(Vintage?) Tips for dealing with white T-shirts + perspiration?

• Mar 31, 2021

• #1

B

BigBrother

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So! I oftentimes love the clean 50s look (and feel) of a simple, tight-fitting white T-shirt when dancing, but I will sweat right through T-shirts in no time flat. With most colors and especially grays and blacks this is no issue, but with white you can see right through!

I know this isn't necessarily a vintage/TFL issue, but figured I would check- any tips? Any ideas if maybe there was a trick back in the day for this?

Changing T-shirts is not useful as I'd be soaked again in fifteen minutes.
I could wear an A-shirt underneath. It's not all that comfortable, and you'd see it, but it is an option.
I could also maybe wear two of them simultaneously, but not sure how comfortable and breathable that would be.

Thoughts? Thanks all!

 

• Mar 31, 2021

• #2

robrinay

One Too Many

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I’m not being too prescriptive here (it’s written tongue in cheek). If you want to truly embrace the 50’s don’t worry about sweat! I’m pretty sure that the ‘clean look’ of tight fitting white T shirts was mainly just a look. Personal hygiene in the 50’s was not as it is today. Houses with showers were uncommon and a few didn’t even have plumbed in baths. Bathing tended to be a weekly event and ‘strip down’ washing was the main daily option not always completed daily. Deodorants and after shave were not that common and so men usually smelled of clean sweat (or worse stinky sweat), on warm days rather than spices or flowers.

 

• Mar 31, 2021

• #3

Peacoat

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You might try an anti perspirant rather than a deodorant. It probably won't completely eliminate the sweat, but it will cut down on it by maybe 80% to 90%.

 

• Mar 31, 2021

• #4

B

BigBrother

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Peacoat said:

You might try an anti perspirant rather than a deodorant. It probably won't completely eliminate the sweat, but it will cut down on it by maybe 80% to 90%.

Click to expand...

The problem is it’s not solely an underarm issue; I’m soaked like in a rainstorm. I can’t really slather it on like a baste .

 

• Mar 31, 2021

• #5

Peacoat

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BigBrother said:

The problem is it’s not solely an underarm issue; I’m soaked like in a rainstorm. I can’t really slather it on like a baste .

Click to expand...

Simple: Just don't dance so fast.

 

• Mar 31, 2021

• #6

B

BigBrother

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Peacoat said:

Simple: Just don't dance so fast.

Click to expand...

The day you stop collecting peacoats!

 

• Apr 1, 2021

• #7

Flanderian

Practically Family

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Not helpful, but not intended to be snide, either; perhaps it goes with the territory?

Might be argued it's very typical of a vintage appearance.

 

• Apr 2, 2021

• #8

Seth Byrnes

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US / Canada

Do you work out?

If the dancing is the most strenuous activity you endure you are more liable to sweat than if you spend some time doing endurance training while running.

This isn't true for all folks but it may help to reduce the exertion of dancing by upping your stamina through a workout routing!

 

• Apr 3, 2021

• #9

B

BigBrother

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Not entirely useful in my case. Even when I was doing insane amounts of cardio (https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Navy-Fitness-Third/dp/1578262666) I don't think it changed this much. To be honest, even if I'm not dancing that strenuously I tend to sweat a lot. Shrug.