Not Long Ago, T-Shirts Were Simply Underwear

Have you ever considered how a new fashion becomes accepted by the general population? How, for example, a new style goes from being worn by just a few people to being worn by everyone, everywhere? It’s actually a very predictable process. Take T-shirts, for example.

T-shirts are such an integral part of most people’s wardrobes we hardly think about them. Everyone, it seems, owns a knit top proclaiming their loyalty to an athletic team, a political candidate or their favorite cartoon character.

As is typical with many new styles, the T-shirt was first adapted by a very small group of people. Gradually its popularity grew until it has gained almost universal acceptance.

They were first worn as undershirts by French men at the beginning of this century. During World War I, American soldiers discovered how much more comfortable the cotton undershirt was than their one-piece, wool union suits, and quickly made the switch.

Through the years of the Depression and World War II, the T-shirt remained primarily a garment worn by men as underclothing. Following the war years, civilian men began picking up on the trend. They enjoyed the comfort of T-shirts for athletic events. Golfers were the first to refer to this garment as a “tee shirt.”

During the 1950s, the T-shirt became acceptable to younger men when two Hollywood idols, Marlon Brando and James Dean, wore them in the movies “The Wild One” and “Rebel Without a Cause.”

Both movies depicted angry young men wearing tight jeans, leather jackets and T-shirts - with sleeves rolled up to hold a pack of cigarettes.

Parents were outraged, girls swooned, and teenage boys across the country had a new image. It would be another 10 years before T-shirts would bridge the gender gap.

As the rules of fashion began relaxing in the 1960s, young women were the next group to adapt the T-shirt style. With their acceptance, a few modifications were made. Color and designs were added to begin the trend of using a T-shirt to proclaim affiliations and alliances.

Women have been the last group to pick up on this style. Their acceptance has really only come in the past 20 years.

T-shirts have become fully established as a part of most wardrobes, even to the point of being status symbols.

Not long ago, T-shirts sold at Hard Rock Cafes were considered the ultimate must-have. These days, CK and Tommy Hilfiger shirts are the ones to wear. Within a few weeks another name or design will be the hot look.

So, you see, what was once a very utilitarian garment has become an acceptable style used to communicate the wearer’s fashion savvy.

And it all started because some soldiers were tired of their underwear making them itch.

MEMO: Shanna Southern Peterson is a Spokane writer and home economist. The Clothesline appears weekly. Ideas for the column may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210, or e-mail shanptr@aol.com.