There's no other way around it: If you want to dress formally, you must tuck your dress shirt into your trousers. Whether you're dressing for a job interview, business meeting, wedding, graduation or any other formal event, it's important that you tuck in your dress shirt. Allowing your dress shirt to hang over your waistline is a serious fashion faux pas that should be avoided.
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for dress shirts to come untuck. Even if you tuck it into the waist of your trousers, it may still work its way out. And when this occurs, it will create a messy and unflattering appearance. The good news is that you can prevent this from happening by following a few simple tips.
#1) Choose the Right Size Shirt
I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it's still worth mentioning that choosing the right size shirt will reduce the risk of it coming untucked. If your shirt is too big, some of the excess fabric will bunch up around your waistline. Over time, this fabric will gradually rise, thus leaving your shirt untucked. By choosing the right size shirt -- one that hugs close to your body without restricting your movement -- can protect you from this fashion faux pas.
#2) Wear a Belt
Of course, wearing a belt will help to prevent your dress shirt from coming untucked. This is especially true if your trousers are too big. Without a belt, there's nothing to hold the bottom of your dress shirt in place. Assuming your trousers fit properly, they may provide some level of security, but it's usually not enough to prevent the shirt from coming untucked. Rather, you need some additional form of security, such as a belt. Just remember to choose a belt that matches and flows cohesively with the rest of your outfit. A good rule of thumb is to choose a belt in the same color as your shoes. If you are wearing black shoes, for instance, wear a black belt. If you are wearing brown shoes, wear a brown belt.
#3) Use a Shirt Stay
What is a shirt stay exactly, and how can it prevent your dress shirt from coming untucked? A shirt stay is an accessory worn underneath your trousers that holds your dress shirt in place. It features an elastic band, with one end that attaches to the bottom of your dress shirt, while the other end attaches to the top of your socks. When worn, it pulls your socks up and pulls your dress shirt down, thus securing your dress shirt in place. You can buy shirt stays for as little as $10, making them an inexpensive and effective way to prevent your dress from coming untucked.
#4) Rubber Grips
A lesser-known method for preventing dress shirts from coming untucked involves the use of rubber grips. These rectangular-shaped pieces of rubber are glued or sewn into the waistline of the trousers. Once in place, they create a stronger hold by allowing the bottom of your dress shirt to grip your waistline. Because they are attached to the inside of the waistband, rubber grips aren't visible to other people. Therefore, they won't negatively affect the appearance of your outfit. They offer a discreet and effective solution to prevent your dress shirt from coming untucked.
#5) Use the Military Tuck
The way in which you tuck your dress shirt into your trousers will affect whether or not it comes untucked. Simply bunching up the bottom of your dress shirt isn't going to work. To create the strongest hold, you should use the military tuck. Developed by the U.S. military, this special tuck involves making a single fabric fold on each side and gently tucking them into the waist of your trousers. There's a reason why the military tuck is used in the military: It offers the strongest and most secure hold. There are other ways to tuck in your dress shirt, but the military tuck is recommended because of its unparalleled strength. Furthermore, it's relatively easy to perform. Check out this
YouTube video for a step-by-step walkthrough on how to perform the military tuck with your dress shirts.
#6) Stand More, Sit Less
If you struggle to keep your dress shirt tucked into your trousers, try standing more and sitting less. Each time you sit, the bottom of your dress shirt will rise just slightly. Sitting just once probably won't cause your dress to come untucked. But if you constantly sit and stand throughout the day, you may experience this problem with your outfit. Not everyone has the option to choose whether they want to sit or stand. If you work in a job that requires you to sit, you may not have this luxury. However, when given the option between sitting or standing, choose the latter to prevent your dress shirt from coming untucked. When used in conjunction with the other tips listed, here, it will secure your dress shirt in place and prevent it from coming untucked.
#7) Wear High-Waisted Trousers
Finally, consider wearing high-waisted trousers. As the name suggests, these trousers are designed to sit higher on the waist than standard trousers. As a result, they are less likely to come untucked. The increased fabric around your waistline means more of your dress shirt will remain pressed against your body. The only downside is that some men find high-waisted trousers to be unflattering. If they don't match your personal style, choose a different type of trousers. If you enjoy the appearance of high-waisted trousers, though, wearing them will help to prevent your dress from coming untucked.
It's frustrating when your trousers come untucked during the middle of the day. You spend significant time and energy getting ready in the morning, so you probably want to keep your dress shirt tucked in. When it comes untucked, it can make you look unkempt. Following these tips, however, will prevent this from happening.
