Choosing the right undershirt size is essential to feel and look good in your clothes. This post will show you how to select the undershirt size that will fit you perfectly.
The size of the undershirt may differ from the size of the T-shirt, so you should always try on the undershirt or follow the measurements provided by the seller. If you try it on, it should be slightly compressed but only enough to be comfortable and not hinder your movement.
In the rest of this article, you will find out how to choose the right size of undershirt. If an undershirt should be one size smaller, and how tight an undershirt should be.
What size undershirt should I wear so it fits perfectly?
To determine the size of the undershirt that fits you perfectly, try it on or measure your measurements (chest width and body length). The undershirt is more elastic and tight than the t-shirt, so it doesn’t need to be one size smaller. The undershirt should be tight enough to make you feel comfortable and not distracting while wearing it.
Although it may not seem like it, the size of the undershirt is essential. The right size of undershirt can make a big difference to how you feel and look in the clothes you wear. Perfect undershirt size gives you comfort, keeps you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather. Perfect-fitting undershirt absorbs sweat and compresses your body to hide fatty parts.
The undershirt keeps you warm and cool
In winter, you can get cold if you wear only a shirt or T-shirt, so it’s a good idea to wear an extra layer under your clothes. An undershirt made from warm materials such as cotton and merino wool will give you an extra layer of warmth.
Some people don’t wear undershirts in summer because they think they will be too hot. Read this post, where I explain in more detail why an undershirt won’t make you hot in the summer. But undershirts help you sweat less because they make your skin breathe if you use suitable materials (polyester or cotton). Cotton also absorbs sweat well, which helps your skin stay drier for longer and therefore sweat less. Is polyester or cotton a better material? Read this post to find out the answer.
Should an undershirt be a size smaller?
The undershirt doesn’t have to be one size smaller than the T-shirt, as the sizes differ. You need to resize the undershirt so that it fits you well.
In the following steps, I’ll show you how to try an undershirt in the shop and measure your body length to order the correct size. Now I would like to offer you a practical example that undershirt sizes are entirely different from undershirt sizes.
When I ordered my first undershirt, I ordered it in the same size as my T-shirt (Large). When I got the undershirt, I was disappointed and surprised, here’s why. All the t-shirts I wear are made of 100% cotton and therefore are not that elastic. I knew the undershirt I ordered would be more flexible as this one was made of 74% cotton, 23% polyester, and 3% elastane. The undershirt I got was indeed more elastic than the regular shirts I wear, but it was too big for me.
At this point, I realized that the sizes of the undershirts were not the same as those of the T-shirts. Later, I read the comments on Amazon, which also said that the undershirts they had ordered were too big for them. And some were surprised that the size chart showed that they needed to order a size S or M when the rest of the clothes they wore were in size L or XL.
I wanted to tell you this story so that you won’t be surprised to find out that you need to order a smaller size of undershirt than you are wearing. I will tell you how to take your body measurements soon.
How tight should undershirt be?
The undershirt should be so tight that it fits your body and makes you feel comfortable. The sleeves of the undershirt should also be tight to absorb sweat more quickly and efficiently so that it doesn’t transfer to your outer clothing.
How do you know if your undershirt is too tight for you? Here are some tips to follow when trying on undershirts in the shop. You can try tank tops if you prefer to wear a sleeveless undershirt. You can read about the pros and cons of tank tops here.
An undershirt is too tight if it makes you uncomfortable and makes it difficult to move in. After wearing it for a few minutes, you should forget you are wearing the undershirt. It signifies that the undershirt is too tight if you can still feel it on you.
The undershirt is too tight or too small when the neckline is too high when it should be unnoticeable. If you choose a V-neckline, it should, in principle, be hidden by a T-shirt or shirt. If it is still visible, the undershirt is too small. Continue reading this post to get the answer to why it’s not good for your undershirt to be visible.
What’s Wife Beater And What Size Wife Beater Should I Get?
The undershirt is also called a wife beater because in 1947 a Detroit man beat his wife to death. A picture of him wearing the undershirt appeared in the media, so the undershirt has been called a wife beater ever since. You may be wondering, what size wife beater should I get?
Let’s look in more detail at what size undershirt should I wear and how to choose perfect undershirt size based on size chart.
How do you measure for undershirts?
The primary measurement you need to determine when choosing an undershirt is the width of the chest. Most manufacturers only point out this measurement because then the length of the undershirt is also long enough (to the middle of your buttocks) to keep it out of your trousers. That’s why I’m going to show you how to measure your chest width.
In a previous article, I’ve already written about how to choose an undershirt that will be long enough so that you can read the detailed measuring process here. Now I’ll show you how to measure the width of your chest.
For accurate results, it’s best not to wear a T-shirt when taking measurements. To measure the width of the chest, you need to measure the widest part of the chest and slightly below the armpits (see picture below).
To take this measurement, use a tailor’s tape measure and place the start about 5 cm (2 in) below the armpits and the middle of your arm. Pass the remainder of the tape measure across the chest’s widest part to the armpit’s other side. The tape measure should be a little loose, about as tight as your shirt will fit. Lower your arm where the tape measure starts and grasp it with your hand where it marks the width of your chest.
This will give you half of the full extent of your chest. Some manufacturers have measurements for the full extent in the size chart, and some only for a half. If it is necessary to do the entire circumference, double your size, or ask someone to help you, as it will be challenging to do this on your own. If you don’t have a tailor’s tape measure, you can use a rope or a shoelace that you put on the same way as a tailor’s tape measure and then measure with a standard tape measure.
Should Undershirts Be A Size Smaller Or Should I Size Up?
You have measured the width of your breasts and found that your measurement is between two sizes according to the undershirt size chart. The question is, should the undershirt be a size smaller or should I size up for a tank top?
If you are buying an undershirt without measurements, choose the size you have for the T-shirt. Undershirts are made to be more elastic and fit tighter than a T-shirt, if you choose a smaller size the undershirt will be too tight. If you have taken measurements and you are between two sizes, choose the smaller size as the manufacturer knows best what size their undershirts are.
Men’s Undershirt Size Chart
This is the men’s undershirt size chat you can rely on in case the manufacturer doesn’t offer its own size chart. In most cases, the undershirt size is the same as the T-shirt size.
| Size | Chest (inches) | Chest (centimeters) |
| S | 34-36 | 13.5-14 |
| M | 38-40 | 15-16 |
| L | 42-44 | 16.5-17.5 |
| XL | 46-48 | 18-19 |
| 2XL | 50-52 | 20-20.5 |
| 3XL | 54-56 | 21-22 |