems, well, unintelligent. Easy for you to say. I don’t even own any undershirts. So, there’s always only one answer for me. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/50 "2013-08-26T18:10:27Z")
I voted yes. I really enjoy dressing up, and have the opportunity to do so often for both work and personal life. One of the most enduring life lessons my father taught me was that a gentleman is always equipped with 4 things: a watch, a pen, a handkerchief, and an undershirt. I have been amazed at how often that advice has proven helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/51 "2013-08-26T18:58:11Z")
I do wear an undershirt and I almost always wear an undershirt. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/52 "2013-08-26T19:00:47Z")
Yes, always. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/53 "2013-08-26T22:23:19Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > To all those who don’t wear an undershirt - you may not think you perspire and produce noticeable odor, but other might disagree. An undershirt is protection against offending others. So your philosophy is that hot conditions may make you sweat, so you’ll add another layer of clothing (which makes you hotter and sweatier)? And as for offending others, why is a sweaty undershirt less offensive than a sweaty shirt? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/54 "2013-08-26T22:34:50Z")
People seem to have strong feelings about this issue. (Myself included). You would think it would be simply a matter of personal preference where we can all recognize that there is no right or wrong approach. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/55 "2013-08-26T22:58:09Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:53, topic:667041”] So your philosophy is that hot conditions may make you sweat, so you’ll add another layer of clothing (which makes you hotter and sweatier)? And as for offending others, why is a sweaty undershirt less offensive than a sweaty shirt? [/QUOTE] As others have mentioned, for some of us, the benefit of wearing a more comfortable fabric against the skin outweighs the (honestly, fairly minor) warmth of the additional layer. I’m someone who doesn’t sweat much, but would never wear a dress shirt without an undershirt. I just don’t care for the feel of that fabric against bare skin. I also prefer the look of a dress shirt over an undershirt - it smooths out any paunch while simultaneously “de-lankying” the shoulders and upper arms (if that makes any sense). That being said, I don’t have strong feelings about the issue when it comes to the sartorial choices of other people. I grew up in the Bay Area at the height of the dotcom era, where wearing a t-shirt and shorts to work was de rigeur. Formalwear as a concept wasn’t really something I got the hang of until well after college. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/56 "2013-08-26T23:46:10Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > People seem to have strong feelings about this issue. (Myself included). You would think it would be simply a matter of personal preference where we can all recognize that **there is no right or wrong approach**. Well, there’s the hitch in our git-along. There **is** a right or wrong approach. The right approach is “you wear an undershirt with a dress shirt.” Period. Doesn’t matter if your shirts are nice, or not see thru, or it’s hot where you live, or you reject the repressive traditions of a crypto-fascist-sartorialist culture, it doesn’t make sense to you or you’ve got a note from your mommy. That’s the rule. There’s nothing wrong with breaking the rule - there are no fashion police coming to take you away or anything - but admitting you’re breaking the rule means conceding you’re in the wrong, and that’s not something people are prone to do, consequences or not. So the people that don’t follow the rule have to convince the everyone else the rule is bad, rather than something sensible like "Yeah, technically you’re supposed to, but I say “Fuck that,’ man.” So out comes the Bathwater Invalidation Principle - first people assume a general rule is an absolute, then everyone nitpicks for the smallest, minute set of circumstances where the rule doesn’t apply or would be applied unwisely (“Oh yeah? Well, what if it was a _ **lactose-intolerant lion on Mars** _? Ha! In your face!!”) and claim you have to throw out everything, baby and all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/57 "2013-08-27T00:01:00Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Well, there’s the hitch in our git-along. There **is** a right or wrong approach. The right approach is “you wear an undershirt with a dress shirt.” Period. Doesn’t matter if your shirts are nice, or not see thru, or it’s hot where you live, or you reject the repressive traditions of a crypto-fascist-sartorialist culture, it doesn’t make sense to you or you’ve got a note from your mommy. That’s the rule. > > There’s nothing wrong with breaking the rule - there are no fashion police coming to take you away or anything - but admitting you’re breaking the rule means conceding you’re in the wrong, and that’s not something people are prone to do, consequences or not. So the people that don’t follow the rule have to convince the everyone else the rule is bad, rather than something sensible like "Yeah, technically you’re supposed to, but I say “Fuck that,’ man.” > > So out comes the Bathwater Invalidation Principle - first people assume a general rule is an absolute, then everyone nitpicks for the smallest, minute set of circumstances where the rule doesn’t apply or would be applied unwisely (“Oh yeah? Well, what if it was a _ **lactose-intolerant lion on Mars** _? Ha! In your face!!”) and claim you have to throw out everything, baby and all. 🙂 Yeah, I guess. But I’ve been wearing suits frequently for over 25 years, since I graduated from law school, and I had _never heard_ of such a rule before this thread. I know a lot of other rules for formal dress, and adjust as I feel like it… But this one? News to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/58 "2013-08-27T00:14:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > People seem to have strong feelings about this issue. (Myself included). You would think it would be simply a matter of personal preference where we can all recognize that there is no right or wrong approach. My strong opinion is only about what _I_ wear. I really could not care less what _you_ wear. > [@epbrown01](#): > > Well, there’s the hitch in our git-along. There **is** a right or wrong approach. The right approach is “you wear an undershirt with a dress shirt.” Period. There is no such rule. There is no right or wrong answer. We’re talking about fashion here, where everything is arbitrary anyway. Nobody is going to send you home for wearing (or not wearing) an undershirt. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/59 "2013-08-27T00:23:03Z")
Those afraid of your nipples showing: Do you dudes have hideous, misshapen, scared nipples or is it just a general preference they not be viewed? Cause I get compliments regarding my nips most days. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041/60 "2013-08-27T00:38:35Z")
Of course I wear an undershirt. Are we barbarians? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-dopers-do-you-wear-undershirts-when-wearing-suits/667041.md?page=4)