| For many, the average men's shirt is simply a garment | | | | first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s |
| of utility - one that is worn by men across the world | | | | and early 1960s, and has since been prominently worn |
| for reasons of function and not necessarily fashion. | | | | by a number of celebrities, from the likes of Sammy |
| But this attitude belies the hundreds of years of trends | | | | Davis Jr to Steven Segal. Today's granddad shirt |
| in men's shirts. From the typical collarless shirts with | | | | preys on bright colours and an ethno-bohemian vibe |
| billowing sleeves worn by classical painters to the | | | | that appeals to a variety of men's fashion trends - |
| modern formal button-down shirt, men's shirts have | | | | from festival clothing to smart casual summer wear. |
| captured the imaginations of both designers and | | | | The button-down shirt has also been one of the most |
| ordinary men for generations. In the twentieth century | | | | influential men's shirts in fashion history - but memories |
| in particular, a range of different shirt styles have | | | | of how it was created tend to be somewhat hazy. |
| proved popular with men of all ages. | | | | Some fashion experts claim that the button-down |
| One of the most important developments in men's | | | | collar shirt was invented by an American shirt |
| shirts over the last hundred years, for example, has | | | | manufacturer who was inspired by an English polo |
| been the invention of the polo shirt. The polo shirt, or | | | | match, in which players had their collars clipped down |
| 'tennis shirt', was created by legendary French tennis | | | | to avoid flapping in the wind. Others say that |
| player Rene Lacoste in 1929 as an alternative to the | | | | button-down shirts were created in New York, when |
| stiff dress shirts and ties typical of tennis attire at the | | | | their inventor (as yet anonymous) attached his collar to |
| time. In the 1960s, Ralph Lauren propelled the polo shirt | | | | his shirt with buttons in a fit of annoyance at the |
| to new heights as a prominent item in his 'Polo' | | | | oncoming wind. |
| collection; and since this time the polo shirt has become | | | | But whatever the origin of the button-down shirt, its |
| so popular that it is now a standard category of | | | | impact on the men's shirt industry has been historic, as |
| clothing - although it has fallen out of favour with most | | | | button down shirts are now worn in both formal and |
| tennis players. | | | | casual contexts. Today, short-sleeved men's shirts are |
| The granddad shirt has also been a long lasting trend in | | | | often worn with skinny jeans, large belts and tailored |
| men's shirts in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. | | | | waistcoats for a fresh and informal look that still |
| These collarless shirts have been popular with men in | | | | exudes smart chic. And with men's shirts available in a |
| warm countries for decades and have seen a variety | | | | variety of colours - from grey to raspberry - and in a |
| of incarnations throughout the years. The Nehru | | | | variety of floral and striped patterns, it's clear that |
| Jacket, for instance, is a South Asian version of the | | | | evolving trends in men's fashion are far from over. |
| modern granddad shirt that was popularised by the | | | | |