Many fashion historian use to say that most of the masculine wardrobe was created with either the battlefield or the sports field in mind. They are definitely right.
So, even though there is no direct origin of the overshirt, it’s not wrong to say it has probably derived from the military fatigue shirt, a heavy-duty, roomy cotton shirt worn as a battledress in the 20th century.
Originally favoured by army men for their large pockets and durable construction, the jacket began to filter into workwear at first, and then into fashionable civilian clothing. During the second half of the last century, it’s been taken on by many outdoor brands who have made it a classic staple in the mountaineering world, and then the overshirt has been adopted by many youth subcultures especially in the United States.
