Among the compulsions of our work life was the formal dress code we had to adhere to as responsible members of the banking tribe. Office-wear set for Senior Management was the special tie with Organizational logo in the middle, worn over a full sleeved shirt. Bank’s ‘Top Brass’ had to comply with mandatory jacket & tie to look imposing and play part of a ‘financial honcho’ to the hilt or at least appear as one.
Megacities like bustling Mumbai with its humid, stifling weather (barring two monsoon months), commuting by local trains is only for rough and tough and niceties like jostling crowds adorned in full shirt and tie are an anachronism. Most of us would lock our ties (with the knots intact) in the office drawer to be worn only while at work. The pressed full sleeve shirt we started with, would get bedraggled by the time we’d reach our office.
After decades of being confined to strait-jacketed office attire, when retirement came most swore never to get ‘tied’ around the neck (barring in winter weddings) or wear a shirt with long sleeves. With youthful exuberance, we were latching on to the smart tees & sweat shirts, often with floral designs that elicited shocked looks from spouses on this Gen-Zee like cool quotient ! The loose, comfy “Bush shirt” came in handy. Incidentally one finds that this name was given to the apparel as it was originally designed for British troops serving in the African bush (wilderness) during the 19th/early 20th centuries.
That said, I’ve always had certain predilections on how shirts (even short sleeved ones) should be properly worn. My sartorial take is shirts be tucked in to provide a neat, smart appearance (especially in semi-formal situations or when wearing a suit). Tucking can also accentuate a defined waistline, enhance silhouette of leaner physiques, and create a polished, put-together look. Historically, tucking also provided protection and kept the outer clothing clean from the body. Offices continue to frown on Staff coming in Tees !
Fashion wise the ‘tucked in’ look is now relegated to yester-years as being retro and leaving a T-shirt un-tucked is generally felt more casual and wearer friendly. It’s a common choice for casual outings, hanging out with friends, or at home. One of my friends, who’s a well known film-maker prefers to wear a shirt that hangs out giving him a ‘avante garde’ persona. Another style that’s much in vogue is the shirt left half hanging out, half-tucked in. Bohemian in statement, it shows rebellion against rule.
Fashion trends since ages have been set by stars and designers but since the last few decades when the ‘angry young man’ appeared on the scene and decided to beat the baddies to a pulp, masculinity gets defined by bare torsos and six packs. The film’s hero has his shirt unbuttoned with a coloured vest below covering rippling muscles. The ‘gym’ industry has really picked up and more than acting skill it’s about fitness.
Eventually it’s what suits you & your attitude to life. For the confused, also befriend the versatile ‘Kurta’! It works for all occasions and covers every physical blemish !
Working on Living 