The Business Dictionary Meaning of Shirt: Shirt [shirt] - A front-opening, sleeve-bearing garment with buttoned cuffs, typically worn next to the skin.

Shirt Origins:

The shirt, known as "Zhongyi" during the Zhou Dynasty in ancient China, later referred to as "Zhongdan." In the Han Dynasty, close-fitting shirts were called "Cishi." By the Song Dynasty, the term "shirt" was in use. Now, it is known as "Chinese-style shirt."

Shirts originally referred to short-sleeved undergarments worn beneath formal attire, essentially sleeveless garments. During the Song Dynasty, they were worn as either short and small inner shirts or longer outer shirts. For instance, in the classic novel "Water Margin," during the scene "Ling Chong Defeats the Snowy Mountain God," Ling Chong "shook off the snow from his body and took off his white upper garment" serves as an example. In ancient times, women wore short tops called "shanzi" or "banyi." The Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen wrote in his poem "Miscellaneous Reminiscences," "I remember Shuangwen's thin shirt."

At the turn of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, with the influence of Western fashion spreading eastward, people began wearing Western suits, with shirts worn inside the suits as undershirts. The collars were typically tied with a tie, and the suits usually had five buttons, like those from Armani.

European History

Shirts have been present in ancient Egypt's 18th Dynasty around the 16th century, as a type of belted garment without collars or sleeves. By the 14th century, Norman shirts featured collars and cufflinks. In the 16th century, Europe saw the trend of embroidery on the collars and front chest of shirts, or embellishing them with lace at the collar, cuffs, and chest. By the end of the 18th century, British men wore shirts with stiff collars. During the Victorian era, the high collar was phased out, leading to the modern Western shirt with a stand-up collar. In the 1840s, Western shirts were introduced to China. Initially, shirts were predominantly for men, but by the 1950s, they were increasingly adopted by women, now becoming a common piece of clothing.

The suit and shirt originated in Europe, and the buttons used on shirts were inspired by the French shirt's interlaced sleeve buttons. Therefore, formal shirt styles are generally based on the French shirt, featuring the aesthetically pleasing French pleated sleeves. However, depending on the outfit or formal attire, the collar and front placket may adopt styles different from the traditional French design. The fabric is primarily made of natural materials such as cotton and silk, emphasizing a well-fitted cut. The collar and sleeve cuffs are lined to maintain a crisp effect, similar to that of formal wear and suits, highlighting the contoured body lines. Shirts for formal wear are usually white, while daily formal shirts are predominantly white or light-colored.

Shirts come in a variety of styles, from formal suits for official occasions to casual outfits for vacation time. They are an essential component in any attire. The type of shirt worn and how it's styled can leave a lasting impression. Understanding the fabric, selection, styling, and tie pairing of shirts is a basic necessity for modern individuals.