Re: Undershirt

On Thu, 2 Dec 1999, Melissa Phong wrote:

> Just to clarify, for those that are still confused. Nobody actually wears
> these anymore,  (except my grandfather) at least not where I'm from.
I last wore one in 1982, if I recall aright.

> My mom always called them under T- shirts, and they look kind of like that,
> except that (at least the ones I've seen) are always white, and are clearly
Actually, the thick-cloth Tee shirts are an innovation.  When I was
growing up, wearing what used to be exclusively "undershirts" as the only
shirt was not uncommon.  One still sees it--the classic look is, of
course, to put a pack of Camels rolled into one sleeve.

> Finally, I read once that they went out of fashion when Marlon Brando did the
> movie, "A Streetcar Named Desire." He was clearly not wearing an undershirt
> in that film so it became "cool" and "manly" not to wear them.
Brando?  A jonny-come-lately if Ever I saw one.  Clark Gable beat him by
years on that one.