When to Tuck, When Not to Tuck, and What Tuck to Choose When You’re Tucking
Tucking is one of the simplest styling techniques and it can completely change the vibe and look of an outfit. It can take an outfit from stale to energized, from sloppy to put together.
A full tuck is when your shirt is entirely tucked into the bottoms. In a front tuck, or french tuck, only the front central area of your shirt is tucked. And a side tuck is when only the front left or right side (either way works) is tucked in.
But not all tucks work well with every outfit or piece in your closet. Here’s how to choose the right one for what you’re wearing any day of the week.
WITH SHORTS
Shorts are defined by being above the knee, so doing a front tuck or french tuck will leave you with a lot of excess fabric on the back of your shorts. And even if you’ve got a longer denim or chino short, if the back of the shirt hangs out, it can be a distraction from the overall silhouette of your outfit.
Which is why with most shorts (biker shorts are the exception!), you should do a full tuck all the way around. This will give you the best ratio of short to top and leave your look feeling effortlessly put together.
Some of my favorite summer shorts…
WITH PANTS
This is your time to play. With a longer bottom (a.k.a. pants) you have the freedom to do a front tuck, full tuck, or side tuck. There are a few things to think about when choosing your tuck for pants.
First, how formal is the place you’re going? A full tuck is the most polished tuck, so you’ll want to use this style for business or a dressy casual event like a baby shower. A front tuck will give you the same look as the full tuck, but with a more relaxed feel because the back of the shirt is hanging out. Use this tuck for running errands, brunch, or a play date at the park.
Next, how heavy is the top you’re wearing? This question will help you decide which tuck to go with. Most shirts can be fully tucked if your pants aren’t too thin (if you run the risk of showing the top through the pant, go with a front tuck), but when deciding between a front or side tuck, consider the weight of the top. If the top is heavier like a sweater or sweatshirt (and yes, these get tucked too!), do a side tuck. This will make it so there’s not too much bulk right at your belly button, rather the side tuck giving the shirt a natural flow across the body.
If the shirt is lighter like cotton or linen, you can front tuck. With button downs, twist the top part of the button down into the lower part then tuck. This will help to anchor the button down into your pants.
Some of my favorite summer pants…
WHEN TO UNTUCK
The 100-degree weather has come early this year, which means it’s time to make adjustments in your outfit. Tucking should always be your go-to technique to feel put together and highlight your shape, but when it’s hot, a lot of fabric right next to your skin can also feel uncomfortable and distracting. For these times, give yourself a pass to untuck, but also keep it intentional.
Fitted pieces work well with flowy pieces, so mix a flowy top like a linen button down with a fitted short like a biker short to help them balance one another.
Short pieces go well with long, so try an above-the-knee skirt with an oversized t-shirt or a cropped t-shirt with oversized ripped jeans.
Some of my favorite shirts to untuck…
WITH SKIRTS
When choosing your tuck with skirts, the most important things to consider are length, style, and cut. As I mentioned above, short and long go together, so the longer the skirt, the more you need to tuck in the shirt.
For a midi, maxi, or knee-length skirt, make sure to do some kind of tuck. Like with pants, more formal occasions are good for the full tuck. Sweaters work best with a side tuck. For everything else, a front tuck is the way to go.
For an above-the-knee skirt, you can do any of the tucks above, but you can also leave your shirt untucked. If you leave your shirt untucked, your skirt need to be straight (not a-line). The reasons is that you don’t want your top running into the line of your skirt and literally clashing. This would mess up the flow of your outfit.
