You’re right, unless he’s, well, whatever the name of the character Clark played in that movie. That was a dark time for the men’s undergarment industry…
Umm, I guess I’ve never been a well dressed gentleman but Snopes has a different take on the Clark Gable Killed undershirt sales story.
Rule # 1: Men wearing a dress shirt must always wear a dress shirt. End of discussion.
“But…!” you say? No, end of discussion.
“Now wait a minute… there are valid reasons to not…”
Niet! There are never reasons for it, just as there are never reasons to skip wearing a belt with slacks and a dress shirt or a reason to wear white athletic socks with dress shoes.
I wear mine for three reasons, in no particular order of importance:
1.) It is unprofessional looking to not wear one.
2.) Prevents chest hairs, nipples, or skintone to be seen through the material.
3.) Prevents persperation damage to (especially) white dress shirts.
Tank-top undershirts (aka wife-beaters) only meet #2 and are therefore not something I’d wear. I do own three of them however but it was to complete a “costume” that I needed one.
MeanJoe
MeanJoe
smack head with keyboard PREVIEW, PREVIEW, PREVIEW!!!
Should read: Rule # 1: Men wearing a dress shirt must always wear a under-shirt. End of discussion.
I refuse to admit typing my username twice was a mistake. 
Narrad, i think you would agree that these shirts are only worn down under by particular individuals!!! And they have nick-names all of their own. (hoping you are not one of them… otherwise i just insulted you)
Tank top in Oz = gym junkie, or teenagers with no idea.
I find them sexy too, but not for going out. My honey in a tank top is for my eyes only
He likes wearing them when it’s not winter underneath his other shirts because he doesn’t like how two sleeves feels when it’s warm outside.
While lifting weights, you get a better range of motion when your shoulders are not restricted by fabric. And you can show off if that’s your thing (I only do so in the mirror in my apt.).
However, when wearin’ a dress shirt, I always go w/ the full T-shirt type for the above mentioned reasons (also, if I’m wearing a white dress shirt, the undershirt prevents my tat’s from showing through, which would needless to say not go over very well where I work).