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A Sartorial Quandry: What Type of T-Shirt?

v neck crewneck crew neck sleeveless t-shirt wifebeater.jpgThis post is directed primarily at our male readers. But female readers with opinions about men's fashion are also welcome to chime in.

To read the question presented, see this post by Bess Levin, over at our sister site, Dealbreaker. For one style columnist's take on the issue, see here (but it's a bit of a punt).

Then take our poll below, and share your opinion in the comments. The Dealbreaker post has almost 120 comments thus far. C'mon, ATL readers -- we can top that!

This Is Serious [Dealbreaker]
V-neck or crew? The choice isn't so simple [Memphis Commercial Appeal]

Comments
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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:05 AM

First (again).

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:08 AM

I've gotten so fat sitting on my ass reviewing docs, I prefer C cups.

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:11 AM

"No undershirt" = disgusting.

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:11 AM

No undershirt/sleeveless t-shirt = not good for your shirt b/c of direct armpit contact.

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:12 AM

1 = MANGINA

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:14 AM

Carson Kressler (spelling?) has a good explanation of why the wifebeater is never the correct choice. The point of these cotton undershirts is to absorb perspiration and various secretions, leaving your Oxford dress shirts looking clean and keeping them from rapid deterioration.

The wifebeater, oddly enough, doesn't prevent that deterioration because of its peculiar shape. Therefore, it defeats its own purpose. Save it for when you want to look tough in bed, but, otherwise, don't bother wearing it.

The V-neck is the classic choice, IMO, because you don't look like you're wearing a bra underneath your dress shirt. Not that a male bra wouldn't be a turn-on for some . . . .

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:15 AM

Showing a crew neck t-shirt under your dress shirt is far too informal for the office. If you want to dress like that, you shouldn't have been a lawyer.

Its an UNDERSHIRT. Would you show your underwear? Idiots.

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:16 AM

Not everyone is a sweatball. No undershirt works fine for me because I am not working in a sweatshop where I am constantly sweating through my work shirts. Also, I only wear a work shirt once, to where more than once without a dry clean is a sin.

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:17 AM

The v-neck is the only one that makes sense, because you can't see the t-shirt when you unbutton your collar. The crewneck looks unprofessional unless you're totally buttoned up.

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:20 AM

That Dealbreaker post is great. Bess Levin is hilarious.

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:21 AM

Gay Man's Analysis:

Crew: I'd only wear this with shirts that match. There are certain cotton shirts that are soft enough to make this work. If the shirt is crisp (both in color and texture), the crew shirt will look tacky. It also depends on where the second button is. Some shirts button high; some low. If it's too low, it's a no-go on the crewneck. You want to minimize undershirt exposure.

Wifebeater: Eh. You could do this, but it doesn't protect the armpit at all, yo.

No undershirt: Same problem as wifebeater. Also, it's just not comfortable. I used to do no undershirt (I'm not a big sweater), but have since grown partial to the undershirt as a soft layer between me and my stiff wrinkle-free shirts.

V-Neck: BEST CHOICE. You get all the benefits of a crewneck shirt, but no one sees the white collar of the undershirt (which, as mentioned, looks tacky). This could fail though. Whatever you do, make sure the V is deep enough. A poking-out v-neck is screams: I tried, but I failed.

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12 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:22 AM

Crewneck is preferred, as no one wants to see your pornstar chest curls, or for some, your metro-styled pre-pubescent weirdness.

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:22 AM

Six is right: save the beaters for the Jersey Shore. Relatedly, that's also the only time it's appropriate for dudes to wear any jewelry besides a wedding band.

If you choose to go sans-tie, the only thing visible in the resulting opening of your shirt is skin. No chains, no undershirts, and no unruly chest hair.

This is basic knowledge, no?

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:24 AM

Crewnecks work the best because, unlike v-necks and wifebeaters, their outline isn't easily detectable beneath the dress shirt. Wifebeaters don't solve the sweat problem, and the v-neck looks bizarre when you can see it through the dress shirt---especially if you're wearing a tie.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:27 AM

13: In my experience, most women are turned on by some chest hair, and trimmed hair is regarded as sexy and masculine.

14: I love how you repeat what everyone else has said in worser English.

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:27 AM

It's not as simple as just going with the V-neck. If your shirt has low buttons, you'll show WAY too much chest. If your shirt has high buttons, you would have been fine with the crew neck anyway. Only one dude in my office ever exposes any chest, and he's South American.

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:28 AM


A V-neck if you must. When people can see your crew T sticking out you look like a doofus.

Or if your cool like me you can get away with none. On the rare occasion I do sweat, that jsut means the shirt goes in the laundry.

Also, wearing the T shirt makes one hotter and increases sweating, so it sometimes creates its own demand, if that makes sense.

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:29 AM

As a female associate, I have to vote in favor of the crewneck. No one wants to see chest hair in the office, which can potentially occur with a v-neck and a collared shirt not fully buttoned.

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:29 AM

9 is correct. That is all.

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:29 AM

"Wearing the T-shirt makes one hotter . . . so it sometimes creates its own demand."

17 = brilliant economist. Easily the smartest thing I've ever read on ATL.

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21 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:30 AM

8 - unless your shirts are made of some unusual fabric, they are probably laundered rather than dry cleaned.

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:30 AM

americans are funny with their obsession with undershirts, and the embarassment that ensues if any skin is exposed - soooooo puritanical its hilarious.

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:31 AM

How is it ever acceptable to show any chest? Hair is gross (that is, to other men), a shaved chest is homo-erotic, trimmed chest hair sinks to the lowly depths of utter d-baggery. I cannot imagine any set of circumstances under which it would acceptable to see another man's chest in the office. Cover it up with a crew neck or just wear a tie.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:32 AM

OK, so I have the only job left in America that requires a tie. So I am indifferent between crew and v-neck. When I DO wear open collar, v-neck.

Having said that...how many buttons are you all leaving open that significant amount of chest hair shows? For real, you've got to be like those guys in the photo on the Dealbreaker site. As Seinfeld taught us from its very first episode, the placement of that second button "literally makes or breaks the shirt." Either that, or you've got some kind of grotesque frontal-neck-hair going on...

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:32 AM

18: It's my impression that most women are turned on by hairy, masculine men. Correct? I don't think that you're representative of your sex's aesthetic orientations.

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:34 AM

americans are funny with their obsession with undershorts, and the embarassment that ensues when even a little bit of skin is exposed - so puritanical its hilarious!

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:35 AM

Here's a question from a 1L - approximately what percentage of BigLaw requires guys to always wear suits?

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:35 AM

Personally I go the wifebeater route. Barring that, at least wear a v-neck. A crewneck under a dress shirt looks trashy.

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:35 AM

Showing your chest in the office is little analogous to jogging in the city with your shirt off when it's not quite hot enough to be justifiable.

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:35 AM

25: Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a manly man with a reasonable amount of hair on his chest. However, most law firm associates don't fit the bill. Save it for the clubs ...

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31 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:38 AM

this is not difficult - wear a vneck with the top button undone. wear a crewneck with a tie.

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:38 AM

30: good point. For some reason, most young associates aren't very hairy. The lack of facial hair and lanky paleness -- partially a byproduct of long hours inside -- contribute to the image of the young lawyer as, well, young.

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:39 AM

W/ a Tie - crewneck; want to look like a peice of sh!t? wear a v-neck w/ a tie & a white shirt that shows the v through the shirt.

Open Collar - v-neck; that crew neck tshirt looks awesome w/ nice pants & shirt, right? get a f'ing clue.

And fwd point/spread collars look like shit w/o a tie; don't hate on button down collars. Get some perspective and realize that youre no damned model; stop gleaning your rules from GQ covers or fashion billboards. i wouldn't wear one w/ a suit at night or to a more formal event, but their absolutely approp for work.

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:39 AM

W/ a Tie - crewneck; want to look like a peice of sh!t? wear a v-neck w/ a tie & a white shirt that shows the v through the shirt.

Open Collar - v-neck; that crew neck tshirt looks awesome w/ nice pants & shirt, right? get a f'ing clue.

And fwd point/spread collars look like shit w/o a tie; don't hate on button down collars. Get some perspective and realize that youre no damned model; stop gleaning your rules from GQ covers or fashion billboards. i wouldn't wear one w/ a suit at night or to a more formal event, but their absolutely approp for work.

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35 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:41 AM

if you have enough chest/neck hair that it's a problem with an open collar shirt and vneck, well, then you have bigger issues to deal with than deciding what undershirt to wear.

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:46 AM

This whole thread is as gay as an Easter Parade . . .

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:47 AM

hmm...what's worse, wearing a crew neck with the top button undone or wearing a button down shirt without buttoning it down? tough call...

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:48 AM

Tie = white crewneck; no tie = black crewneck.
Showing the black crewneck lets them know you mean business, and will rip off the dress shirt and throw down if they f*ck with you.

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:48 AM

Wearing an undershirt is seriously dressing a dress shirt down. Does anyone really think that dress shirts were designed to be worn with undershirts? Weird american trend....

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:48 AM

Gotta love the straight man who can't dress POV's here. Next time, have your imaginary girlfriend dress ya and be done with it.

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:49 AM

As a female, I need to comment that it is totally disgusting and gross when a guy doesn't wear an undershirt. It honestly makes me want to vomit. . . you see man nipples and I hate to break it to you guys, but most of you do not have the chest where I want to ses your nipples and think of you shirtless. Therefore, when I see your nipples and think of you shirtless, I kind of vomit a little.

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:49 AM

WIFE BEATERS ALL THE WAY!!!!

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:50 AM

According to the poll, over 50% think that the crew neck is fine. Everyone who disagrees with this is just letting the terrorists (who most likely have a lot of chest hair as well) win.

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:50 AM

WIFE BEATERS ALL THE WAY!!!!

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:51 AM

Gotta love the straight man who can't dress POV's here. Next time, have your imaginary girlfriend dress ya and be done with it.

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:52 AM

Undershirts haven't been the way to go post-1934 - the year Clark Gable changed the rules when he removed his dress shirt in "It Happened One Night" - and viewers noted the absence of an undershirt. Why would one not take fashion cues from Clark Gable?

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47 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:52 AM

I'm sitting here in a crew neck with an open collar and am suddenly very self-conscious.

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:53 AM

An exposed chest connotes poor personal hygiene and body odor. In a professional environment, I would err on the side of being a d-bag and wearing a crew neck. The person who gives you your annual review is not thinking about how cool you look.
That being said, on weekends the only acceptable choice is a black dress shirt with the top 4 buttons undone.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:53 AM

in Cali, nobody wears suits. not sure about NY

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:53 AM

The poll lacks a "no underpants" option. Disappointed.

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51 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:54 AM

My name is BigLaw Associate.
I'm 26 years old.
I believe in taking care of myself, in a balanced diet, in a rigorous document review routine.
ln the morning, before I answer my first voice mail,
I eat firm-subsidized breakfast sandwhiches while logging into my e-mail: I can eat seven now.
After I finish the breakfast sandwiches, I loosen my tie.
Under my non-iron, I always wear a v-neck t-shirt.
Then a crisp, but not too-tight tie.
And on the waist, an elastic belt-line, allowing for weight gain.
Then I drink my first of seven redbulls,
which l enjoy for five minutes while I prepare the rest of my caffeine.
I always wear a dress shirt with little or no chest exposure,
because chest hair grosses out your co-workers and makes you look older.
Then firm-subsidized lunch,
then an afternoon snack over document review,
followed by a final firm-subsidized dinner.
There is an idea of a BigLaw Associate.
Some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me.
Only an entity-- something fantastical from law school.
And though I can hide my cold gaze...
and you can read my emails and feel like I actually care...
and may be you can even sense I am working hard at my TTT firm,
I simply am not there.

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52 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:55 AM

41 = hilarious!

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:56 AM

41 = hilarious!

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:56 AM

41 = hilarious!

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:56 AM


Dudes:

With tie: crew neck
Open collar: v-neck

Killing time at your desk waiting to be laid off: wifebeater

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:58 AM

crew necks belong in the same category as rubber soled kenneth coles and black suits.

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:01 PM

Good effort, 51.

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58 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:01 PM

Pfft. Gaudy jewelry and wifebeaters totally make the litigator.

http://z.about.com/d/animatedtv/1/7/y/Q/athfcarl.jpg

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59 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:02 PM

To 9:
Dress shirts, like cashmere, should be gently laundered, not drycleaned. Drycleaning damages the fabric.

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60 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:04 PM

48, exposed chest? how many buttons do you leave undone? at work, only 1 should be left unbuttoned.

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61 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:04 PM

Wife beater outline under a shirt on a fat man is the female equivalent to gross, as I would assume of you guys seeing the nipples of the 60 year old fat secretary with the saggy boobs. Just stop it.

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:06 PM

I am a student at American University starting on-campus interviews tomorrow. What type of undershirt goes best with the tuxedo that I rented for my interviews?

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:10 PM

Women don't care about your undershirt as long as you're funny, intelligent, and a fun person. Stop worrying.

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:12 PM

Wifebeater. Just in case shit goes down.

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:12 PM

63: I'm a woman and I definitely care. No undershirt is gross, especially under a white shirt (some douchebag here does it all the time).

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66 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:12 PM

I wish 11 was my fashion consultant. I'm absolutely pathetic, although I did get the V neck undershirt right at least, since I sweat like a buffalo.

11 -- come to think of it, do you have any recommendations for deodorant for really bad sweaters? I use Old Spice Sport, but by the end of the day I completely stink.

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67 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:13 PM

I agree with 55. I'd also add that I think that a crewneck is o.k. even without a tie PROVIDED that your dress shirt has a button down collar (polo collar in Brooks Brothers parlance).

Does anyoneone know what Brooks Brothers, "How a Gentlement Gets Dressed" has to say on the matter?

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68 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:16 PM

67, shut up. The brooks brothers mention gave me diarhea.

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69 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:17 PM

I like how all the Yankees around here get all Puritanical when it comes to the exposure of a couple of inches of a man's chest. For the record the only people who wear undershirts in Florida are old men and d-bags. Northerners are a different matter, especially in the colder months. Adding another layer in the summer months doesn't make any sense. Unless your idol is Fred McMurray.

---Florida lawyer

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70 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:17 PM

If these are the only choices I vote for crew. Gotta cover the chest hair. I actually prefer a dickie. Covers the hair w/o the hassle of a double tuck. Belly shirts work for this too.

Great debate. Bravo ATL.

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71 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:17 PM

Crews are for tools. Especially when worn without a tie so that they show.

The sweating comments should be ignored. We're lawyers who work in air conditioned offices, not construction workers.

Finally, if you insist on wearing an undershirt, and you're not wearing a tie, then first choice is a wifebeater, second choice is a quality v-neck.

And 41, if you're seeing nipples, better dress shirts are the first answer. Then, see above.

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72 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:18 PM

I'm in my firm's Bratislava office, everyone wears v-neck undershirts here.

HTH

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73 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:18 PM

When I come home and remove my dress shirt after a long, hard day of document review and reviewing ATL drivel a crew neck looks better in the mirror.

And, for those of you who say your undershirt should not show when your collar is unbuttoned, fcking your collar should not be unbuttoned in the first place; and in the second place, if it is unbuttoned then you are casual (too much so for me) and your undershirt showing is permissible.

To the economist above who doesn't sweat-- the undershirt creates its demand-you are a schmuck, check, smelly schmuck.

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74 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:21 PM

71,

It might not be the shirt, it might just be incredibly large and pointy man nipples (think a baby bottle).

:)

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75 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:23 PM

71, have you ever been on a NYC subway platform? Most of us have to actually commute to work, but maybe you live in your office. Moron.

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76 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:24 PM

Are you kidding me Lat? This is the crap you write about? Stupid topic!

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77 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:25 PM

71 is definitely some single practicioner in some red state, not a NY lawyer.

NY lawyer, wear a goddamn undershirt.

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78 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:29 PM

I love to suck on my partners large man nipples. . . it's my crack! Other associates chug redbulls at 11pm, not me. I suckle some of that creative juice out of Bob's giant nipples. Yummy. . . and they say breastfeeding increases brain activity!

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79 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:34 PM

My rule of thumb, for what it is worth at this point, relies on the color of the dress shirt. The lighter the color, the more acceptable it is to go with a white crew neck underneath. White dress shirts, obviously, pale yellow, pale pink, very pale blue, etc. With darker shirts, you get too much contrast with the undershirt causing the undershirt to stand out. So, the lighter shirts can take a crew neck, darker shirts take a V and really dark shirts should stand alone.

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80 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:38 PM

Best analysis came from DB's GAnalYst:

Re the undershirts: vneck when not wearing a tie, crew under a shirt and tie. Problem is that its sometimes difficult to keep your crews and v's under control. I admit, I've been guilty of putting a v under a shirt and tie, when I'm in a hurry and cant find a crew. [snip] As for no undershirt cause its warm: the undershirt actually wicks the moisture away from you skin and thus keeps you cooler than no shirt.

In [his] office on casual days the style seems to be interesting Pink or Tyrwhitt spread collar shirts, nice flat front slacks. Like almost anything, looks really good on a good looking, well built guy. For someone less lucky in the looks and build department (be honest here), do something less showy.

[snip]

Finally, dont scrimp on the shoes. So many cheap shoes, which you can spot in 5 seconds. Buy Alden's. No Johnson Murphy. Allen Edmonds is barely acceptable - go for the extra few bucks. Cap toed lace ups with suits, low vamp loafers for casual days. Shell cordovan (thats a type of leather, not the color), around $600 but they last 10 years if you take care of em. [snip]


Damn, the boy's got it so, so right. Especially about the shoes. Kinda gives me the shivers... but in a Hermes sort of way. And white is the only color for an undershirt, gawddammit.

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81 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:50 PM

I just take an old pair of whitey tighties, cut a big hole in the middle of the crotch for my head, stick my arms through the leg holes, and wear it like a cut-off tee. Is that wrong?

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82 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:51 PM

Morons. If you really want to impress at the highest levels, only wear your shirt once, always with a tie, and with two crew neck t shirts. At noon, enter the mens' changing area of the sleeping quarters and remove the bottom garment. Wear one t shirt until 8 p.m. Then return to the mens' changing area, and replace the t shirt with a fresh one. When you get home between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., simply remove both the tshirt and the button down shirt and throw them away. Have your assistant replenish your supply every week, and fire her if she gets it wrong. That way, you are discarding everything that could potentially get you in trouble: shirt, 3 undershirts, and assistant (weekly).

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83 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:52 PM

Vneck all the way.

And I have no problem showing some chest hair in the office. Its usually not an issue with dress shirts, since I only leave the very top button open in the office, but when I wear a two-button polo shirt during the summer, I don't button any of the buttons.

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84 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:54 PM

re 80: Jonhson Murphy and Allen Edmonds are fine shoe choices. I absolutely agree that shoes are important, but more like the brands he lists vs. cheap florsheims or other thinly-constructed sole, cheap leather brands. If he's making a fashion comparison among the brands, that's one thing, but JM and AE shoes are both well-constructed and will hold up for years as well.

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85 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:54 PM

83,

ewww!! Do you also wear polyester suits, gold chains, and grease your hair back. I bet you're also a greaseball Greek NY residential broker who caters to college kids and not a lawyer too! I know you!

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86 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:57 PM

who has so much chest hair that it shows when they don't button the very top button of their collar?

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87 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:58 PM

If you're wearing the T-shirt as an outergarment, definitely crewneck.

If you're wearing it under a dress shirt at the office, and the office is business casual, definitely V-neck. (1) if you're not wearing a tie, the shirt shouldn't be buttoned all the way to the top. (2) if your top button is undone, a crew neck collar will show, but a V-neck collar will not. (3) showing crew neck collar under dress shirt = ghetto.

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88 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:58 PM

borderline-related question:

Men's Wearhouse sells those "no iron, wrinkle-free" dress shirts. Do these shirts actually stay pressed without ironing or dry cleaning, or is this is a scam?

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89 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:59 PM

sleeveless is disgusting.

my ratted armpit pubes would soak my shirt in minutes if i went sleeveless.

too bad us men are too retarded to shave our precious armpit pubes.

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90 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:59 PM

I am SHOCKED by the "women" in this thread. For years, I thought that showing a little chest was the key to sexiness.

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91 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 12:59 PM

If you're business casual, then a v-neck is the only way to go because with the top button not buttoned, you won't be able to see the undershirt.

Normally, this is the same for when wearing a tie. But a crew neck is preferrable with light colored dress shirts -- mostly white ones -- because a v-neck's outline will be visible under the white shirt whereas a crew neck will not be.

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92 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:00 PM

31 has it right.

wifebeaters aren't good for anything except irony or the jersey shore

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93 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:01 PM

another key question: is it okay to wear a crew neck with a tie? Lately, I've seen people with ties on and their crew neck peaks out the top a little. If you can't keep your crew neck under your tie and collar, don't wear it with a tie.

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94 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:02 PM

90,

Not in the office. And a good chest is sexier under a shirt, leave me something to fantasize about in the elevator. Showing chest is trashy. For example, equally attractive women, wouldn't you rather have the classily dressed lady in the figure showing dress than the girl who walks around the office in the inappropriately short and tight skirt that everyone giggles about behind thier back. Think about it. Showing chest is the male equivalent to dressing trampily. At least for me (28 years old NY BLA). However, maybe the old ladies like it. Who knows.

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95 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:03 PM

Crewneck, V-neck -- I don't see much of a difference. It's the wifebeaters/nothing that I want to avoid. Like my fellow commenters, I need to avoid the tell-tale signs of sweating under the pressure.

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96 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:04 PM

88, the mens wearhouse shirts can get a tad wrinkly.

Best wrinkle free shirts are probably brooks brothers and jos a bank. The brooks brothers look like they were actually ironed and I think they have magical powers. Nordstrom smartcare is decent.

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97 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:04 PM

Lat, why not do an article on mens' disgusting, unshaved armpit snatches?

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98 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:04 PM

94: I would prefer the second woman. It shows that she's not afraid to put it out there and that she's brazen and interesting -- two qualities that men absolutely love.

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99 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:05 PM

11,

My chest hair is matted and dreadlocked, does that have any impact on your advice?

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100 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:06 PM

98,

I prefer a woman dressed in a well cut black dress to a lady who wears a too short snake print mini and hooker shoes to the office, but that's just me. The one's who are better in bed are always the one's who don't try to ooze sex in public.

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101 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:10 PM

Most women are not turned on by hairy men you stupid jackass.

How many hairy male models do you see?

None, that's right.

Women liking hair is a myth perpetuated by ugly hairy men.

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102 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:14 PM

It's not supposed to be an either or. The two necks were designed to provide for either open- or closed-collared shirts.

A v-neck with a tie gives you chest V.P.L. and a crew-neck with an open collar shows your undershirt.

Your undershirt collar should match your shirt collar. How is that complicated?

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103 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:26 PM

Alright, alright: It's time for a thread on which men can comment on women's ridiculous office clothing choices.

Here are some starters:

(1) Just because the shoes are $550 and/or have red soles doesn't make them "cute," and certainly doesn't make them office-appropriate if you want to be taken seriously. More of us are laughing behind your back than aren't.

(2) Thigh (not knee, but thigh) is inappropriate.

(3) Things that aren't really clothing, like weird half-tunics, boa-like things, etc. are also, yup, inappropriate. Yes, you and your one "fashionista" friend in the office might show off your outfits to each other in the morning, but more of us know you look ridiculous than think you look "super cute."

You don't all have to shop at Ann Taylor, but get a clue...

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104 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:29 PM

86 - Me, and I don't enjoy having to routinely shave the top of my chest.

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105 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:29 PM

Crew neck. I would rather see your undershirt than your chest hair.

If you wear no undershirt or a wifebeater, you are nasty.

End of discussion.

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106 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:30 PM

103,

Those girls must be paralegals or something. . . they can't be lawyers! What lawyer wears a half tunic to work?

Red soled Christian Loubitans are always cute, but I agree they are not always office appropriate.

Ann Taylor sucks.

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107 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:31 PM

88 -
first, do you want to look like you're straight out of technical college? . . . then, why are you shopping at men's wearhouse?

second, as for no iron shirts from other places - like, say, Brooks Brothers - they sort of work. Much better than normal shirts, but they sometimes need a little touch up after coming out of the dryer.

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108 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:34 PM

106 - Nope, she's a lawyer and not junior. She seriously does; I've seen it twice in one week. She'll wear a fairly normal outfit...and then put this half-tunic thing over it. We are business casual, but most seem to make it work while not looking like fools.

Oh, and she's sort of...not hot.

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109 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:34 PM

crewneck undershirt under dress shirt = FAIL.

it looks sloppy when the collar of the undershirt peeks out above the dress shirt. that crap might work in high school, but it looks juvenile at a law firm.

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110 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:37 PM

108,

i love it! I sometimes feel guilty I wear boring dress shirts and slacks everday, but you just made me feel much better that I do this instead of trying to "office cute."

And it's always the not hot one's showing too much leg in the office.

Thank you,

Junior female lawyer who dresses boringly.

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111 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:38 PM

Seriously? Your undershirt shouldn't show, so why would anyone wear a crewneck when they're not wearing a tie and thus not buttoning their shirt all the way up? That's disgraceful.

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112 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:40 PM

Men,

Your undershirt is your "under wear." Just like a woman's bra is her "under wear." This means that it should not show and is also necessary. A woman lawyer should not be showing her bra at work, and should not be showing up to work without a bra. It's that simple. Therefore, crew neck with tie. V neck with no tie. Definitely never not wear an undershirt. It's pretty damn simple. 111 comments on this is retarded.

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113 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:42 PM

Crewneck is only acceptable if you're wearing a tie so none of it shows. If your undershirt still "peeks" out of your dress shirt when you have the dress shirt buttoned all the way up and a tie around your neck, time to get better dress shirts (hint: they don't come in M, L, XL).

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114 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:44 PM

You morons who say only v-necks with open collared shirts keep ignoring the mutliple purposes of an under shirt, which have been stated above. It's not just to soak up sweat but also to cover skin/hair. A lot of shirts show too much with even one button undone.

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115 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:45 PM

Crew neck undershirt -- looks good under dress shirt WITH a tie, but looks terrible without a tie, as 109 eloquently puts it

V-neck undershirt - looks good under an open-collared dress shirt worn without a tie, but this kind of shirt terrible WITH a tie because the v is often visible through the buttoned-up shirt and looks tacky.

No shirt - a possibility if you don't perspire much and don't mind not having a layer between you and the dress shirt.

Wifebeater - the worst choice of all because the outline is usually visible through the dress shirt, and it really doesn't look good under anything

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116 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:45 PM

v-neck.

crewneck showing is completely wrong. like white socks with dress shoes - a clear sign that you don't know how to dress yourself. (I suppose its not surprising that so many lawyers/law students don't seem to understand this.)

Unless you have a serious rug coming up your neck, there is no significant chest hair problem. And in that case a crew neck is not your answer - it just makes it look like you're losing a battle to keep a monkey in your shirt.

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117 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:46 PM

I don't wear wife beaters, but, if Zac shows up at my doorstep wearing one, I won't complain.

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118 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:48 PM

What do guys like me do who are so fat we turn every v-neck into a u-neck?

- Jabba the Halverson

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119 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:50 PM

110. The not hot one is the one showing too much leg because if she were hot, there would be no such thing as "showing too much leg in the ofice".

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120 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:54 PM

112 - I gotta disagree. Women attorneys showing bra or going without provide a nice pick-me-up to my day.

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121 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:55 PM

119,

Hate to break it to you but there is. There are other female lawyers and older male partners who think so. Therefore, your first year doc review asshat opinion who likes the trampily dressed junior associate means nothing to me. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's not too complicated.

PS. I'm sure I'm much more attractive than your mothers old nightgown you jerk off with every night.

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122 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:55 PM

119,

Hate to break it to you but there is. There are other female lawyers and older male partners who think so. Therefore, your first year doc review asshat opinion who likes the trampily dressed junior associate means nothing to me. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's not too complicated.

PS. I'm sure I'm much more attractive than your mothers old nightgown you jerk off with every night.

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123 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:57 PM

119,

Hate to break it to you but there is. There are other female lawyers and older male partners who think so. Therefore, your first year doc review asshat opinion who likes the trampily dressed junior associate means nothing to me. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's not too complicated.

PS. I'm sure I'm much more attractive than your mothers old nightgown you jerk off with every night.

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124 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:57 PM

119,

Hate to break it to you but there is. There are other female lawyers and older male partners who think so. Therefore, your first year doc review asshat opinion who likes the trampily dressed junior associate means nothing to me. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's not too complicated.

PS. I'm sure I'm much more attractive than your mothers old nightgown you jerk off with every night.

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125 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:57 PM

119,

Hate to break it to you but there is. There are other female lawyers and older male partners who think so. Therefore, your first year doc review asshat opinion who likes the trampily dressed junior associate means nothing to me. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's not too complicated.

PS. I'm sure I'm much more attractive than your mothers old nightgown you jerk off with every night.

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126 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:57 PM

119,

Hate to break it to you but there is. There are other female lawyers and older male partners who think so. Therefore, your first year doc review asshat opinion who likes the trampily dressed junior associate means nothing to me. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's not too complicated.

PS. I'm sure I'm much more attractive than your mothers old nightgown you jerk off with every night.

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127 Posted by