How to tuck in a shirt

[ednakayama]

What is the proper procedure.

I wear a 34" waist. Shirts are much larger than that, the consequence of which is too much fabric needing to be tucked, leading to wrinkles and a look of general bagginess. Is there some trick to getting the tuck to look right? I don't need all this extra room, no belly or whatev. Without a coat I look so gross! Shirt size is 42-44.

Thanks for any help!

Ed

[JAGMAJ]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm going to guess that most people on this forum will say to get your shirts made to measure or tailored down so that you don't have that much extra material at the waist.

"Fortune favors the bold."

[SenseofStyle]

Yes, go MTM, have it altered by a tailor, or in the meanwhile, do the following: Tuck in your shirt, pull the excess shirt around your waist and to the back of the pants, button pants and put belt on.

[medwards]

While bespoke, made-to-measure, alterations, or just slim-cut shirts are certainly solutions, another simple approach is the "military tuck," which has been oft discussed on this forum. In simplest terms, one tightens the slack in the shirt from both sides, and then tucksin the shirt, leaving it smooth in both front and back.

[eromlignod]

quote:Originally posted by ednakayama

What is the proper procedure.

I wear a 34" waist. Shirts are much larger than that, the consequence of which is too much fabric needing to be tucked, leading to wrinkles and a look of general bagginess. Is there some trick to getting the tuck to look right? I don't need all this extra room, no belly or whatev. Without a coat I look so gross! Shirt size is 42-44.

Thanks for any help!

Ed



First of all, it sounds like you buy full-cut shirts. I personally hate them. If you have a 34 in. waist, then you are slim enough to buy tapered or "slim fit" shirts. This will eliminate the ballooning at the waist.

Second, the best way to tuck in your shirt is with your trousers unbuttoned. In fact, you should put on your shirt first, then slip on the trousers over it. Another trick after your pants are fastened is to reach into your front pockets and, using them like mittens, grasp the shirt tail below the waist from the inside and pull it down.

Don
Kansas City

[ednakayama]

Very helpful!

Thanks a lot, guys.

Ed

[Ed17]

quote:Posted by eromlignod:
First of all, it sounds like you buy full-cut shirts. I personally hate them. If you have a 34 in. waist, then you are slim enough to buy tapered or "slim fit" shirts. This will eliminate the ballooning at the waist.

Second, the best way to tuck in your shirt is with your trousers unbuttoned. In fact, you should put on your shirt first, then slip on the trousers over it. Another trick after your pants are fastened is to reach into your front pockets and, using them like mittens, grasp the shirt tail below the waist from the inside and pull it down.

Don


I agree with Don. Any new shirts you purchase should be slim fit. Your other shirts: ideally you would alter but with many shirts it can get costly (not worth while for me as I buy dress shirts at $30 or less (Marshalls, TJMax, eBay, etc.). I use a variation of Don's "pocket mitten" suggestion that my father taught me: Put on shirt, put on pants, tuck shirt, button pants, then put your right hand through the pants zipper opening and reach over to grab the shirt at your left side and pull down. Repeat on other side with opposite hand. Works like a champ. Oh, don't forget the zipper when you are done. :)

Also, use any restroom breaks to re-tuck. Even with slim fit shirts I find they pull out a bit after a while, so when I use the restroom I use the opportunity to re-tuck.

[benedictusoblatus]

quote:Originally posted by Ed17

quote:Posted by eromlignod:
First of all, it sounds like you buy full-cut shirts. I personally hate them. If you have a 34 in. waist, then you are slim enough to buy tapered or "slim fit" shirts. This will eliminate the ballooning at the waist.

Second, the best way to tuck in your shirt is with your trousers unbuttoned. In fact, you should put on your shirt first, then slip on the trousers over it. Another trick after your pants are fastened is to reach into your front pockets and, using them like mittens, grasp the shirt tail below the waist from the inside and pull it down.

Don


I agree with Don. Any new shirts you purchase should be slim fit. Your other shirts: ideally you would alter but with many shirts it can get costly (not worth while for me as I buy dress shirts at $30 or less (Marshalls, TJMax, eBay, etc.). I use a variation of Don's "pocket mitten" suggestion that my father taught me: Put on shirt, put on pants, tuck shirt, button pants, then put your right hand through the pants zipper opening and reach over to grab the shirt at your left side and pull down. Repeat on other side with opposite hand. Works like a champ. Oh, don't forget the zipper when you are done. :)

Also, use any restroom breaks to re-tuck. Even with slim fit shirts I find they pull out a bit after a while, so when I use the restroom I use the opportunity to re-tuck.


Ed's idea is great - just be careful where you perform this little procedure. [:0]

[Old Brompton]

...especially after you've had a few.

[DougNZ]

I used to use Ed's method until I was caught on a bathroom break with my hand in my zipper ...[:I]

I told them I could pull down my shirt as often and as fast as I wanted to! :D

[Rich]

As I never take my jacket off, or unbutton it, bagginess around the waist doesn't bother me. I agree that if you do take your jacket off, then you look less undressed if your shirt is fitted. In fact, thinking about it, the fitted shirt probably came into being when men started to take their jackets off in a big way.

[Goodoldboy]

All of the above are great suggestions.
I used to have a lot of bagginess with shirts but getting a nice fitting one to start with makes a lot of difference.
Never tried the 'zipper' or 'pocket mitten' pull techniques, but might have to give them a try.

[Frank aka The Minotaur]

I do both the pocket-mittens and hand-thru-the-zipper, also. Works great.

[Howard]

start from the back and work your way towards the middle

[amemovox]

Great info guys! Here is an excerpt taken from a website that describes the military tuck:

Perform the “military tuck� to end this problem. With both hands, using only your pointer and middle fingers, place between your pants and shirt starting at the belt buckle and quickly and cleanly slide your fingers to the sides and to the back of your shirt. That should give your front a clean tuck. For the back, perform the same procedure on the opposite side but only go as far as your sides

[coatandthai]

I used to work with an ex-marine who was very thin and after smoothing the front of the shirt, he had a way of creating two pleats in the back of the shirt by pinching each side between the thumb and first two fingers and folding the exess fabric forward and tucking the folds neatly into his waist at the sides. It was not the classic "military tuck" where the excess fabric is visible, but rather the excess fabric is folded under and hidden under the false pleat. He must have had rubberized stitching in the waist to keep it looking pressed and proper all day. Fine trial lawyer too.

[Howard]

quote:Originally posted by amemovox

Great info guys! Here is an excerpt taken from a website that describes the military tuck:

Perform the “military tuck� to end this problem. With both hands, using only your pointer and middle fingers, place between your pants and shirt starting at the belt buckle and quickly and cleanly slide your fingers to the sides and to the back of your shirt. That should give your front a clean tuck. For the back, perform the same procedure on the opposite side but only go as far as your sides



I think I'll try that.:)

[thinman]

Thanks for the tips! I have my shirts taken in on the sides and I've tried to tuck the excess fabric into the sides, but my shirts still look sloppy. I'll give your suggestions a try.

Best regards,
thinman

"I criticize by creation, not by finding fault."—Cicero

[Briguy]

My shirts stay tucked in all day, no matter what I am doing. My secret? Shirt garters. These are elastic staps that are fastened to the shirttail and socks. Shirt stays tucked in, socks stay up. One strap on each side works great. Next time you see a US Marine in a dress uniform, notice that you will never, ever see their shirt untucked. This is their secret (and where I picked it up). Also used by better dressed cops. You can get these at most police supply shops, one of which is linked, below.

http://www.dsasd.org/store/product_info.php/products_id/109?osCsid=8d6e835cc57d74ce6c9508e33d35f889

[weckl]

The only answer to this is to have your shirts taken in. Go to your tailor, have him do it. It costs about $15, and your short will look MTM. It's as simple as that.

A 10-12 inch drop is common in athletic men, and American makers especially seem to make all their clothes for fat people (with very little tapering), so having shirts and jackets taken in is essential.