Shirts are a clothing item that has become quite familiar to modern humans. A shirt represents the elegance and solemnity of a man wearing it. But not many people know that the first version of a shirt had been used as a lining for ancient people. Let’s find out how history has changed throughout the evolution of shirt design. In this article, we will also go through the special things about bespoke shirts made by Thomas Nguyen Tailor & Design in Vietnam.
MỤC LỤC
I. What can the evolution of shirts tell us about history?
1. Before 19th Century – Shirts as lining
Back in time to 3500 BC, archaeologists have discovered traces of the first linen shirts in ancient Egypt tombs. No buttons, no cuffs, and no fit to the body shape are what you can imagine about this shirt version. At that time, shirts were used as lining clothing and could not be exposed, especially when meeting people of the opposite sex.
Until the 17th Century, shirts were still used as undergarments. It helps separate the expensive waistcoat and suit jacket from the body to prevent body sweat from sticking to luxurious clothes. But some significant things in shirts’ design have changed. The shirts could now be made of silk, with buttons and cuffs.
As time flew by, men started wearing shirts without waistcoats. They left the collar and cuffs exposed from under the jacket. This vision changed the position of shirts from less important to become significant signs showing status symbols among the class. People at that time would recognize someone as aristocracy when they wore a shirt made of silk fabric and decorated with additional details, such as ruffles and embroidered patterns.
2. 19th Century – Shirts as a status symbol
In the 19th Century, white-collar shirts were considered a symbol of high status. Facing the context of the Industrial Revolution, being able to wear a white-collar shirt means you have a job that doesn’t get your shirt dirty. This could be an office management job.
Oppositely, if you wore a blue-collar shirt, you were probably in the lower class. Blue-collar shirts would help you to hide stains created at work better.
Another highlight about shirts at this time is the detachable shirt collar. Because cleaning the collar was extremely hard, people had created removable shirt collars. This feature allows the wearer to freely choose the style they like and get rid of dirty collars that could not be cleared. This is also an indispensable characteristic of expensive shirts at that time.
3. 20th Century – Shirts as daily items
The World War in the 20th Century had brought fashion into a completely new era of simplicity. Changes in shirt design following this orientation were no exception. Collars and cuffs become less fussy. Shirts became more comfortable, flexible, and suitable for various activities in daily life.
In the last century, detachable-collar shirts were the trend followed by high-class men. Up until the 1930s, fixed-collar shirts were revived and were accepted popularly once again. More and more men wore shirts without jackets, thus the breasted pocket on shirts was invented in the 1960s.
Also in the 60s, disco music took over and shirts designed following disco style became the new trend. It is a wild time for shirts. Despite the new development of patterned and colorful shirts, basic white shirts remained valued. Because it is a type of office uniform that always brings out a necessarily professional vibe.
Read more: Tailored suit: The elegance of a gentleman
II. Why do people choose tailoring bespoke shirts?
1. Expressing distinct personal style
Choosing a bespoke shirt means you are empowering yourself with the right to decide your shirt‘s design, color, and fabric. You are free to choose the style that suits you and the event you are about to participate in. Adding or subtracting small details seems not as that important, but in reality, it plays a vital role in the final shape of the shirt and your satisfaction.
2. Achieving the perfect fit
Each person has different measurements. Of course, a shirt made for a group of people with similar measurements could not be compared in terms of fit with a bespoke shirt. If you like to wear completely comfortable clothing and get exactly the desired effect in appearance, you should tailor bespoke shirts.
Read more: The best bespoke suits made in Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam
III. The bespoke shirts made by Thomas Nguyen Tailor & Design
1. Colorful bespoke shirts
With the diversity in fabric components and colors from world-famous brands, Thomas Nguyen Tailor & Design will offer you various shirt options to help you get the best stylistic tailored shirts. Besides the traditional black and white shirts, you can still become more fashionable with shirts in more eye-catching tones.
Red Burgundy and Pine Green are one of them. The two unfamiliar but impressive colors bring out a feeling of freshness, generosity, and elegance. Colorful custom shirts are likely a new wind that blows your oldness and alters it with a younger and more playful version.
2. Basic bespoke shirts
When it comes to shirts, people immediately think about a plain white shirt. Plain white shirts had become so popular that people look at them as a symbol of official events, and important conferences. In a daily meeting or interview, if you wear a plain white shirt, you will be appreciated for your respect and professional attitude toward your partner.
Black shirts are popular in another way. It represents a message from men that they are powerful and mysterious, they are strong and cognitive. The simplicity of a plain shirt, once again, highlights the gentlemen ‘s liberal and cool spirit. The dark color helps men hide their imperfections to become more attractive, and more impressive.
3. Striped bespoke shirts
The striped pattern represents elegance, sophistication, and seriousness in men. Custom shirts with vertical striped patterns in blue and white are one the favorites of Thomas Nguyen’s customers. This type of shirt is suitable for everyday work, not dazzling but still retains inherent elegance.
Read more: The professional bespoke tailoring process at Thomas Nguyen
IV. The special things about bespoke shirts at Thomas Nguyen
Thomas Nguyen is a long-lasting tailoring store in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. With the effort to learn, create, and make progress continuously, Thomas Nguyen‘s bespoke clothing is more and more qualified and fashionable.
Specially, at Thomas Nguyen, you can use the service of embroidering your name, your partner’s name, special days, and oriented quotes on your bespoke shirts. Do not hesitate to express your love through special tiny things, because we are worthy of loving and being loved.
THOMAS NGUYEN | TAILOR & DESIGN
