A Look at the Metamorphic Life of the T-Shirt: From Undershirts to Statement Pieces

As a piece of clothing with origins as an undergarment securing one's propriety or ensuring the health of expensive suites, the t-shirt has had a history of metamorphic adaptation and revitalisation. It begins with adorning the sleeping bodies of the ancients. As a piece of clothing deemed hardly proper to be worn out in society, the shirt was used underneath garments or as sleepwear. 

It's hard not to see a similarity within modern society and wearing that oversized shirt that's fraying at the bleached label and the print is either peeling off or cracked. You know the one? It's just too comfortable to throw out or repurpose as a cleaning rag. And then there's the additional consideration of the emotional bond one has with that tatty tee – might one liken it to a toxic situationship or long-term relationship? Whatever attachment style one has with their t-shirt, it cannot be denied that we form emotional bonds with them.

From Tomb to Television

The linen shirt climbed out of the dusty confines of Egyptian tombs and redefined itself in the 20th-century film, "A Streetcar Named Desire" where Marlon Brando donned a shirt in the 50s cult film. Five years later, James Dean would solidify the shirt's defiance of being labelled as underwear in the iconic "Rebel Without a Cause".

It's worth noting that up until this point, the t-shirt was an undergarment - something to be worn underneath your clothing...like long johns. Imagine wearing those comfy cotton treasures out and about in public that no one really admits to wearing unless you're a farmer in the 70s sitting on your porch with not a soul around. 

That's the point: some garments bear the burden of societal ostracization dependent on their proximity to the flesh. Which is why the donning of a shirt as a piece of clothing on its own - not as a protective layer underneath another item - was a big deal for fashion. We might shake our heads in disbelief ("who would get their knickers in a twist over wearing a shirt?"), but let's not forget the public reception, particularly from conservative Americans, of pop extraordinaire Sabrina Carpenter and her close-fitting corsets. Nothing ruffles the feathers quite like a woman-identifying individual exploiting sex-appeal and objectification.

In summation, the act of wearing a shirt as outerwear really was considered a big deal for early 20th-century society.

Gosh, Dolly, I Do Love Me a Man in Uniform...T-Shirts?

That's right - before the icon joined the television screen, the flashing lights of Hollywood and the fame, the shirt was part of the war effort in World War II and would become an enduring staple for military usage.

 The t-shirt became a versatile item of clothing that could be made quickly and affordably - qualities the financial department found appealing. And the strained fabric over battle-ready soldiers wasn't too bad for the eyes either. The wardrobe department for 'Captain America' took detailed notes here. 

Once a piece of underwear, the shirt became a mass-produced necessity for cladding the bodies of soldiers heading off to war.

Thank the Punks!

Cue the 1970s and societal discontent at the state of the world. Studs, piercings and leather - the rise of the subculture that would challenge society and influence legends like Vivienne Westwood and be immortalised in the music of the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Blondie. The same three punk icons whose resurgence can be found on the band shirts sold in H&M nowadays. 

 After its stint as a patriotic symbol for the G.I. Joe, the t-shirt would delve into its rebellious nature and shapeshift into a highly innovative medium that would be used to display and convey the radical opinions of the punk movement. From inking the fabric with pens to printing, the tee could  be likened to an artistic creation borne out of the mind of Andy Warhol or a commercial advertisement on a billboard. 

Stylised opinions to commercial commentary, the punks of the 70s would initiate shirts into a new cult of fashion culture that would see it reach a new level of celebrity and honour across luxury brands that would flaunt ultra-soft loungewear to make you want to wear the shirt as an undergarment (regressive, I know) to supermarket shelves as a necessity for daily wear. 

A Medium for Commentary

The modern usage of the t-shirt stands on the shoulders of the many lives lived since its conception in antiquity. Splashed across Instagram and tabloids, proudly worn at movie premiers and runway shows, the t-shirt has embraced its punk roots in Conner Ives' 'Protect the Dolls' rendition. From Pedro Pascal to Troye Sivan, the t-shirt acts as a medium of commentary wherein it can convey support for the trans community and display defiance in the face of Trump-American policies. 

As a garment worn across class and society, the t-shirt becomes the perfect vehicle for societal commentary. A rebel with a cause and a symbol of stylish defiance with a history of metamorphosis and made available to all - the t-shirt is an underrated medium biting at the bit and frothing at the mouth, waiting to be used and reimagined.