A shirt is a piece of clothing that has a collar and buttons.
A shirt is a garment that has buttons and a collar and is used to cover the torso. The etymological origin of the term is found in the late Latin word camisia , which in turn comes from the Celtic language.
For example: "I don't know what shirt I'm going to wear to dinner tonight," "I'm going to give my brother-in-law a shirt for his birthday," "This afternoon I got oil on my new shirt."
Shirt types
Shirt buttons are usually found on the front of the garment . Shirts generally have long sleeves, although there are sleeveless shirts or shirts with short sleeves. When shirts are feminine, they are called blouses .
There are many types of shirts. A distinction that can be made is the one already mentioned about the existence, or not, of sleeves . On the other hand , you can differentiate between formal shirts (which are usually worn with a tie and jacket ) and informal shirts (suitable for wearing with jeans , to name one possibility).
There are different types of shirts.
Its parts
With respect to men's shirts, it is possible to recognize various parts that make them up, although only the most knowledgeable can distinguish them:
- Neck : it is one of the most obvious, although this does not diminish its importance or complexity. In fact, there are several types of collars that differ in their length , height, the shape of their tips and the way they are buttoned, among other characteristics. Since this part is almost always visible, it is one of the most important when choosing a shirt.
- Yoke : It is a portion of fabric that serves to join the sleeves, chest, back and neck. The yoke did not appear in the first designs of men's shirts, but was created to provide the wearer with greater elasticity and prevent the garment from causing discomfort when performing certain movements. On the other hand, it also facilitates custom tailoring .
- Armhole : this is the seam that joins the body of the garment to the sleeves, surrounding the armpit and shoulder. A well-made armhole allows the person to stretch their arms in any direction without feeling tight or uncomfortable.
- Fold – This part is optional. It is a seam that is made in the upper part of the back to stylize the fabric and make it conform to the shape of the shoulder blades.
- Dart : it is a seam found in the lower part of the back, on both sides of the garment, and is made with the purpose of adjusting it to the shape of the torso . Two names for shirts with darts are Tailored Fit or Slim Fit , which come from English and refer to the fact that they mold to the body, as if they had been custom-made. This seam is more common on dress shirts than on casual shirts.
- Placket : It is a piece of fabric that is on the chest. The eyelets are located on the placket. It can be a fold of the shirt itself or a piece that is added, and it can be single or double.
The shirt as a uniform
In a political context, the shirt often becomes a uniform that allows the adherents of a movement or party to be identified. In this framework, the members of the militias of fascism in Italy were known as "black shirts." Between the 1920s and 1940s , members of the "black shirts" were directed by dictator Benito Mussolini to carry out all types of violent acts.
Also in Italy , the followers of Giuseppe Garibaldi were called "red shirts." This politician and soldier promoted several revolutionary campaigns.