What To Wear Under a Dress Shirt – Undershirt Tips

Wondering what to wear under your dress shirt? You aren’t alone.

If you’ve ever tried to wear a dress shirt without an undershirt, you’ve likely both seen and felt how uncomfortable this omission can be.

Not every undershirt is created equal, so it’s important to choose the right one for each occasion to stay comfortable and appropriately dressed. This article will explain how to choose an undershirt based on your dress shirt, and some fashion mistakes to avoid.

Short On Reading Time? Jump To Recommendations

If you’re short on time and don’t want to take a (very) deep dive into the specifics of wearing undershirts under dress shirts, I’ll save you some time.

To jump to the section where I provide some specific undershirt recommendations, click here.

Otherwise, if you’re a glutton for punishment and want to get your PhD in wearing undershirts under dress shirts, read on.

Undershirts – The Unsung Hero

Undershirts are truly the unsung hero in a man’s wardrobe. You don’t see them (or at least you shouldn’t), but they are incredibly important.

Believe it or not, the humble undershirt has various functions. All of them shape and polish your outfit. They will keep you warm or help you stay cool. In short, they are necessary to the well-styled man.

The Truth About Dress Shirts

Dress shirts come in various levels of thickness and opacity. Some are quite sheer, while others are more substantial. In the right light, you can see right through many dress shirts. A see-through shirt is embarrassing and distracting.

Instead of communicating respect and prestige, a translucent shirt speaks volumes of sloppiness, carelessness, and naivety.

Spending just a little time adding an undershirt will enhance your overall look. It will elevate your style and give you more confidence too.

Types of Undershirts to Consider

There are several options available including:

• Tank tops
• Crew neck undershirts
• V-neck and deep v-neck undershirts
• Plain t-shirts (though these aren’t ideal)

How do you know what to choose? This guide will take you through the entire decision-making process.

What is an Undershirt?

Before we look at which undershirt to buy, let’s answer one very common question:

What exactly is an undershirt?

The simplest answer is just like it sounds: an undershirt is a piece of underwear that you wear under your shirt.

Undershirts are made to be:

• Close Fitting – they won’t bunch under your dress shirt
• Stay Tucked length – long enough so they will not come untucked during the day
• Comfortable – made with the softest fabrics, they feel like a second skin
• Sweat Capturing – they absorb sweat and protect it from getting on your dress shirt
• Breathable – the fabrics help your skin breath so it doesn’t overheat
• Covering – they cover up the nipples and other parts of your chest, so they don’t show through
• Protecting – they protect your dress shirts from sweat and odors. But they also protect your skin from rubbing against rough dress shirt linens and materials

Just like underwear has a purpose, so do undershirts. They are just as important and should be a regular part of every man’s wardrobe.

A T-Shirt is NOT an Undershirt

It’s easy to get them confused since undershirts can sometimes look just like t-shirts. They have the same color and shape. But there are lots of ways t-shirts are different from undershirts.

The simplest way to explain it is this: a t-shirt is outerwear and an undershirt is underwear. Because they have different functions, they are actually made with different fabrics and in different sizes.

Best Types of Undershirts for Different Dress Shirts

Now you know what an undershirt is and how it’s different from a standard t-shirt, let’s look at how to match undershirts with different types of dress shirts.

You’ll want to choose a color that matches your skin tone. More information about matching undershirt color with skin tone is provided below.

Undershirt fabric weight also needs to be considered, and will depend on several factors including:

• The weight of your dress shirt
• The weather
• Your thermal comfort needs

Here are some ideas on how to match an undershirt with your dress shirt:

Heavy dress shirts (not see through):

Season	Undershirt Weight	Undershirt Color
Winter	Average to heavy weight undershirt (150+ gsm)	Color matching your skin tone or light grey
Summer	Thin lightweight undershirts (100-150 gsm)	Color matching your skin tone or light grey

Lightweight dress shirts (somewhat see through):

Season	Undershirt Weight	Undershirt Color
Winter	Heavyweight undershirt (160+ gsm)	Color matching your skin tone or light grey
Summer	Thin lightweight undershirts (100-150 gsm)	Color matching your skin tone or light grey

Types of Undershirts Explained

Tank Top

Tank top undershirts are sleeveless with thin straps on the top. A lot of men choose to wear tank tops because they don’t have sleeves, so they are cooler and less likely to be visible underneath short sleeves.

V-Neck

Regular v-neck undershirts have short sleeves and the neckline dips into a curved v shape. Wear these undershirts if you like to keep your dress shirt slightly unbuttoned and don’t want your undershirt to show through the top. You can also pick a high v-neck undershirt if you like the comfort of a v-neck but don’t need one that dips so low.

Deep V-Neck

For men who enjoy leaving their shirts unbuttoned even further, there are deep v-neck undershirts too. The bottom of the v stops right about armpit height.

Crew Neck

Finally, the crew neck undershirts are classic. The cut of the neckline is more curved and sits higher, close to the neck. These are a good choice if you are going to keep your dress shirt completely buttoned up, for example, if you are wearing a tie.

What To Wear Under Different Types of Dress Shirts

Short-Sleeved Dress Shirt, Slightly Unbuttoned

Depending on how short the sleeves are, you can wear a v-neck undershirt or a tank top. In this case, choose the one that is the most comfortable for you.

Long-Sleeved Dress Shirt, Completely Buttoned

For long-sleeved dress shirts that you are going to wear buttoned and possibly with a tie, choose a crew neck undershirt. This will give you the most coverage and the most protection.

Deeply Unbuttoned Dress Shirt

If you prefer to wear your dress shirts unbuttoned quite low, then wear a deep v-neck undershirt. This will give you the protection of the undershirt while letting you keep your dress shirt unbuttoned how you like it.

Best Color Undershirt For Dress Shirts

Choosing the type of undershirt is the first step. Next, you have to pick out the right color.

The best choices are going to be tan or light grey, depending on your skin tone. Remember, those who have darker skin should choose the light grey undershirt. If you are paler, go with a tan one.

Your Undershirt Should Not Show

When you are choosing an undershirt, remember this rule: it should not show through.

This goes for the neck cut (don’t let your shirt poke out the top of your shirt) and for the color. If you wear an undershirt correctly, no one should be able to tell you are wearing one.

Top Undershirt Recommendations

1. UnderFit – Best Overall

At UnderFit, we focus on creating undershirts that solve the common problems I experienced firsthand – bunching, visible lines under dress shirts, and undershirts that wouldn’t stay tucked.

Our signature fabric and tailored fit are designed specifically for wear under dress shirts.

Key features:

• TENCEL™ fabric for softness and durability
• Tailored fit to prevent bunching
• Extra length to stay tucked
• Available in crew neck and v-neck
• Colors: white, beige, gray, and black

2. Tommy John – More Fit Options

Tommy John offers a good range of fit options and styles. Their undershirts feature stretch fabric and stay-tucked designs.

Available at tommyjohn.com.

3. EJIs – Sweat Protection

Ejis specializes in sweat-proof undershirts with built-in protection in the underarm area. They use silver-infused fabric for odor protection. Available at ejisinc.com.

Benefits of Undershirts with Dress Shirts

Extra Warmth

On cooler days, that extra layer will keep your body temperature higher and make you feel warmer. It works by protecting your skin from cool wind and the colder outer fabric of your dress shirt.

Keeps You Cool

On the flip side, it will also keep your body cooler in warmer temperatures too. This works by letting your skin breath and protecting your skin from the dress shirt’s fabric. On hotter days, wear a lightweight undershirt.

Gives You A Polished Look

Another benefit of undershirts is that it gives you a polished look. Everything is smoother, no one can see your hairy chest (unless you want them to), and it smoothes your chest (no nipples showing through).

Protects Your Shirt

It’s important to protect your dress shirts and help them last as long as possible. Wearing an undershirt will prevent underarm stains and protect your shirts from daily wear tear – like from sweating.

Manages Odor and Sweat

Finally, an undershirt will also prevent sweat and odor from escaping. They provide an extra layer of fabric between your skin and everyone else.

Should You Wear an Undershirt Under a Linen Shirt?

Linen dress shirts are more business casual than formal. So it’s a good question — should you wear an undershirt with a linen shirt?

Yes, in some cases you still need to wear an undershirt with a linen shirt. It will protect your linen shirt from sweat stains and odors.

How to Stay Cool When Wearing an Undershirt

You might think that layering two different fabrics will overheat you.

If you are going to a really hot climate or are going to be wearing a dress shirt in the summertime, pick an undershirt made from fabric that is lightweight, breathable, and wicks away moisture.

Always pick undershirts that keep you cool by letting your skin breath and absorbing and wicking away sweat.

What is the Best Undershirt To Buy

When you are choosing an undershirt, look at these key factors:

Fabric

First, always pick out an undershirt with breathable fabric. Fabric breathability is dependent on many factors, including yarn denier, yarn blend, weight, knit style, and any other special finishing treatments performed on the fabric.

Comfort

Since an undershirt hugs so close to your body, you need something that is extra soft. Pick something that feels like a second skin.

Fit

Something else to keep in mind when you are buying undershirts is to buy the right size. Always pick an undershirt that hugs close to your body. This will help the undershirt do its job, which is to absorb the sweat and protect your skin.

Style

Finally, buy an undershirt with a neckline that matches how you wear your dress shirts. Keep your undershirts hidden. If you like to unbutton your dress shirt a bit, then wear a v-neck or even a deep v-neck.

The Foundation of a Perfect Dress Shirt Look

At UnderFit, we know firsthand that the right undershirt is the foundation of every great outfit. When your undershirt fits perfectly, you can focus on what matters – nailing that presentation or feeling your best.

A quality undershirt isn’t just an accessory – it’s an investment in your confidence. Start with the foundation, and the rest will follow.

About Leigh McKenzie

Leigh is the owner of UnderFit, a premium men's undershirt brand based in Philadelphia, PA. You can follow Leigh on LinkedIn and Twitter.