I have decided that an underrated

[Pheidippides]

wardrobe item is the simple t-shirt.

On my trip to Utah, I found myself without any clean clothes save a pair of swim trunks (the rest having been soiled in/by the desert). I'm not entirely comfortable hanging around naked in my brother's apartment (at least not with his wife around), so I head down to Wal-mart to see if I can find at least a shirt to wear while doing laundry.

I buy a pack of plain Hanes tagless shirts - two grey and two black. Medium, which is also a kind of big deal.

They are comfy. Also, my wife thinks they look great on me with the weight loss.

Also, they are plain, so I don't feel like I am a walking billboard for something or other.

Also, they go really well with my jeans when I am riding my motorcycle. Plain fitted-but-not-skin-tight shirt with faded jeans and simple shoes/boots. A classic look.

Best of all, it's only like $6 for a pack of 4.

[TripletDaddy]

word.

Try American Apparel. Good stuff.

[kccougar]

Plain is best. Other than BYU and free stuff I get from my engineering clients, I don't wear brand apparel.

[Pheidippides]

word.

Try American Apparel. Good stuff.

How much do they cost, and if more than $2/shirt, why would they be better than plain ol' Wal-mart Hanes?

Oh, further edit from SHW (who I am getting closer to getting signed up on here, btw): she says the look would not have been so good 50 pounds ago.

[TripletDaddy]

How much do they cost, and if more than $2/shirt, why would they be better than plain ol' Wal-mart Hanes?

Oh, further edit from SHW (who I am getting closer to getting signed up on here, btw): she says the look would not have been so good 50 pounds ago.

Truthfully, you are probably ok going with the Hanes stuff. American Apparel just has a ton of styles for plain t shirts. When you buy at a big box, there are only usually about one or two cuts, max.

The markup is more than $2 a shirt, though. I would think the shirts are about $13 each or so.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, though. Plain t shirts are very cool. Also, don't be afraid of euro styling.....thinner collar, thinner material, or trimmer cut. Esp now that you are shedding the lbs and working out.

[Pheidippides]

Truthfully, you are probably ok going with the Hanes stuff. American Apparel just has a ton of styles for plain t shirts. When you buy at a big box, there are only usually about one or two cuts, max.

The markup is more than $2 a shirt, though. I would think the shirts are about $13 each or so.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, though. Plain t shirts are very cool. Also, don't be afraid of euro styling.....thinner collar, thinner material, or trimmer cut. Esp now that you are shedding the lbs and working out.

I'm looking into the Euro styling for many things now. For example, once I get down to my goal (and I could probably do it now), I think I may invest in some "athletic cut" or "fitted" business shirts.

I still am having (and probably always will have) issues with flat front slacks, though. Not enough room for me. Maybe I shouldn't have responded to that email that time.

[TripletDaddy]

I'm looking into the Euro styling for many things now. For example, once I get down to my goal (and I could probably do it now), I think I may invest in some "athletic cut" or "fitted" business shirts.

I still am having (and probably always will have) issues with flat front slacks, though. Not enough room for me. Maybe I shouldn't have responded to that email that time.

If you want to look trimmer, go with flat front (as long as they fit, of course).

Tailored dress shirts are the only way to fly. One thing you may want to consider......finding dress shirts you like and then having them tailored ex-post facto. I like to do this because then you can get any shirt you want to fit the way you want. A nice Boss shirt at Nordstrom rack for $25, plus $14 for tailoring......you still come out ahead than if you went directly into the Hugo Boss store and bought a shirt for $100.

A guy does himself a huge disservice by wearing ill-fitting dress shirts when he dresses up. Blousy sleeves (bugs the heck out of me), a ridiculous ballooning effect where he tucks in his shirt. It can look awful sometimes. Getting the shirts tailored removes that excess cloth and makes a big difference in the look. A good tailor can take in the sides, shorten the sleeves, remove sleeve pleats (another problem if you don't want to look like a pirate), and even shorten or alter the cut from UK (tails) to Italian/contemporary (straight cut).

If you ever want to treat yourself to something wonderful, get a bespoke shirt made. Pink's. I am sure you have heard of them from your time in NYC. There is a Pink's in Dallas and you can order online. There is one here in LA and I have spent some time there on ocassion. The cost, but you will love the shirt because you will have created it entirely on your own. It will last you a LONG time.

Anyway, good luck. It is fun to get new clothes.

[landpoke]

This thread went from marginal to flaming a lot faster than I initially thought it would.

[I.J. Reilly]

Nothing better than a good ol' pair of jeans and a nice t-shirt. It's comfy, durable and is wearable for many different occasions. And I second DDDs thoughts on the euro styling. There are many ways to wear a t-shirt and if you have the body now you can pull off all different styles.

[Pheidippides]

If you want to look trimmer, go with flat front (as long as they fit, of course).

Tailored dress shirts are the only way to fly. One thing you may want to consider......finding dress shirts you like and then having them tailored ex-post facto. I like to do this because then you can get any shirt you want to fit the way you want. A nice Boss shirt at Nordstrom rack for $25, plus $14 for tailoring......you still come out ahead than if you went directly into the Hugo Boss store and bought a shirt for $100.

A guy does himself a huge disservice by wearing ill-fitting dress shirts when he dresses up. Blousy sleeves (bugs the heck out of me), a ridiculous ballooning effect where he tucks in his shirt. It can look awful sometimes. Getting the shirts tailored removes that excess cloth and makes a big difference in the look. A good tailor can take in the sides, shorten the sleeves, remove sleeve pleats (another problem if you don't want to look like a pirate), and even shorten or alter the cut from UK (tails) to Italian/contemporary (straight cut).

If you ever want to treat yourself to something wonderful, get a bespoke shirt made. Pink's. I am sure you have heard of them from your time in NYC. There is a Pink's in Dallas and you can order online. There is one here in LA and I have spent some time there on ocassion. The cost, but you will love the shirt because you will have created it entirely on your own. It will last you a LONG time.

Anyway, good luck. It is fun to get new clothes.

Tailoring dress shirts is my last frontier. I have a couple of pair of slacks that are off the rack, but for the most part I get them tailored because the fit and look is better. I am also not above dropping some coin on nice pants. I mean, I wear slacks five out of seven days of the week. And they need to be good to survive the trip to work, folded in my messenger bag tucked in the saddlebag on my motorcycle.

BTW, the motorcycling weather has been spectacular the last few days. I am taking SHW on a date on the bike tonight.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

My fat gut does not look good in a plain shirt, I need the bilboard to draw people away from the gut.

[Babs]

Good call, nikuman! T-shirts are hot. You want to really look great for your girl, you take a nice colored t-shirt - not a cheap one, mind you, one a little heavier and cut a little better - just fitted enough to show off the arms and chest; then you pair it with your best-fitting black slacks, black leather belt and shoes. Or if you're into the monochromatic thing you use a black t-shirt with gray slacks. Also good. Add your signature fragrance and your girl will melt. I guarantee it.

[YOhio]

Good call, nikuman! T-shirts are hot. You want to really look great for your girl, you take a nice colored t-shirt - not a cheap one, mind you, one a little heavier and cut a little better - just fitted enough to show off the arms and chest; then you pair it with your best-fitting black slacks, black leather belt and shoes. Or if you're into the monochromatic thing you use a black t-shirt with gray slacks. Also good. Add your signature fragrance and your girl will melt. I guarantee it.

that's hawtt!

[Pheidippides]

Good call, nikuman! T-shirts are hot. You want to really look great for your girl, you take a nice colored t-shirt - not a cheap one, mind you, one a little heavier and cut a little better - just fitted enough to show off the arms and chest; then you pair it with your best-fitting black slacks, black leather belt and shoes. Or if you're into the monochromatic thing you use a black t-shirt with gray slacks. Also good. Add your signature fragrance and your girl will melt. I guarantee it.

Damn. I don't have any good fitting black slacks right now. My next purchase.

The rest I have.

[FN Phat]

My fat gut does not look good in a plain shirt, I need the bilboard to draw people away from the gut.

ditto