This Front Tuck is So Frustrating

I hear this from so many women I work with. This front tuck is so frustrating! How do I do it? What is the deal with it? How exactly do I make it look unintentional, when I’m super intentional about it?!

FRONT TUCK PROS

Girlfriend, once you master this, it will be one of your favorite ways to wear any of your tops, I am CERTAIN of it! It allows you to look polished in the front; but comfortable and casual in the back. When you are going for an everyday style wardrobe, and mixing your high / low pieces, this is an excellent way for tops to cross over easily.

Not only that, what I have found when in hot / humid climates like Houston and Dubai, the unwanted but unpreventable back sweat doesn’t show up nearly as quick for all to see, when you let the back of your shirt lay out loosely.

The Front Tuck allows for your top to be the focal point, not your body shape. It allows movement and flow in your outfit, and when we don’t fill out all the edges of our clothes, it can be very flattering. If your midsection is a problem area, or one you want to minimize with your wardrobe, this is a great style tip to try.

Additionally, when you do a fully tucked look, it can be high maintenance right? Is it untucked too much, because that can add volume where you do not want it? Did the back come out when I went from a sit to a stand, or grabbed that book off the top shelf, and now it reads as messy and disheveled? Not to mention taking the time to make it perfect again after leaving the ladies room. Some looks call for the full tuck; but I’m willing to say 90% of looks don’t.

When untucked is just too uninspiring and the full tuck is too much work, this is the happy medium!

FRONT TUCK CONS

The only con I can think of is, it’s not really switch in your look you can do after a long day at the office or in a fully tucked look. While the fabric being out should be slouchy and imperfect, the deep wrinkles that will be formed in an shirt that’s been fully tucked all day, will not really give the casual cool look you are going for.

THE FRONT TUCK ISN’T SO FRUSTRATING!

Ok, here’s how I do it. With a button up shirt like this, I will to to the bottom of the shirt where the buttons are, hold it together (so no gaping), and shove it down under where your belt buckle would be. Don’t tuck it in tight, it should still be able to slouch a bit; but don’t pull it out enough to hide the belt. This is the secret, in my opinion. A good Front Tuck or Side tuck, allows you to show MORE leg line, which gives the illusion of HEIGHT, and at a whopping 5’4″, I’ll take all the fake height I can get, haha!

For the back, don’t mess with it. Like, pretty much just leave it as is. That’s the trick to being intentionally unintentional! Now, some fabrics will respond to this differently. A stiffer, more structured top won’t give you the same slouch as a flowy-er (is that a word?) top. The one I’m wearing here is a super soft cotton, and classified as denim (like chambray) by the brand Zara. You can also see examples of where I did the front tuck on a couple of super dressy tops HERE and HERE, and a casual one HERE.

FRONT TUCK BONUS

One more reason why it’s awesome, and I may have saved the best for last. When you have the back of your top untucked and just pretty much “as is”, you can bend down, reach up, pick you your kids, grab that last can of tomato soup at the back of the second lowest shelf at the grocery store, without flashing you lower back. Nobody will see your back tattoo, hiked up undies, and alternatively, if your pants are not fitting perfectly, it hides the fact that they may be hanging a bit low. Although a belt will surely help with that too. It’s that little style tip that allows you to do whatever you need to do in a day, without adjusting anything before, during or after. #boom

xoxo Taryn