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Men's Shirt: Fashion, Not Just Function
For many, the average men's shirt is simply a garment of utility
- one that is worn by men across the world for reasons of function
and not necessarily fashion. But this attitude belies the hundreds
of years of trends in men's shirts. From the typical collarless
shirts with billowing sleeves worn by classical painters to the
modern formal button-down shirt, men's shirts have captured the
imaginations of both designers and ordinary men for generations. In
the twentieth century in particular, a range of different shirt
styles have proved popular with men of all ages.
One of the most important developments in men's shirts over the last
hundred years, for example, has been the invention of the polo
shirt. The polo shirt, or 'tennis shirt', was created by legendary
French tennis player Rene Lacoste in 1929 as an alternative to the
stiff dress shirts and ties typical of tennis attire at the time. In
the 1960s, Ralph Lauren propelled the polo shirt to new heights as a
prominent item in his 'Polo' collection; and since this time the
polo shirt has become so popular that it is now a standard category
of clothing - although it has fallen out of favor with most tennis
players.
The granddad shirt has also been a long lasting trend in men's
shirts in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. These collarless
shirts have been popular with men in warm countries for decades and
have seen a variety of incarnations throughout the years. The Nehru
Jacket, for instance, is a South Asian version of the modern
granddad shirt that was popularized by the first Indian Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s and early 1960s, and has
since been prominently worn by a number of celebrities, from the
likes of Sammy Davis Jr to Steven Segal. Today's granddad shirt
preys on bright colors and an ethno-bohemian vibe that appeals to a
variety of men's fashion trends - from festival clothing to smart
casual summer wear.
The button-down shirt has also been one of the most influential
men's shirts in fashion history - but memories of how it was created
tend to be somewhat hazy. Some fashion experts claim that the
button-down collar shirt was invented by an American shirt
manufacturer who was inspired by an English polo match, in which
players had their collars clipped down to avoid flapping in the
wind. Others say that button-down shirts were created in New York,
when their inventor (as yet anonymous) attached his collar to his
shirt with buttons in a fit of annoyance at the oncoming wind.
But whatever the origin of the button-down shirt, its impact on the
men's shirt industry has been historic, as button down shirts are
now worn in both formal and casual contexts. Today, short-sleeved
men's shirts are often worn with skinny jeans, large belts and
tailored waistcoats for a fresh and informal look that still exudes
smart chic. And with men's shirts available in a variety of colors
- from gray to raspberry - and in a variety of floral and striped
patterns, it's clear that evolving trends in men's fashion are far
from over.
About the Author:
Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer. His portfolio, called Capquest Photography is available to view online
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