The many ways to wear a T-shirt

MANILA, Philippines – A quick run to the grocery, a session in the gym or a simple get-together with friends calls for your go-to wardrobe staple: the t-shirt. 

From its color, cut, and print, it has become one of the most flexible garments anyone can have in his or her closet. It doesn’t seem like it will phase out in this lifetime.

The t-shirt saw its beginnings in 1913, when it was used in the U.S. Navy as a garment meant to be worn under the uniform. Through the years, its lightweight and easy-to-clean material also made it a top choice for laborers especially for hot working days, as well as practical mothers on the lookout for inexpensive outerwear for their children.

Hollywood followed suit. In the 1950s, Marlon Brando and James Dean led the “sexy look” for the regular, white t-shirt in their respective movies and sales went up $180 million. Prints also made their t-shirt debut around this time via Mickey Mouse, paving the way for advertising on the t-shirt.

The t-shirt has truly come a long way. It’s something you can wear to stand out in a crowd or be one with others. It’s a platform for expressing one’s personality and beliefs.

Its ubiquity also opened up opportunities for commercial advertising, as it became a new platform for making a stand on social and political issues, and gave a chance to spread and showcase wearable art.

Its long history aside, the timeless appeal of the t-shirt hinges on comfort, affordability and how it is simply like a personal billboard for whatever you want to say. For music lovers, pop culture fans or travel junkies, there’s a shirt out there for anyone.

Here are 4 styles that just might suit your taste.

Film fanatic

Are you a big fan of Star Wars or classic movies? Wearing something inspired by your favorite movie represents your interests and personality. You can dress it up by wearing it with a skirt, under a blazer or look laidback with denim shorts.

Playful and fun

A pop of color and cute prints may just do the trick to add a bit of style and fun in your outfit. If you want to add something a bit extra, you can opt to change the cut or style of your shirt. Why not make it into a cropped top or add a fringe on the sleeves to make it more unique?

This can also be a good fit for kids or kids at heart who want to stand out and show their fun side through their style.

Plain or print

Simple and classy designs make it easier to pair your t-shirt with anything in your closet like a pair of jeans, a spandex skirt or a pair of shorts. If you prefer to wear a plain shirt, you can create a classic look with a pair of jeans and sneakers or if you want to be a bit more daring you can bring back the tie-dye shirt and go retro.

But through the years t-shirts have also been used to spread messages or statements and this includes art by the likes of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. There’s something for the artist inside of us.

Music lover

The iconic band logos and album covers of the Rolling Stones, Metallica and Aerosmith have been on T-shirts for a long time now and are definitely here to stay. Wear it on a night out with friends by pairing it with skinny jeans or use it for your next DIY T-shirt project. Snip, distress or knot your shirt to add a bit more oomph.

Don’t underestimate how a shirt can represent your style and your personality. Give some of these a try and express yourself with your t-shirt. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.  – Rappler.com

UT, Uniqlo’s T-shirt brand was launched in 2003. Every year since then, UT has assembled a wide range of content from current pop culture – from art and music to movies and anime – and produced a huge range of T-shirts as tools for free self-expression. This month of May, we are celebrating our huge range of collaborations and we want you to be part of it!

Speak out and join the #UTYouTalk movement! Visit this link to know more about this month-long celebration and how you can be featured on an LED billboard along EDSA. Check out www.uniqlo.com/ph for more details.