T-shirts were first introduced to the USA around the time of the Spanish-America war. They were given to the U.S. Navy, who began to wear the t-shirts under their uniforms. They were also worn by sailors who worked in submarines, as well as those labouring in tropical climates. Adopting a t-shirt enabled workers to remove their heavy jackets in warm weather. Wearing only a t-shirt also enabled them to preserve the upkeep of their jackets. In the 1930s farm workers and other labourers chose to wear the t-shirt as it was designed with a lighter fabric. Indeed, comfort, longevity and durability, as well as fashion, are what men look for in today’s vast ranges.
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The humble t-shirt has become an iconic wardrobe staple
The t-shirt gained notoriety and a wider following in the 1950s, when Marlon Brando appeared in the simple garment. The iconic actor achieved fashion status and street cred. Being a heartthrob, he drew attention to the humble t-shirt. He wore a white t-shirt as the character Stanley Kowalski in the famous movie A Streetcar Named Desire. His appearance was followed by James Dean who stepped out in the 1950s film Rebel Without a Cause. The two movie icons allowed the popularity of the standalone t-shirt to soar. The garment is now unisex and all-purpose and can be worn in a variety of settings, from casual to formal. It can be teamed with jeans, chinos or smart trousers.
The t-shirt has evolved from its early days
The t-shirt has evolved a lot since its early days and men are looking to achieve style nowadays. Stunning mens Ralph Lauren T shirts can be obtained from various outlets including EJ Menswear which stocks a variety of fashionable pieces. According to Vogue Adam Sandler, who is a popular wearer of the t-shirt, has been crowned the fashion icon of 2021 by Vogue magazine.
A vehicle for the protest era
Fast-forward to the 1960s and graphic t-shirts and t-shirt printing became popular. . With many movements emerging in the 1970s, t-shirts were the perfect outerwear platform for broadcasting an array of political, social and cultural messages. No longer was it a case of the simple white t-shirt, but the rising popularity of logos and the protest movement combined to give the t-shirt the chance to speak out against perceived injustices such as the Vietnam War.