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I get lots of questions about half tucking, fully tucking, or not tucking my tops. Here’s an easy formula for when to tuck or not.

Not sure how or when to tuck your top?

Trying to figure out how or when to tuck your top or half tuck your top or not tuck your top?

Today I’ve teamed up with my friend Kate, of The Small Things Blog, to show you how and when to tuck. She’s showing how to do it with shorts over on her instagram today, and I’m sharing how to do it with jeans here!

Here’s the easy formula for tucking or not tucking your top: 

  • If your top is oversized, half tuck it.
  • If your top is fitted, fully tuck it.
  • If your top is cropped or has an embellished hem, leave it untucked.

Let’s break it down…

If you’re wearing an oversized top, half tuck it

Oversized tops are shapeless, boxy, and long.

If you wear it untucked, it makes your upper half boxy, and covers up a good section of your leg line. This makes your legs look shorter if you can only see part of them.

If you fully tuck this kind of top, it can get bulky in your waistband.

So…HALF TUCK IT.

This elongates your leg line cause you can see more of your legs, and it doesn’t add bulk to your waistline.

OVERSIZED HENLEY TOP (SIMILAR HERE + HERE) | SKINNY JEANS | SIMILAR SNEAKERS

If you’re wearing an fitted top, fully tuck it

Fitted tops are great for giving you some shape. But wearing them untucked gets bulky over a jeans waistband, and also shortens your leg line.

Half tucking them creates bunching at your waist in an unflattering way, so don’t do that either.

So….a full tuck is the best option with a fitted top!

Especially with higher waisted jeans, it creates a nice emphasis at your natural waist and gives you some great shape.

WIDE WHITE JEANS (wearing size 2R) | SIMILAR BUTTON UP TOP + HERE | SIMILAR FLAT SHOES

If your top is embellished at the hem OR cropped, don’t tuck it

Any top with an embellished, decorative, or ruffle hem, don’t tuck it or half tuck it.

Or if your top is cropped, don’t tuck it or half tuck it.

A cropped top is too short to tuck or half tuck, and an embellished or ruffle hem top is funky when tucked or half tucked.

Sometimes embellished tops are longer, like this one, and if you are a pear shape it’ll emphasize your lower half in a way you might not want. In that case, skip those tops and stick with tops you can half or fully tuck.

NAVY PEPLUM TOP | LIGHT WASH JEANS | SIMILAR SANDALS

I hope this formula is helpful as you get dressed!

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How to Tuck, Untuck, and Half Tuck Your Tops

how to tuck your top

I get lots of questions about how to tuck and when to do tucking, fully tucking, or not tucking my tops. Here’s an easy formula for when to tuck or not.

 

Not sure how or when to tuck your top?

Trying to figure out how or when to tuck your top or half tuck your top or not tuck your top?

Today I’ll show you which tops I half tuck, which tops I fully tuck, and which tops I don’t tuck at all, and WHY!

 

Here’s the easy formula for tucking or not tucking your top: 

  • If your top is oversized, half tuck it.
  • If your top is fitted, fully tuck it.
  • If your top is cropped or has an embellished or peplum hem, or is tunic length, leave it untucked.

 

Let’s break it down…

How to Tuck Your Top

How to tuck an oversized top: half tuck it

Oversized tops can be shapeless, boxy, and are sometimes long.

If you wear it untucked, it makes your upper half boxy, and covers up a good section of your leg line. This makes your legs look shorter if you can only see part of them.

If you fully tuck this kind of top, it can get bulky in your waistband.

So…HALF TUCK IT.

This elongates your leg line cause you can see more of your legs, and it doesn’t add bulk to your waistline.

The red sweater is half tucked in the image above on the far left, but I half tuck it all the way across the front to create a more define waist and avoid bulk with a thicker sweater.

I have a full video on how to half-tuck RIGHT HERE!

SIMILAR RED SWEATER | SIMILAR BLACK COATED JEANS | SEZANE HEELS

 

 

How to Tuck Your Top

How to tuck a fitted top: fully tuck it

Fitted tops are great for giving you some shape. But wearing them untucked gets bulky over a jeans waistband, and also shortens your leg line.

Half tucking them creates bunching at your waist in an unflattering way, so don’t do that either.

So….a full tuck is the best option with a fitted top!

Especially with higher waisted pants, it creates a nice emphasis at your natural waist and gives you some great shape.

SIMILAR STRIPE TEE | SIMILAR COATED JEANS | GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS (budget friendly option HERE)

 

 

How to Tuck Your Top

How to tuck an embellished at the hem OR cropped top: don’t tuck it

Any top with an embellished, decorative, or ruffle hem, don’t tuck it or half tuck it.

Or if your top is cropped, don’t tuck it or half tuck it.

A cropped top is too short to tuck or half tuck, and an embellished or ruffle hem top is funky when tucked or half tucked.

Sometimes embellished tops are longer, and if you are a pear shape it’ll emphasize your lower half in a way you might not want. In that case, skip those tops and stick with tops you can half or fully tuck.

If your top is tunic length, don’t tuck that either!

SIMILAR WHITE PEPLUM TOP | UPDATE MULES TO MADEWELL LUG SOLE LOAFER | SIMILAR COATED JEANS

I hope this formula is helpful as you get dressed!

 

 

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9 Comments

  1. Kay says:

    Does age matter on how or not to tuck your shirt?

  2. Katherine says:

    I thInk body tyPe factors inTo this too. I am short waisted and anything tucked or half tucked is so unflattering. Same Holds true for women who carry weight in their midsection. Girls like us should Stick with untucked shirts that are not too long or too boxy.

  3. Lizy garcia says:

    Thank you so much for this excellent Post kalonkis-xelosani and all the best for your future. I hope you and we will be sharing more thoughts and keep writing more like this one.

  4. London Root says:

    Hi! I have an issue with tops recently, if they are too short like a cropped to tuck, but i lift my arms it will show more than I want to of my stomach area, and wearing an undershirtseems like too hot for texas and too much fabric haha. what do you recommend? Thanks!!

  5. Shauna says:

    Where can I get that Beige sweater vest (sleeveless) with the stiching down the front that you were wearing?
    Love it.

  6. Dani says:

    If I half or full tuck then do I need to wear a belt? May I leave Empty belt loops showing? How does that work?

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