Guy Friday: Tuck It In
There are a few fashion points on which men tend to err on the side of laziness. If you don’t have to do something, you often don’t. But this one is so easy: tuck in your shirt. Tucking in your shirt makes you look more polished and it makes you more sexy. You may not have $10K for a new wardrobe but you do have half a minute. Nothing works for everyone, but try it out — all you need is a mirror. Fear not Ed Grimley.
For starters, tucking in your shirt will make you appear taller and your legs look longer. It’s visual trickery (in the same way vertical — and especially narrow vertical stripes — make you thinnter) but it works. Some guys leave their shirts out to hide their middle, but for most people defining the area is actually slimming.
One key to tucking in your shirt “just so” is having the right fit on top and bottom. Most people wear jeans or pants so they are about an inch under the navel. This is where you should take the waist measurement as well. Try going up or down a waist size or different cuts to determine which looks best. I know dude’s hate the dressing room, which is why when you find a pant that fits well you buy more than one.
And for dog’s sake don’t blouse out your shirt. I see guys who took the time to tuck in their tails and put on a nice belt, but who pull the shirt almost all the way out so poufs out. Shirts shouldn’t be snug (unless you’re into the Castro scene) but they should be slender through the waist. Note to self: dress shirts and rugby shirts do not fit the same.
Not tucking in a T-shirt or athletic-style shirt is understandable (although I must point out that baseball players tuck those cute jerseys into tight pants). But if that black T-shirt is transitioning into night, it probably looks best tucked in and belted.
And that trick of wearing your pants lower and lower to accomodate for your beer belly without going up a size in Levi’s? It’s not fooling anyone. Clothes look best when they fit right and are comfortable. Promise.