The Vintage Look and the Casual Look.

The Vintage Look.  I wear vintage clothing for most swing dances I attend, so you’ll see me with a dress shirt, suit/jacket and tie (except for outdoor events).  For more info on Vintage Look, see this link. 

The Casual Look.  For the occasions I don’t wear a suit/jacket and tie (which are few), the info below are the key considerations for me.

Shirts — First, let’s cover what I don’t find comfortable.

Silk.  Silk may be okay if you’re not moving around much, but silk (1) doesn’t “breathe” and soaks up perspiration, thus retaining a lot of body heat; (2) changes color as it absorbs perspiration, giving a very unpleasant appearance, and (3) loses its shape as it gets wet from perspiration.

Cotton.  Cotton, especially the 100% heavy-weight variety, is not very comfortable for swing dancing, for most of the same reasons that silk is not.  Cotton really soaks up the sweat and after a couple of dances of even moderate exertion it makes you feel like you’re wearing a towel.

T-Shirts or Polo Shirts.  I don’t recommend T-shirts or Polo Shirts for dancing, even in an extremely casual setting.  I really haven’t found a T-Shirt or Polo Shirt fabric that is suitable for dancing.  If you decide to wear T-shirts or Polo Shirts, take extras so you can change when those get wet.

Shirts — What’s comfortable.

Button up, short sleeve shirts – rayon and nylon blends.  I’ve found that the newer rayon and nylon/polyester blends can be comfortable for dancing.  They dry quickly, keep their shape and hold up well after repeated washings.  Look for shirts that are comfortable to move around in (especially as you move your arms upwards for underarm turns) and are “smooth” to the touch.  And when wearing these type shirts, I most often wear the shirt un-tucked, which allows some air flow.

Plain T-Shirts Underneath.  I like to wear a plain v-neck t-shirt under my outer shirt.  This helps soak up the some of sweat, doesn’t retain too much body heat and provides a “barrier” for helping keep the outer shirt dry.  I take extra T-shirts and shirts to dances to change as needed.  Taking extras T-shirts and shirts is especially important for outdoor dances (and followers really appreciate that!).

Note:  I gladly give credit to my wife Mary for her advice and expertise on vintage clothing, although she is in no way responsible for any of my fashion mistakes!