Q: Should I wear an undershirt with a sweater?

Q: Should I wear an undershirt with a sweater?

@MensHealthStyle when I wear a sweater do I wear an undershirt? #AskMH

-- ʝαяєт мσѕѕ (@thejaretmoss) November 26, 2013

Hi Jaret,

Thanks for writing. To answer your question, there are a few things you should consider:

STYLE
What kind of sweater do you own--or are thinking of buying? If it's a casual cardigan like this from Life After Denim, feel free to wear just undershirt with it. Although a crew cut might be your go-to T-shirt style, try a V-neck instead to complement the collar on the cardigan. Wear the same type of tee with V-neck sweater. As for crews,  you can wear any style of tee that you like. As long as it is not sticking out under the bottom.

MATERIAL
This J. Crew cashmere sweater will keep you warm in cooler temperatures. (Not to mention content and cozy, since it's so soft to the touch.) But you can't throw it into the washing machine with the rest of your laundry every other week. So wear an undershirt to maintain the quality of your cashmere and other delicate fabrics, such as wool--which we know shrinks in the dryer because we've all learned that the hard way. Even cotton, which can be washed, should have a tee underneath, so you won't have to wash it so often. Without an undershirt, there's no barrier between your perspiration and your sweater. And in areas where you sweat most (like your underarms), that's a problem. Just remember that whether it's the scent of your body wash or moisture from your pits, something is being transferred from your skin to your clothes e very time the two come in contact. Dry cleaning is an (expensive) option, but if you wear an undershirt, you won't need to do it as often.

FIT
If you're like most guys who don't live in warm climates, you own at least one cable knit sweater. (In fact, it's probably a holiday gift wrapped under your tree.) But these don't need to fit as snug as your tailored white dress shirt and aren't meant to hug your arms like your Nike Hyperwarm Dri-Fit shirt. So there's plenty of room to add an extra layer like an undershirt--long sleeve or short--for warmth or perspiration protection. In fact, none of your sweaters should be so tight-fitting that you can't add a thin layer beneath them .

And whatever you do, don't wear a muscle tank as a base layer. Let's put it this way: If you remove your sweater in an overheated room, you don't want to look like you should be pumping iron on Venice Beach.

Hope this helps!

--The Men's Health Style Team

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