This is my first post to T-Nation and I chose the "Muscle Sorority" forum because it has the correct audience for the answer that I'm seeking. I'm a male collegiate athlete at Cal and I've been doing gymnastics for over 15 years. Occasionally, some friends and I have been going to the local 24 hr fitness. I've always wore a A-Shirt (wife beater) for as long as I can remember. Today, a female employee recommended that I change my attire because of the stereotypical aspects that it derives, (meat-head, lack of taste, mirror gazer), the list goes on.

Whereas, I don't care what men think about me, I honestly do care what women think. I'm human. Everyone wants to feel like someone finds them attractive. So, in an honest opinion, what do you think about guys in the gym that wear A-shirts, nice physique, non-mirror gazer? Should I finally jump on the Under Armor band-wagon? Hold nothing back.

Today, a FEMALE employee recommended that I change my attire because of the stereotypical aspects that it derives

Doesn't that answer your own question?

Who gives a shit, your going to the gym to lift, not to look pretty.

When I go to the gym I don't care what people think about me. You either go there to workout or you go there to show off. If you go to the gym to workout, wear whatever you feel is comfortable for you. If you go there to show off, spend a couple of bucks on fashionable sport clothing!

From a female perspective .... I don't care what a guy wears in the gym as long as he has sexy muscle mass;)

If you want to keep going to the gym, it makes sense to follow their policies.
That said, I don't see anything wrong with muscle shirts and I see them all over the place at my gym.

well, this is a male's opinion.
Was your shirt "stinky" or clean? Did it have offensive graphics or was it plain?
Did she have a legitimate reason to object to the shirt?

I suspect she didn't.

You pay a membership at the gym to work out and use the facilities, not participate in a fashion show.

I would wear the shirt again and talk to the owner or manager and ask if there was
a policy against such a shirt "because one of your employees told me not to wear it"

There is nothing wrong with a tank top at the gym, but I do understand why you want an opinion from a woman's perspective. It just aggravates me that an employee would criticize the attire of a paying member.

Thanks for the reply everyone. The employee is a friend of mine. This was a recommendation on a non-professional level and has nothing to do with gym policy, clean attire, or mobility. It was just something that came up over a glass of wine and dinner. I just wanted to see what women think when they see a guy at the gym wearing this. All your opinions are noted, and again.. thanks

You should wear a fucking shirt in the gym.


If your sweating all over the place I dont want to sit in it.


I dont even like it that much when people dont wear sleeves, but thats better than a wife beater, which is so thin it just soaks right through.



If you dont workout hard enough to sweat, carry on.

DONT WEAR A WIFE BEATER!!! Everytime I see a guy in the gym wearing one, I either think they are arrogant or straight-up nasty! UGH!!! I like a lil mystery! I don't need to see all of ur business out in the open!!

while i agree that the gym is not a fashion show, i will also agree that you shouldnt wear an A-Shirt in there. because of the stereotype, because of the sweating issue (i hope youre working hard enough to sweat), but please don't jump on the underarmor bandwagon. that's almost as bad. just wear a damn t-shirt. an old one. maybe with a few holes. the local t-vixens will picture ripping it off of you and will like a little bit of mystery.

I think the best thing to do is wear a wifebeater undershirt and a baggy T over top. If it gets too hot you can just take off the shirt. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. At least I have options.

Plus, if I'm working a muscle that I can see in the mirror I want to be able to see it working, helps me get that mind muscle connection. I couldn't care less what people think of my attire when I'm in the gym

That being said though...A HUGE petpeeve of mine is the kids who wear wife beaters because they think they are jacked and check themselves out all the time. They make a lot of noise, do a lot of flexing, and are pushing 160 on the scale. Kewl.

If you got it, flaunt it. You earned it. Girls wear tight pants and shirts to the gym for the same reason, don't let them tell you different.

If someone has a problem with me showing some skin after busting my ass for 5 years to look this way, they can kiss my ass :)

At the gym I worked out at, I see a couple of women who are in good shape working out in their sports bra. At least that's what they look like. They start out with a light t-shirt or something and about half way through or so they strip it off. It's fun to watch the guys! After a while I don't think anybody cares. I'm with the majority here, just wear an old t-shirt.

westclock, good analogy

plish, thanks for saying it like it is without the bs.


cbear84, your recommendation is noted, t-vixens, here I come. I promise, no under armor :)

waylanderxx, I can see your point of view, really, I can. I'm a very muscular/cut guy, but sometimes, I wonder if people are thinking "wow, that guy is cut, he's hot" or "put on a freaking shirt guy, stop trying so hard." This led me to ask the question in this forum, and so far, honesty has led me to believe that women prefer men in t-shirts. It's an interesting concept because I never would have guessed.

fn, thanks for the recommendation as well. Do you think most of them do this because it's practical or because they want men and women to look at them. I'd be interested to hear your answer.

I don't see what the issue is. I like A shirts. If you sweat, you're going to get just as nasty in a regular t-shirt. Just use a towel and wipe up your drippings, lol.

Uh oh. I wear an A shirt, sometimes no shirt.
didnt know people thought so ill of this...

ps I go to a small college gym, no shoes , no shirt , no problem

I think if you have nice skin and no hair on your back, those shirts are fine. That being said, I can't say that I've ever noticed what guys wear at the gym.

i usually where t-shirts and i get so sweaty that it looks like i just came in out of the rain(heavy rain)im thinking of bringing another tshirt to exchange mid workout. this only happens on leg day.

and wear whats comfytable bros no one really cares. the girl that told u different wants to fuck u, simple as that

Squatting naked makes your asshole relax and when the air brushes through your buttcheeks it feels really refreshing.

dude throw on a sizetoobig t-shirt, if you have muscle mass, then your set, if you dont, make that t a size to small

I'm a 24 yr old female. I too wear a wife beater... why? They are extremely comfortable to workout it. Shouldn't that be really what it comes down to? Aren't your ACTIONS what determine who you are? If you look like a meat head/ mirror gazer whatever, but get in there, are focused and keep mostly to yourself, only looking in the mirror to insure proper form... I'm pretty sure anybody who matters can see what's really goin' on.