Everyone has them, we all wear them, and, chances are, we own several
different types. What exactly is this item? Well, it’s a shirt. Whether
it’s a polo shirt, a t-shirt, or even a fun bowling shirt, the shirt is
very popular. They’ve been around for a very long time, and modern
versions have been in existence since the early 1900’s.
Many types of shirts are in existence today. One of the most popular is the polo shirt.
Polo shirts are typically thought to be named for designer Ralph
Lauren, whose Polo line is quite popular. However, that is not so. The
polo shirt is a knitted, pullover-style, sport shirt that features a
rolled collar and bottoms at the neck.
They are usually made from 100% cotton. You can find them in other varieties of knot such as Pique, Interlock, and Lisle.
Similar to the standard polo shirt is the rugby style. It looks much
like a polo, however buttons can be replaced by a zipper and broad
stripes are usually present in the shirt’s design.
Another popular design is the T-shirt. The T-shirt came to be in the
early 20 th century, and since has become a wardrobe staple.
The American T-Shirt began during WWI when troops saw European soldiers
wearing the comfortable, lightweight, cotton undergarment on hot days.
Since American soldiers wore heavy wool uniforms, they quickly caught
on and became known as the ‘T’ shirts, or T-shirts are we call them
today.
T-shirt officially became a word in the 1920’s when it was included in
the Merriam-Webster dictionary. And, by WWII, the Navy and Army had
included them as part of standard issue underwear.
From there its popularity grew and the T-shirt was no longer thought of
as just an undershirt. Actors such as John Wayne, Marlon Brando, and
James Dean wore them as regular shirts. By 1955, it was even considered
to be ok to wear by itself without another shirt covering it.
Over the years T-shirts have evolved even further.
In the 60’s the tie dye T-shirt became popular. Screenprints were also
fashionable. In fact, advances in printing and dying paved the way for
other forms of the T-shirt such as the tank top, muscle shirt, scoop
neck, V-neck, and also many others.
Since T-shirts were so inexpensive, they were used to make a statement.
Band and professional sporting teams began printing their logos on
T-shirts, which became hot merchandise for their fans.
During both the 1980’s and 90’s, T-shirts became even more popular.
Types of print, as well as availability, increased. Today you’d be
hard-pressed to look in someone’s closets or drawers and not find at
least one.
Today T-shirts can be found just about anywhere. You can buy them
plain, printed, or, thanks to different companies on and off the web,
you can even customize your own.
T-shirts are often found in a person’s wardrobe because it is
fashionable, comfortable, and, best of all, affordable. Polo shirts are
also a popular wardrobe staple because its classic look works with so
many different styles.
