A Brief History on The Baggy T-Shirt

You roll out of bed on a lazy day and throw on the first shirt you see. Odds are that it’s an oversized t-shirt. Within a few moments, you’re out the door and ready to go about your day. Comfort and convenience— what more could you ask for? When I look around campus, my group of friends, or even in the mirror, oversized t-shirts are a pretty common sighting. How could you not take advantage of something so simple? I know that my t-shirt collection has practically quadrupled since moving to college. I’m even writing this post in the comfort of a t-shirt that is so oversized it resembles more of a dress. Sometimes a put-together outfit is the last thing you need to be searching for on a hectic day of classes and assignments. This outfit choice is primarily based on the fact that it takes minimal thought yet is still acceptable to wear while going about your daily tasks. It’s not that deep, right? Well, I’ve recently come to realize that there is actually a bit more behind this seemingly-effortless fashion choice. Although most oversized t-shirt looks are not very intentional, the inspirations and history behind our baggy outfit selection remain relevant. 


While you might wear a baggy t-shirt to go unnoticed, women of the 1920s used baggy clothes to make a bold statement. Women defied the stereotypical image of dainty femininity by turning away from tight-fitting garments and embracing more shapeless and boxy styles. This loose-fitting clothing was also more functional for the modern woman. This never-before-seen style was daring, alluring, and remarkably distinct. As the suffrage movement made waves, women soaked in their new rights with freedom and bravery. Additionally, post-World War I social constraints came to a close in 1918, and women’s bold styles fit perfectly with the mood of the era. Loose clothing became a defining trend of the 20s and the face of high fashion at the time. With this drastic shift, women popularized a style that we are yet to do away with.

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(Speaking of shifts, fun fact: these boxy 1920’s dresses are often referred to as “shift dresses,” as they signified a shift in the culture and thought regarding women’s attire.) 

Baggy women’s clothing has not truly left us since its groundbreaking debut in the 20s. There have been noteworthy revivals of these styles throughout many popular decades. If we turn to the 1960s, babydoll and shift dresses emulated the classic 1920s style in a shorter, modernized way. In the 80s, baggy clothing took shape (or rather lack thereof) in oversized shirts and sweatshirts as the casual-but-cool look came into style. Many different styles have taken inspiration from 1920s fashion since its boom of popularity, from more direct interpretations to faint echoes. Our oversized t-shirts may be our unknowing take on a classic 1920s style!

Fashion tends to take cues from the past-- we just have to take the time to notice. Maybe this might inspire a little more thought in a purposefully thoughtless decision or encourage you to wonder what stories you are yet to discover from your wardrobe. Either way, may we continue to sport the beloved college look of a baggy t-shirt just as happily as we have been, and rest with the peace of mind that this fashion choice might be more justifiable than we originally thought. 

Sources:

https://www.couturesquemag.com/single-post/oversized-fashion

http://www.80sfashion.org/oversized-tops/

https://www.whowhatwear.com/what-is-a-shift-dress/slide5

Graphics By: Lauren Skeen