Since we're talking men's fashion...

[HudsonHawk]

My wife and I have this debate all the time.  Like a lot of men, I wear undershirts.  I think they make you more comfortable and your shirts last longer when you wear them.  My wife likes the crew neck version, so that she can see the collar under my shirt.  I personally think it's tacky when any of your underwear is showing, short or shirts, and like the v-necks. 

[Navin R Johnson]

I'd much rather see "underwear" than other dudes chest hairs, but that is just me.

[HudsonHawk]

I'd much rather see "underwear" than other dudes chest hairs, but that is just me.

If you can see chest hair with only the top button open, you can pretty much see it from under a crewneck collar.  If a guy wears his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest, that's another matter entirely.

[Bench]

I find v-necks to be uncomfortable.  Though I think v-necks look a lot better on women than crew necks do.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I find v-necks to be uncomfortable.  Though I think v-necks look a lot better on women than crew necks do.

This mystifies me.  What's uncomfortable about slightly less shirt?

And yes, unless you have enough chest hair to be mistaken for a Wookie, wearing a v-neck usually isn't a problem.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

+1 on the v-neck.  I can wear any casual shirt (golf or button-down) without displaying my undershirt, which is my preference (as well as my wife's).

Having lived in Dallas, Austin, and now Houston (again), the visible crew-neck undershirt seems more common in Houston.

[Bench]

This mystifies me.  What's uncomfortable about slightly less shirt?

And yes, unless you have enough chest hair to be mistaken for a Wookie, wearing a v-neck usually isn't a problem.

The top buttoned button tickles my chest.

[Navin R Johnson]

If you can see chest hair with only the top button open, you can pretty much see it from under a crewneck collar.  If a guy wears his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest, that's another matter entirely.

That is true, but it is still less visible.  People with their shirts unbuttoned 1/2way down (outside of sitting a a pool) look tacky.

Personally, I always wear crew, never been a fan of the v-neck, but to each their own on that.

[Guinness]

To me, either/or is fine, but the point is if you have on a dress shirt, wear an undershirt.

[Ebby Calvin]

I only wear undershirts with plain-white dress shirts.  V-neck for me.

[Navin R Johnson]

I have never thought of a tshirt as "underwear."  I guess technically it is under another piece of clothing, but I always refer to it as an undershirt.  The word underwear, to me, means tighty whities, boxers, briefs, thong, etc...

[Ty in Tampa]

And yes, unless you have enough chest hair to be mistaken for a Wookie, wearing a v-neck usually isn't a problem.

*raiseshandmeekly*

[Bench]

I have never thought of a tshirt as "underwear."  I guess technically it is under another piece of clothing, but I always refer to it as an undershirt.  The word underwear, to me, means tighty whities, boxers, briefs, thong, etc...

I always think of the old timey westerns where the fellas were wearing full onesies underneath their clothes. 

[Andyzipp]

The shit Matt has opinions on.I have both crew and v-neck undershirts.  I wear both interchangeably.  It's never caused an issue in my life or the life of any other.

Are we going to start talking about the impropriety of boxer briefs soon?  How about sock garters?

[Waldo]

Crew neck for me.

[Guinness]

Crew neck for me.

Actually, for me it's "whatever my wife buys me"

[Noe]

+1 on the v-neck.  I can wear any casual shirt (golf or button-down) without displaying my undershirt, which is my preference (as well as my wife's).

Having lived in Dallas, Austin, and now Houston (again), the visible crew-neck undershirt seems more common in Houston.

Bacon neck!

[EasTexAstro]

What is underwear?

[Gizzmonic]

The shit Matt has opinions on.I have both crew and v-neck undershirts.  I wear both interchangeably.  It's never caused an issue in my life or the life of any other.

Are we going to start talking about the impropriety of boxer briefs soon?  How about sock garters?

Is there some weird correlation between loving Astros baseball and being unhealthily concerned with what other men* are wearing?  Should we add this to the list of our shared neuroses?

*deliberately excluding our female posters from this neurosis

[Noe]

I find v-necks to be uncomfortable.  Though I think v-necks look a lot better on women than crew necks do.

+1

My wife and I disagree... I hate v-necks, she hates crew necks undershirts (on me). I give in with of course the proper amount of whining on my part about being so damn uncomfortable.

[Bench]

 How about sock garters?

You are probably the only person under 60 who I can imagine wearing sock garters.

[Ron Brand]

Actually, for me it's "whatever my wife buys me"

This. This right here.

Christ, you guys must think I'm homeless and using the Internet at the public library. I dress like the Dude without the sense of style. At OD next year I'll upgrade and dress like one of those Krishna guys.

[Noe]

The shit Matt has opinions on.I have both crew and v-neck undershirts.  I wear both interchangeably.  It's never caused an issue in my life or the life of any other.

Are we going to start talking about the impropriety of boxer briefs soon?  How about sock garters?

Oddly enough, I played on a team where the entire team was concerned about the uniform propriety. Basically, if I liked wearing high socks and the pants pulled up to the knees, then the fashion police on the team would approach me as we were warming up and ask "You're not serious, are you?"

Made me wear the uni that way just to spite them!

[Bench]

The shit Matt has opinions on.

I'm sure his opinion on glasses with no lenses will surprise us all.

[Noe]

I'm sure his opinion on glasses with no lenses will surprise us all.

My ex-Brother-in-Law did that for a time because he said it made him look sophisticated.  "No lens on the glasses makes you sophisticated? Isn't it the other way around?" *duck*!

[roadrunner]

V-neck.  Crew neck undershirts under dress shirts is for high schoolers.  Just make sure your chest hair is under control.

Also, I picked this up a couple of years ago.  When wearing a white dress shirt use a grey undershirt so that it doesn't show through.   

[das]

My ex-Brother-in-Law did that for a time because he said it made him look sophisticated.  "No lens on the glasses makes you sophisticated? Isn't it the other way around?" *duck*!

So, it took this "look" two years to go from giggly tween and teen girls to the finest fashionistas that big-money NBA stardom can produce.  At that rate, we can expect NBA fashion mavens to be wearing two different colored socks in around 18 months and two different shoes altogether in another 6 months after that.

[HudsonHawk]

Is there some weird correlation between loving Astros baseball and being unhealthily concerned with what other men* are wearing?  Should we add this to the list of our shared neuroses?

*deliberately excluding our female posters from this neurosis

If you guys don't like the topic, then by all means avoid the conversation. If you want to talk Astros baseball we have a forum for that.

[HudsonHawk]

I'm sure his opinion on glasses with no lenses will surprise us all.

Certainly. Having worn glasses most of my life, I object to those who use them to make a fashion statement. Would the use leg braces?  A prosthetic arm?

[BudGirl]

So, it took this "look" two years to go from giggly tween and teen girls to the finest fashionistas that big-money NBA stardom can produce.  At that rate, we can expect NBA fashion mavens to be wearing two different colored socks in around 18 months and two different shoes altogether in another 6 months after that.

National Two Different Colored Shoes Day

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Certainly. Having worn glasses most of my life, I object to those who use them to make a fashion statement. Would the use leg braces?  A prosthetic arm?

Yes, I believe they would.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I wear an undershirt everyday to work. I have both v-neck and crew neck styles. My favorite is which ever one is on top of the stack in the drawer.

[drew corleone]

I only wear undershirts with button-ups (unless I'm doing an occasional button-up with shorts, then it's no undershirt). I have never owned a v-neck undershirt, though I have a ton of v-neck sweaters (I eschew the undershirt if I wear a button-up underneath a v-neck sweater).

[Bench]

(I eschew the undershirt if I wear a button-up underneath a v-neck sweater).

In that case your sweater becomes your undershirt and you're wearing your underwear outside your clothes.  I think I have that right. 

[Phil_in_CS]

V neck, though if you have a tie on it doesn't matter.

I thought men were to have style while women worried about fashion?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I thought men were to have style while women worried about fashion?

It depends on one's mode.

[Mr. Happy]

Crewnecks. Hands down. I wear one every day, even under a t-shirt.

[94CougarGrad]

Actually, for me it's "whatever my wife buys me"

Some wives are informed of their husbands' preferences. It's crewnecks and tighty whities for the men in my house, although the older boy is rebellious by preferring boxers with his crewnecks.

[Mr. Happy]

Some wives are informed of their husbands' preferences. It's crewnecks and tighty whities for the men in my house, although the older boy is rebellious by preferring boxers with his crewnecks.

Always boxers. Always.

[94CougarGrad]

Funny, because the two in my house who don't wear 'em think, "Ew, boxers."

[MusicMan]

The correct answer is: it depends on the shirt.

[Limey]

Funny, because the two in my house who don't wear 'em think, "Ew, boxers."

Since the "invention" of boxer briefs, I cannot understand why anyone wears anything else.

[MusicMan]

Since the "invention" of boxer briefs, I cannot understand why anyone wears anything else.

This is also correct.

[HudsonHawk]

Since the "invention" of boxer briefs, I cannot understand why anyone wears anything else.

[kramer]I need the space...my boys are out there...I'm free, and I'm LOVIN' IT[/kramer]

[Mr. Happy]

Since the "invention" of boxer briefs, I cannot understand why anyone wears anything else.

This. This right here.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

V-neck.  Crew neck undershirts under dress shirts is for high schoolers.  Just make sure your chest hair is under control.

Also, I picked this up a couple of years ago.  When wearing a white dress shirt use a grey undershirt so that it doesn't show through.   

My head just exploded. Why wouldn't gray show through?

[NeilT]

I'm baffled by this conversation.  Maybe it's because I grew up in a dry Western climate, but I'm not in the habit of undershirts, and only wear them now when it's pretty cold.  What's their purpose, other than insulation?

[BizidyDizidy]

I'm baffled by this conversation.  Maybe it's because I grew up in a dry Western climate, but I'm not in the habit of undershirts, and only wear them now when it's pretty cold.  What's their purpose, other than insulation?

Sweat, comfort.

[subnuclear]

I'm baffled by this conversation.  Maybe it's because I grew up in a dry Western climate, but I'm not in the habit of undershirts, and only wear them now when it's pretty cold.  What's their purpose, other than insulation?

To better conceal the tattoos.

[NeilT]

To better conceal the tattoos.

Ah, now I get it. 

[Bench]

I'm baffled by this conversation.  Maybe it's because I grew up in a dry Western climate, but I'm not in the habit of undershirts, and only wear them now when it's pretty cold.  What's their purpose, other than insulation?

If you prefer heavily starched shirts and no undershirt I'm going to look at you differently next time we see each other.  And then I'm going to wonder if you have band-aids over your nipples.

[HudsonHawk]

If you prefer heavily starched shirts and no undershirt I'm going to look at you differently next time we see each other.  And then I'm going to wonder if you have band-aids over your nipples.

If he doesn't know the purpose of an undershirt, I'm wondering if he goes commando too.

[BudGirl]

If he doesn't know the purpose of an undershirt, I'm wondering if he goes commando too.

Really?  You are really wondering that?

[HudsonHawk]

I'm baffled by this conversation.  Maybe it's because I grew up in a dry Western climate, but I'm not in the habit of undershirts, and only wear them now when it's pretty cold.  What's their purpose, other than insulation?

It insulates your body from your outer shirt, wicks moisture away from your skin, and keeps your shirts cleaner so they last longer. It also prevents that awkward see through of your nipples if you're wearing a white or otherwise thin shirt.

[HudsonHawk]

Really?  You are really wondering that?

 
Well chicks dig him. I was wondering that or if he just usually wore something unusual.

[BizidyDizidy]

 
Well chicks dig him. I was wondering that or if he just usually wore something unusual.

I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And, uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be. Her panties. Uh, odds are they are probably basic white, cotton, underpants. But I sort of think, well, maybe they're silk panties, maybe it's a thong. Maybe it's something really cool that I don't even know about.

[NeilT]

It insulates your body from your outer shirt, wicks moisture away from your skin, and keeps your shirts cleaner so they last longer. It also prevents that awkward see through of your nipples if you're wearing a white or otherwise thin shirt.

Cotton never wicked anything, and you're making that stuff up about see-through shirts.  I can't ever remember seeing through a dress shirt, of course I can't ever remember looking, either.

[NeilT]

If you prefer heavily starched shirts and no undershirt I'm going to look at you differently next time we see each other.  And then I'm going to wonder if you have band-aids over your nipples.

No heavy starch.  Maybe that's the difference, you've turned all your shirts into micro-planes.

[Bench]

No heavy starch.  Maybe that's the difference, you've turned all your shirts into micro-planes.

I'm always confused by the heavy-starchers.  I had to borrow one of my dad's dress shirts a few years ago and it was like wearing armor.

[MusicMan]

I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And, uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be. Her panties. Uh, odds are they are probably basic white, cotton, underpants. But I sort of think, well, maybe they're silk panties, maybe it's a thong. Maybe it's something really cool that I don't even know about.

Are we not in the nest?

[Limey]

I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And, uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be. Her panties. Uh, odds are they are probably basic white, cotton, underpants. But I sort of think, well, maybe they're silk panties, maybe it's a thong. Maybe it's something really cool that I don't even know about.

Biz the Diz!   Biz the Diz!  Biz the Diz!

[Limey]

No heavy starch.  Maybe that's the difference, you've turned all your shirts into micro-planes.

Never understood heavy starch.

[BizidyDizidy]

I don't like any starch, but still always wear an undershirt.

[HudsonHawk]

I'm always confused by the heavy-starchers.  I had to borrow one of my dad's dress shirts a few years ago and it was like wearing armor.

Heavy starch is popular with the drugstore cowboys.  They buy shirts three sizes too large, then starch them to where they're like kevlar, and it makes them look like they have a giant chest and huge, body builder arms to go along with their 12-year old girl's waist. 

[Mr. Happy]

I don't like any starch, but still always wear an undershirt.

+1

[Bench]

This mystifies me.  What's uncomfortable about slightly less shirt?

And yes, unless you have enough chest hair to be mistaken for a Wookie, wearing a v-neck usually isn't a problem.

Time marches on. Things change. People evolve.

I now have a more than slight preference for v-neck undershirts.

[chuck]

Four pages of discussion concerning a topic on which I have pronounced opinions, opinions I am unafraid to share, yet I contributed silence. I wonder what the hell was going on with me in June of 2012. Maybe we had a day-long power outage. Maybe I was in jail.

[Limey]

Four pages of discussion concerning a topic on which I have pronounced opinions, opinions I am unafraid to share, yet I contributed silence. I wonder what the hell was going on with me in June of 2012. Maybe we had a day-long power outage. Maybe I was in jail.

Maybe your shirt was so heavily starched that you couldn’t bend your arms to reach the keyboard. 

[Bench]

Four pages of discussion concerning a topic on which I have pronounced opinions, opinions I am unafraid to share, yet I contributed silence. I wonder what the hell was going on with me in June of 2012. Maybe we had a day-long power outage. Maybe I was in jail.

Second chances in life are so rare.

[Aussie Astro]

Four pages of discussion concerning a topic on which I have pronounced opinions, opinions I am unafraid to share, yet I contributed silence. I wonder what the hell was going on with me in June of 2012. Maybe we had a day-long power outage. Maybe I was in jail.

Crap, I just read four pages of a six year old thread?  Can't help feeling like I have been pranked.

[Limey]

Crap, I just read four pages of a six year old thread?  Can't help feeling like I have been pranked.

That’s ok, you’re in Australia.  Six year out of date fashion is all the rage down there.

[Mike S.]

I've been hoping for far better banter between the pom and the bogan.  So disappointing.

[Aussie Astro]

I've been hoping for far better banter between the pom and the bogan.  So disappointing.

Bogan?  There is no need for name calling son.

[chuck]

Bogan?  There is no need for name calling son.

At least he didn't call you a grommet.

[Aussie Astro]

At least he didn't call you a grommet.

I'm about 45 years past grommet age... I wonder if we have the same meaning of the word?

[chuck]

I'm about 45 years past grommet age...

That was the joke, yo.

[Aussie Astro]

That was the joke, yo.

I'll have a few beers and read it again...

[Mike S.]

Bogan?  There is no need for name calling son.

It was tongue firmly planted in cheek.  So long as you don't calling  me a seppo...

[Knoxbanedoodle]

It was tongue firmly planted in cheek.  So long as you don't calling  me a seppo...

Wait, I know this one. Seppo sounds like Septic because Tank rhymes with Yank, right? Only I thought it was seppie...

[Aussie Astro]

It was tongue firmly planted in cheek.  So long as you don't calling  me a seppo...

The bogan reference was funny but a little surprising, I just hope you're not spending a lot of time watching Bogan Hunters and Fat Pizza. 

[Aussie Astro]

Wait, I know this one. Seppo sounds like Septic because Tank rhymes with Yank, right? Only I thought it was seppie...

Seppie would be a new one for me but I firmly believe there are no rules when it comes to name calling.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Seppie would be a new one for me but I firmly believe there are no rules when it comes to name calling.

You and the asshole president of America! Yahoo!

[Mike S.]

The bogan reference was funny but a little surprising, I just hope you're not spending a lot of time watching Bogan Hunters and Fat Pizza.

Pom was an easy enough term to come up with (ETA: when I played rugby in Sydney back in 2003, any time I called one of the Brits on the team a limey, none of the Aussies or Kiwis knew what the hell I was talking about).  Trying to think of something for Australians left me with bogan.  Highly doubt you are one, given your literacy rate and support of the Houston Astros.

I haven't seen either Bogan Hunters or Fat Pizza.  However, having worked Harvest in the Hunter Valley, I'm fairly certain I can accurately guess what they're about.

[Limey]

Seppie would be a new one for me but I firmly believe there are no rules when it comes to name calling.

It's "Seppo" and, yes, it's the contraction of the rhyming slang for "Yank", being "Septic Tank".  We figured you'd be happier (less unhappy?) being called "Seppos" than "Septics". 

[Limey]

Pom was an easy enough term to come up with (ETA: when I played rugby in Sydney back in 2003, any time I called one of the Brits on the team a limey, none of the Aussies or Kiwis knew what the hell I was talking about).  Trying to think of something for Australians left me with bogan.  Highly doubt you are one, given your literacy rate and support of the Houston Astros.

I haven't seen either Bogan Hunters or Fat Pizza.  However, having worked Harvest in the Hunter Valley, I'm fairly certain I can accurately guess what they're about.

POM and Limey have something in common: they refer to those who left British shores and who now live in the former colonies.  They really should be terms to apply to you (and now me), therefore, not the other way around.

[Mike S.]

It's "Seppo" and, yes, it's the contraction of the rhyming slang for "Yank", being "Septic Tank".  We figured you'd be happier (less unhappy?) being called "Seppos" than "Septics". 

The other rationale for seppo, as was happily explained to me by multiple Australian friends, is that like a septic tank we Yanks are often full of shit.

[Mike S.]

POM and Limey have something in common: they refer to those who left British shores and who now live in the former colonies.  They really should be terms to apply to you (and now me), therefore, not the other way around.

Sydney Morning Herald had a fascinating article several years ago regarding the origins of the term "pom."  Most believe it is derived from an acronym for Prisoner Of Mother England.  Except, there is no evidence to support that claim.  The Herald pointed out that acronyms really weren't used in the English language when the term first appeared in the late 19th century.  Yet, there are multiple references to it in print as an abbreviation for pomegranate.  The English complexion, it seems, wasn't entirely suited to the Australian sun.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

The other rationale for seppo, as was happily explained to me by multiple Australian friends, is that like a septic tank we Yanks are often full of shit.

This is a much more elegant and satisfying explanation than the "sounds-like" chain.

[Limey]

The other rationale for seppo, as was happily explained to me by multiple Australian friends, is that like a septic tank we Yanks are often full of shit.

We could've gone with "Shermans" but decided not to for a reason...

[chuck]

The other rationale for seppo, as was happily explained to me by multiple Australian friends, is that like a septic tank we Yanks are often full of shit.

Yet their PM is one Scott Morrison. They might want to dial the haughtiness back juuuust a bit.

[Aussie Astro]

Pom was an easy enough term to come up with (ETA: when I played rugby in Sydney back in 2003, any time I called one of the Brits on the team a limey, none of the Aussies or Kiwis knew what the hell I was talking about).  Trying to think of something for Australians left me with bogan.  Highly doubt you are one, given your literacy rate and support of the Houston Astros.

I haven't seen either Bogan Hunters or Fat Pizza.  However, having worked Harvest in the Hunter Valley, I'm fairly certain I can accurately guess what they're about.

If you played rugby in Sydney (League I am guessing?) you certainly rubbed shoulders with bogan royalty.

Folks my age tend to refer to an unpolished Australians as an 'ocker', bogan is only a fairly recent addition to our vernacular.

[Mike S.]

If you played rugby in Sydney (League I am guessing?) you certainly rubbed shoulders with bogan royalty.

Folks my age tend to refer to an unpolished Australians as an 'ocker', bogan is only a fairly recent addition to our vernacular.

That's a reasonable assumption regarding rugby league, but I'm actually not a mungo.  I'm a rugby union man and proud alumnus of Eastern Suburbs RFC in Bondi.  I beleve that makes me part of the tweed blazer brigade.

First visited Australia in 1995 after graduating high school.  That may have been when I first heard the term bogan.  I've honestly never heard of ocker.

[Aussie Astro]

That's a reasonable assumption regarding rugby league, but I'm actually not a mungo.  I'm a rugby union man and proud alumnus of Eastern Suburbs RFC in Bondi.  I beleve that makes me part of the tweed blazer brigade.

First visited Australia in 1995 after graduating high school.  That may have been when I first heard the term bogan.  I've honestly never heard of ocker.

I never really like rugby too much, but if I had to play / watch it, I am pretty sure that union would be the code to pick.  How does the expression go - union is a thugs game played by gentlemen, and league is a gentlemens' game played by thugs.  Or something like that...  Useless trivia time, a member of the Canadian national rugby union team played AFL in the national comp for a few years and was pretty decent.  I wondered if he was a real rugby player though, he had a neck.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I've a good friend here in the States who has played Rugby all his life. He's 60 and plays what they call soft contact hands only rugby. I've always viewed him and his group of rugby friends as being a cult.

[HudsonHawk]

I never really like rugby too much, but if I had to play / watch it, I am pretty sure that union would be the code to pick.  How does the expression go - union is a thugs game played by gentlemen, and league is a gentlemens' game played by thugs.  Or something like that...  Useless trivia time, a member of the Canadian national rugby union team played AFL in the national comp for a few years and was pretty decent.  I wondered if he was a real rugby player though, he had a neck.

The quote I've always heard is "football (American code) is a barbarian sport, played by barbarians.  Rugby is a barbarian sport, played by gentlemen.  Soccer is a gentleman's sport played by barbarians."

[Mike S.]

I always heard/learned that soccer is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans.  Rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen.  Also, soccer may be the beautiful game, but rugby is the game they play in heaven.

Never heard that about American football.

[Mike S.]

I never really like rugby too much, but if I had to play / watch it, I am pretty sure that union would be the code to pick.  How does the expression go - union is a thugs game played by gentlemen, and league is a gentlemens' game played by thugs.  Or something like that...  Useless trivia time, a member of the Canadian national rugby union team played AFL in the national comp for a few years and was pretty decent.  I wondered if he was a real rugby player though, he had a neck.

As my former coach used to say, "Son, there are two types of people in this world.  Those were born to play the piano, and those were born to carry the piano."

[Mike S.]

I've a good friend here in the States who has played Rugby all his life. He's 60 and plays what they call soft contact hands only rugby. I've always viewed him and his group of rugby friends as being a cult.

That wouldn't be the most inaccurate assessment of us rugby players.  We are a unique group of individuals.