The muscle shirt, popular since the 1960s, is a tight, sleeveless tank top designed to show off the male physique. It has evolved to include spandex and a variety of colors and prints, but is still meant for those with muscles to flaunt.
A muscle shirt is a type of tank top that first became popular in the 1960s. As the name implies, the aim of the style is to show off the physique of especially the male body. To this end, it clings closely to the body and is sleeveless.
The neckline of the muscle shirt was and still is very similar to the standard undershirt. The difference was mainly in how the shirt was worn. It had to be tight to show off the pectoral muscles of the body and sleeveless to show off the biceps and triceps. The style was initially primarily exclusive to men. In the early 1980s, the shirt became popular among women, not so much to show off muscle but to accentuate feminine curves.
In the 1980s, men, especially those who listened to heavy metal, new wave, or punk rock, often preferred a ripped-sleeve look. Many took the regular jersey and cut or ripped off the sleeves. This resulted in a homemade muscle shirt. As in the 1950s, men can now simply roll up the sleeves of a T-shirt to create the same look.
Although the initial muscle shirt was made with cotton, you can also find it in spandex. This style became popular with men in the mid-1990s. Additionally, trends in the late ’90s often referred to any fitted shirt by this name, or reassigned the name to fitted tank tops. When women began to show their midriffs in cropped shirts, some men’s shirts were also cropped. This trend was popular with men who wanted to show off their six pack abs, or a muscled stomach.
The muscle shirt is really meant for people with muscles to show off. It is not considered fashionable to wear one that is too loose, or to wear one when your muscles need a little work. However, in hot weather, many turn to loose fitting simply because they are more comfortable. Some women even buy oversized men’s shirts and wear them as nightgowns.
Instead of the plain white t-shirt, the muscle shirt can come in a variety of colors and many have prints in various designs. When message t-shirts became popular in the 2000s, these message t-shirts were made as well. You can find a wide range of colors, patterns, and designs, for relatively little cost.
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