Tucking a shirt can give the appearance of being put together, particularly with smart casual weekend ensembles or fitted dress pants. But improper tucking may send the opposite message, giving an appearance of juvenile disorganization or carelessness.
There are various easy and efficient techniques that can help to solve this issue of shirt tucking, including these four techniques:
Front Tuck
Front tucking requires practice to achieve its ideal form. The key is making sure the tucked-in part of your shirt lies directly in front of your hips, with an obvious line from shoulders down to waist that gives your outfit an impressively polished and confident appearance.
A front tuck can help slim your figure by creating an illusion of longer legs. Pair your shirt with high-waisted trousers or skirts which hold it tight against your waist for optimal results.
Tan France from Netflix’s Queer Eye made the French Tuck famous, which works well with button-down shirts to elongate your figure and balance proportions. It is also great for those who don’t wish for the formality of full tuck but still wish to appear polished and put together.
This style can only be done with button down shirts featuring belt loops at the bottom, and involves pulling the shirt tails through these loops, gathering fabric, and pushing tight over your torso. Pair this look with skirts or pants to add a casual yet feminine flair. Just ensure your pants fit snugly around your waist, without extra pockets or seams on your shirt!
Side Tuck
No matter if it’s for casual weekend attire or to cover “muffin top”, half-tucked shirts offer effortless and elegant style options. Ideal for fabrics that stay flat against your skin like cotton poplin, linen, and jersey knits; plus it works wonders in hiding that “muffin top.” Additionally, half-tucked styles also make an elegant alternative when used to conceal overly short T-shirts or blouses in order to avoid an awkward backless appearance.
This professional and stylish tuck works best when worn with crisp button-down shirts, pencil or peplum skirts and high-waisted jeans. To give an additional polished finish to this style, pair this look with tailored jacket or fitted cardigan for a neater finish.
French Tuck Style was made popular by Tan France on Netflix’s Queer Eye and can add a chic touch to any ensemble. Simply grab one end of your shirt and tuck it under your waistband until it reaches roughly half its circumference – leaving loose fabric at the back for added flair! This tuck works particularly well with loosely fitting, large-printed or high-waisted trousers as it keeps any bunching under control.
Back Tuck
Now that wide leg and trouser styles have replaced skinny jeans as the go-to pants style, it is increasingly important to learn how to properly tuck your shirt. Your goal should be to strike a balance, highlight the waist and add height. Full and French tucks are excellent choices, while half tucks may look bulky with wider pants. A military tuck works especially well when worn with high-waisted pants as well as pencil or peplum skirts.
If you want to accentuate your midriff while maintaining an easygoing appearance, opt for the navel tuck. It pairs beautifully with solid linen trousers, creating an effortlessly stylish but relaxed aesthetic.
Importantly, it’s essential that one understands which tucking styles work with different bottom wear and body types. Over-tucking will create the “muffin top” look while overtightening will elongate hips that already look larger than they actually are. To prevent this problem from occurring, select pants or a skirt that sits at your natural waist; this will ensure the tuck is properly centered without bulges or folds at the front of your body; high-waisted skirts/pants equipped with stretchy waistbands will also assist. A looser fit can balance out curves more effectively!
Full Tuck
Full tucks are stylishly undone looks that pair beautifully with button-down shirts. Additionally, this style works well for more casual fabrics that resist slipperiness such as linen trousers or casual jeans.
Launch by tucking your shirt from the front. If it has a twisted shirttail hem, this step may also help blend in and ensure there are no gaps or loose fabric which might compromise its effect.
This tuck works particularly well with tops with decorative or embellished hems that may otherwise appear frumpy when left untucked, and pairs particularly well with cropped pants if you are pear shaped or wish to emphasize your legs. Just be careful not to overdo it and create the “mom jeans” or “boyfriend” jeans look!
Tan France from Netflix’s Queer Eye popularized this tuck and has made it an integral part of many outfits since. It is an effective way to highlight your waistline and works best with high-waisted pants, although not so flattering on wide leg or culotte pants due to the bulk around the back; tight-fitting tops may highlight lumps and bumps under your arms, too. However, silk or cotton blouses work particularly well and it pairs nicely with both casual jeans as well as smart tailored trousers when using this style tuck technique!
