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Revision as of 13:50, 29 January 2004 by Patrick (talk | contribs) (misc)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A shirt is a piece of clothing for the trunk of the body.
Colloquially, a shirt for women is often called a top, however the term top is less restrictive than the term shirt. (There exist tops which are not shirts.) The term top is not exclusive to womens clothing.
Some common shirt types or synonyms:
- T-shirt
- polo shirt - a shirt with collar but only a partial vertical opening with buttons
- dress shirt - a shirt with collar and full vertical opening with buttons
- tank top - a sleeveless shirt
- blouse - ladies shirt - the term is also used for some mens military uniform shirts.
- nightshirt - for sleeping
- sweatshirt - with or without hood
- rugby shirt - typically a long-sleeved T-shirt
- Hawaiian shirt - a colourful short-sleeve dress shirt
- golf shirt - a polo shirt
- baseball shirt - usually distinguished by a three quarters sleeve
- fishnet shirt, transparent, see e.g.
Tops which would generally not be called shirts:
- tube top - a shoulderless, sleeveless "tube" that wraps the torso (not reaching higher than the armpits, staying in place by elasticity, see e.g )
- halter top - a shoulderless, sleeveless, backless garment, typically for women. It is mechanically analogous to an apron with a string around the back of the neck and across the lower back holding it in place.
Other tops which are not generally refered to as shirts include vests, sweaters, jackets and coats.
Many terms are used to describe and differentiate types of shirts and their construction. The smallest differences may have significance to a cultural or occupational group.
Recently, (late 20th century) it has become common to use shirts to carry messages or advertising. These can be screen printed or embroidered.
For such clothing, including vests, sweaters, jackets, etc. one can disinguish:
- With regard to covering the shoulders and arms:
- with no covering of the shoulders or arms - a tube top (not reaching higher than the armpits, staying in place by elasticity, see e.g )
- with only bands on the shoulders
- covering the shoulders, but without sleeves
- with short sleeves
- with half-long sleeves
- with long sleeves, may further be distinguished by the cuffs:
- With regard to level of the lower edge:
- leaving the belly button area bare (much more common for women than for men)
- until the waist
- covering the crotch
- covering part of the legs (essentially this is a dress; however, a piece of clothing is either perceived as a shirt (worn with trousers) or as a dress (worn by women, and by men just in the special case of cross-dressing).
- and levels in between.
- With regard to opening:
- With regard to the neck and upper front side:
- V-shaped permanent opening on the top of the front side
- polo-neck
- no opening at the upper front side
- vertical opening on the top of the front side, with buttons or zipper
- With or without collar. Furthermore the collar may have buttons at the tips for a "button-down collar".