Men's Shirts: Tucked or Un-tucked? Crew neck or V-neck?

   
I am going to cut right to the chase.  I prefer the look of a man wearing his shirt tucked in with a belt.  Of course, there are always exceptions (especially in casual wear), but in general, even a T-shirt looks better when tucked in with a belt.  Read on for why.

Please look at the photos above and notice a few important details: 

1. An un-tucked shirt, while comfortable and popular with men (notice I didn't say women), tends to make the man look shorter and wider.  In the photos above it's the same man, same clothing, different appearance and presentation.
2. If Mr. Slim above at a whopping 6' 5" looks a bit shorter and wider with his shirt un-tucked, imagine what it does for the shorter, stockier fellows.
3. The white, crew-neck undershirt, which is widely favored by men, especially in the tech industries, interrupts the line (the visual line that runs from your neck to your toes) and as most interruptions tend to do; makes him look wider and shorter. 
4. The images where he is wearing a v-neck undershirt show a more sophisticated, modern look.  The line is clean and you see the man as a whole; versus a white shirt first and then the man.  If you don't know what I mean, look at the images again.  The first two, your eye runs smoothly over.  The third image, your eye darts back and forth between the white undershirt and the rest of his clothing.
5. Men seem to equate a tucked in shirt with being formal and stuffy.  On the contrary, it can be casual and comfortable in a polished, confident way.  The first image of jeans and a dress shirt, tucked in with the sleeves rolled up, is clearly casual and wouldn't ever pass for formal business attire.  Is your definition of "casual" stuck in your college-era wardrobe?
6. I've noticed men tend to stand straighter and look more confident when they tuck their shirt in.  It makes sense since it's easier to slouch and let your gut hang out so to speak when your shirt is un-tucked.  

When you are hanging out with the guys after work at the bar, un-tuck your shirt and slouch away.  When you want to look your best, I recommend you tuck your shirt in and if wearing an open collar, switch out your crew neck undershirt for a v-neck.  If you are wearing your shirt tucked in, please wear a belt.  Even better, please wear a nice looking belt.  It's an accessory people do notice and one that should be kept up to date and in good condition.  Just because you have a belt doesn't mean you should wear that belt.

The images in this article are all thanks to my favorite Hendricks Park man (my Hubbie).  The photo shoot wasn't staged, this is what he actually wore to work that day.  Trust me, it took a great deal of begging to get him to agree to be my model for this article! 

For inquiring minds: He is wearing a pair of Seven For All Mankind boot-cut jeans, a plaque belt and a blue, pinstriped dress shirt from Arbitrage (which is a new clothing line that I will review very soon). 

-Lisa Bruckner Hendricks Park

Comments

[Marshall from Bonobos]

Great stuff, Lisa!

Thanks for making the point that a tucked-in shirt helps you stand up straighter. I've noticed my posture is better when I've got a collared shirt sleekly tucked in. Maybe it's purely psychological, but it's true. And as you've written (brilliantly) before, the fastest and cheapest way to improve one's look is simply to stand up straight.

Any tips for keeping that shirt tucked in neatly, and avoiding what we at Bonobos have dubbed BSMT (baggy shirt muffin top)? The obvious answer is to buy slim-fitting shirts, but good ones can be murder to come by. Who makes a truly great slim-fitting dress shirt these days? That's a whole other can of worms....

[Lisa Bruckner]

Great comment and questions Marshall! The best way to avoid baggy shirt muffin top (BSMT-love it!) is to wear a shirt that has a tailored cut to actually fit the contour of your body in addition to wearing a long, tailored fit undershirt. Some men complain they wear a tailored fit shirt but they still bag out around the waist. I would recommend they try the Tommy John undershirt which by design is long and made to fit close to your skin providing an anchor for your shirt to stay tucked in!

There are many options now for slim fitting shirts. The challenge is figuring out not only the brand, but the cut within the brand that works best for your particular body and budget (which is why I am hesitant to list certain brands because it depends on the man).

It's probably the first challenge I solve with new Trunk Club members. I recommend men join and try out TC if they would like an easier way to find better fitting shirts and clothing in general. There is nothing to lose by trying it out. This isn't a promo pitch, it's a genuine recommendation to help men look their best. www.trunkclub.com

[pve]

Oh - I am so glad that you like a shirt properly tucked in! I cannot stand when my husband wears his shirt untucked. In fact I scowl and cringe at the sight. There, I have divulged to you, a perfectly kind stranger and fellow blogger!
pve

[infinity]

What kind of belt do you think looks better with jeans? The rectangular plate sort of belts or the rectangular frame sort of belts?

[Lisa Bruckner]

Dear Infinity,

To answer your question (what kind of belt looks better with jeans) I would like to differentiate between belt and buckle. A wider width, "jeans belt" is usually best with jeans (and the material used can vary between leather, canvas, fabric, etc.). As for the buckle type, it really depends on the style of clothing you are wearing the jeans and belt with, in addition to your personal style and message you are sending by wearing it. I love the look of a plaque buckle (the "rectangular plate sort" you mentioned)for a modern and sleek look (both with jeans or slacks). Many of these belts are reversible which means twice the versatility for one price. The "rectangular frame sort" of buckle is very common and is more traditional in appearance. For conservative styles, this is a safe bet. There are also many fun buckles out there that are distressed metal for example and come in varying shapes and sizes. These are great for a hip, casual look.

If you need further recommendations beyond this, send me an email at Lisa@trunkclub.com

Best,

Lisa

[But what about me?]

I've always preferred a crew neck shirt because I have a hairy chest. I thought that if the choice was to break up the line visually, I'd rather it be a clean white shirt than a hairy chest.

What are you thoughts on this?

[Lisa Bruckner]

Dear Hairy,

In your case, I would recommend you wear crew neck style shirts and undershirts. I would also recommend you keep your dress shirts buttoned up within comfort and purchase brands and styles that allow you to unbutton the top button while still covering up your chest/undershirt as much as possible.

As fall and winter approach, a nice balance for you would be a dress shirt or crew neck shirt with a v-neck sweater layered on top. This will allow you the visually pleasing look of an open neckline without bearing your hairy chest.

Layers are your friend. You can take a simple crew neck style shirt and layer a jacket or sweater on top and really improve your overall look and sophistication.

Great question! Email me anytime.

Best,

Lisa

[Alex]

This is a bit late as I've just stumbled across this comment but I have to disagree when it comes to one body type. Men with a short waist are better off not tucking their shirts in as it accentuates the shortness and makes him look like a classical "nerd" (you know, the ones with the pants pulled all the way up, this shirt tucked in complete with the bow-tie). In this case, it looks much better for him to wear a slim-fit, untucked shirt that falls somewhere under the hips.

[Ahsan]

how about t shirts? tucked in with jeans or tucked out?

[Lisa Bruckner]

Thanks for all of the comments. To answer your question Ahsan, it really depends on the look you are going for. Super casual, weekend, sporty and I would leave the T-shirt un-tucked. For a more polished look, I would tuck the shirt in with a belt. Tucking your T-shirt in actually makes a big difference and you can look quite nice with a solid T, tucked in with a belt and denim or chinos. Another option is to tuck your T-shirt in with a belt and throw a blazer on top. Very hip, and comfortable.

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[Jeff]

I always wear undershirts, just better to be safe and proper than sorry. I've had the same issues with those Hanes and other brand undershirts that Lisa described. I'll have to give Tommy John a try sometime. Is it not good if an undershirt shows at the top?

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