The Complete Men's T-Shirt Buying Guide

T-shirts are the backbone of men’s apparel. More men wear T-shirts than not on an everyday basis. These shirts are comfortable, casual, lightweight, and come in so many varieties that it is an easy clothing item for men to wear. Today, men can get T-shirts that have virtually any pattern, picture, shape, or saying. It is even possible to order custom shirts with things like pictures of loved ones or funny quotations.

This guide will cover all the basics of what shapes and styles of T-shirts are available, how to dress-up a T-shirt, ways to customize them, and where to buy them.

History of the T-Shirt
Believe it or not, this simple piece of clothing does have a history. In World War I the American soldiers had to wear heavyweight, wool uniforms even in the summer. Before long, they noticed that the European soldiers were issued lighter weight undershirts that breathed better and kept the soldiers cool. The technology soon made it to the United States and before the start of World War II, the Army and Navy were also issued cotton undershirts.

The comfortable shirts were considered to only be underwear, though. It was not until 1955 when John Wayne, James Dean, and Marlon Brando appeared on T.V. wearing T-shirts as an outer garment that the idea of these shirts being a clothing item began to catch on. The three actors were considered rebels for wearing under garments in public but that did not stop the fad from spreading.

Technology advances in screen printing and the discovery of tie-dye in the 1960s further fueled the popularity of T-shirts and led to the creation of other styles such as tank tops and different necklines for the shirts.

How to Select Men’s T-Shirts
As mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of options when looking for a T-shirt. There are different fits, different necklines, and different types of materials. The first step will be to determine the size and desired fit. That will then lead into determining the neckline and then choosing from the material options.

Finding the Right Size
Before deciding the type of T-shirt to buy, it is important to first know how to choose the correct size. There is a fine line between wearing a T-shirt that looks like a tent and wearing one that looks two sizes too small. When trying a shirt, the seams where the sleeves attach to the shirt should line up directly over the edge of the shoulder. If the shirt is too large, the seam will hang down off of the shoulder. If a shirt is too small, the seam will end up half-way between the shoulder and neck.

Another way to determine if a shirt is sized properly is to grab the shoulders of the shirt and lift up. If the T - shirt moves upwards then it is too large. The sleeves or holes should be snug around the man’s arms. This method will not work for T-shirts that are form fitting or made with a stretchy material.

The Different Fits of Men’s T-Shirts
T-shirts can be made to either hug a man’s torso or fit loosely over it. Which one to choose is entirely up to personal preference. Ones that are form fitting are often used when exercising to prevent the shirt from coming up or moving around too much. Looser fitting shirts are the common choice for everyday wear. Although men who want to show off their sculpted figure sometimes opt to wear tighter shirts.

T-Shirt Fabrics and Materials
T-shirts are typically made with 100 percent cotton, cotton blends, polyester, or polyester mesh. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Pure cotton is natural, soft, and comfortable to wear. It also absorbs moisture, but it shrinks and wrinkles easily. Polyester is light, breathable, soft, and comfortable. It does not wrinkle or shrink, but it has a shiny appearance and is worn more for sporting purposes. Cotton blends, such as cotton and spandex, keep the natural, good qualities of cotton while preventing shrinkage and reducing wrinkling.

Ways to Dress Up Men’s T-Shirts
After purchasing men’s T-shirts, they can be accessorized just like any other apparel items to make them appear less casual or more unique. Using these methods gives men even more wardrobe options at an affordable price.

Screen Printing
With screen printing, T-shirts can be customized to say anything or feature any design. The cost is reasonable and gives men the option of walking around in a shirt that is uniquely tailored to their personality. The affordability of T-shirts makes them very popular for screen printing because they are still the same price as other men’s shirts even after the custom work is done.

Wear a Vest
T-shirts can be worn under a casual vest to dress them up. They can both be a solid color or one of them can have a pattern on it. This is a good way to class up a wardrobe in the summer.

Wear a Blazer
A blazer is a casual version of a suit jacket. It can be worn over T-shirts and with jeans or nice khakis. Blazers should only be worn with T-shirts that have a high neckline. This is a good choice for the cooler months of the year.

Wear a Cardigan
T-shirts can go great underneath a cardigan. Cardigans are a lightweight sweater that buttons down the front. It can be worn either open or buttoned up. This look works best with a plain T-shirt and a patterned cardigan or when both clothing items are plain.

Shopping for Men’s T-Shirts
Men’s T-shirts can be bought virtually anywhere. Department stores, men’s clothing stores, souvenir shops, online sites, novelty shops, thrift stores, and even places like grocery stores. T-shirts materials are so low-cost and the shirts are so easy to produce in mass quantities that the availability and affordability of T-shirts is unmatched. Men typically find the most variety of T-shirt designs and styles on websites like eBay where the number of listings is next to endless.

Buying Men’s T-Shirts on eBay
To begin the fast and easy search for Men’s shirts, simple go online to eBay where you can find shirts of all types either locally or from around the world. From the main eBay page, click on the Categories tab and then on Clothing, Shoes and Accessories. Next, click on the tab for Men and select T-Shirts. This will bring up all of the men’s T-shirts that are for sale on eBay. However, you will want to narrow down the search results because the number of listings is so vast. Start by choosing your size so that you are not wasting your time looking at shirts that won’t fit. Next, you can select the brand, color, material, condition, and price range. You can even opt to only look at T-shirts that are listed with eBay top rated sellers. This can eliminate the need to go through a seller’s feedback and ratings to make sure that they value customer service.

Conclusion
T-shirts are a comfortable and affordable way for men to build up their wardrobe. With the large quantity of design and style options, the shirts can be used to sport a variety of looks. They can also be bought in large quantities on a small budget making it easy to build up a collection of outfits.

This guide has covered all the basics of selecting and then purchasing men’s T-shirts. By utilizing the information provided, men can select the T-shirt fit, neckline, and material that they are interested in within minutes. Then that wish list can be taken to eBay where the searches can be narrowed down according to the preferences chosen.