One's birthday is tomorrow. One was asked what one wanted as a present. One suggested a denim shirt. One went with one's wife yesterday to the Meadowhall shopping palace where one tried on several shirts. One couldn't find a suitable shirt - one that fitted pefectly. One was disappointed. One will need to visit a couple of city centre shops today - including John Lewis. One hopes to have better luck.
Now when it comes to wearing shirts, I am a little old-fashioned. I prefer to tuck my shirts in to my trousers. It's what my father and previous generations of men always did. Tucking your shirt in keeps out draughts and avoids accidental belly exposure which could easily drive female onlookers wild with desire.
However, in recent years more and more men have been wearing their shirts outside their trousers and many shirts are now designed with that use in mind. Consequently, a lot of shirts are now significantly shorter than they would have been in past times so "tuckers in" like me find that many modern shirts are just too short. When you sit down the shirt rides up and frequently comes out over the waist band. I get sick and tired of constantly having to tuck shirts in - even having to unbutton my trews to perform said manoeuvre.
When the fashion of "untucking" first began a few years back I would occasionally advise men I met that their shirts were out - not realising that it was a deliberate choice. To me, when a man wears his shirt out it is as if he is wearing an itsy bitsy mini dress or an agricultural smock. If any "untuckers" are reading this, I say let's turn back the tide lads. Tuck yer bloody shirts in you silly...untuckers!
I almost always tuck in my shirts. I feel too sloppy otherwise. As you said, occasionally a shirt is made to be worn untucked, but even then it feels weird to me.
ReplyDeletePerhaps there should be two defined styles of shirt - "TU" for tucking in and "FU" for untucking. Forget "Regular", "Tailored" and "Slim Fit" - I just want to know if I can keep the fabric inside my trousers.
DeleteOr maybe "H" for hip and "UH" for unhip!
DeleteReminds me of that scene in The Thick of It when the PR guru tries to give Peter Mannion a makeover which includes not tucking his shirt in. I tried to find it on YouTube, but failed.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is quite an art to shirt tucking.
That video was most instructive. I might make a similar one about donning socks.
DeleteAs a woman, I don't have this particular problem. I do have other problems with clothes …..too many to mention ! You made me smile with this post though. Hope you manage to find some attire that suits your requirements. Happy Birthday for tomorrow. It was mine last Monday.
ReplyDeleteBelated birthday greetings Frances! I am glad this post made you smile. It is so hard being a fashionable gentleman.
DeleteOne needs to know, if one does not, that these new untuckable shorter shirts cost around $100 if one bothers to check. One need not, in the final analysis, be a slave to what passes for fashion. One need only keep his nakedness covered so as not to frighten the children.
ReplyDeleteOne gladly accepts these precious Braguian pearls of wisdom oh Guru of Men's Fashion!
DeleteHappy Birthday tomorrow YP - shirt untucked, or tucked in, have a great day !
ReplyDeleteThank you CG. I will be driving down to London to help our daughter move and to clean up her current flat - a real birthday treat.
DeleteMove with the times YP - embrace your modern self - push the boat out - get into the twenty first century and you will look ten years younger. (if you do then let me know and I might follow suit.)
ReplyDeleteIf I looked ten years younger I would never get served in pubs Mrs Weaver!
DeleteOne would hope that one got one for one's birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy Birthday, Yorkie! Have yourself a good one! :)
One got two!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee!
Lucky you! :)
DeleteThey weren't "Lee" brand shirts. They're too expensive.
DeleteOh! You're still referring to shirts! ;)
DeleteShirts in or out don't bother me, but pants around your ankles and anatomy used for mooning is something I could rant about or maybe I'm giving you another blog topic.
ReplyDeleteI have done shirts. You can do mooning Red>
DeleteHappy birthday One. I prefer my men in ripped t-shirts. They tend not to be tucked in.
ReplyDeleteLiving with you, I guess that Paul's shirts are constantly ripped. Poor fellow.
DeleteI think the untucked look is for casual wear - BBQs and similar occasions and the tucked in look is more formal and dressy. Queenslanders are rarely formal, seldom wear tucked in shirts- or even shirts that button up !, and rarely wear ties and suits.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Happy Birthday for tomorrow... or today as it is here !!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen. Queensland men are forgiven for their stance on shirts but only because of the tropical heat.
DeleteHappy Birthday Mr Pudding.
ReplyDeleteAlphie
"How about a birthday kiss...darling?"
Delete(It's just locker room talk)
I guess the untucked look also goes along with the disappearance of ties. Men's fashion rarely changes, though I guess you are glad you don't have to wear doublet and hose.
ReplyDeleteThe doublet and hose would go nicely with my scabbard and sword Addy.
DeleteHappy happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping your belly covered, we wouldn't want anyone going wild now, would we?
Thank you for the birthday greeting Kylie. Though I say so myself I have a rather handsome belly. Most women swimmers gasp when they see it down at the public baths.
DeleteBelated Happy Birthday wishes to you!
ReplyDeleteI've been at a conference Friday and Saturday, arrived home late last night and only switched the computer on now.
Apart from helping your daughter with the move and cleaning of the flat, I hope there was still some birthday stuff going on for you.
We had a nice Italian meal in Camberwell and I got to see an exhibition at The Tate Modern. Thank you for your belated birthday greetings old* friend.
Delete*not really old.
Well I've now caught up with your posts (the advantages of waking early and taking my cup of hot water and lemon back to bed with my laptop). I hope you had a happy celebration of the anniversary of your birth. I think the French have the correct idea saying "Bon Anniversaire". It wasn't, after all, your Birthday. That was many moons ago. As for shirts living in New Zealand for so long has meant that I have got used to wearing shirts outside my trousers or shorts on less formal occasions. It was brought home to me very early on in my life there when The Family told me that wearing a tailed shirt with shorts made me look like an Old Man From The Motherland. I realised that they were correct.
ReplyDeleteSo...you are one of "them" Graham! One of the untucked brigade! That's what happens when you spend too much time with colonials.
DeleteI've heard of this "untucking" trend but I don't wear dress shirts or anything considered fashionable, really. My wardrobe consisted mostly of t-shirts until I started working at a law firm; now I wear golf shirts/polos nearly all the time, and I've become so used to tucking them that I won't wear them untucked.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great birthday!
I didn't realise that golf and polo were your sports of choice Chris! I had you down as a baseball kind of guy - munching popcorn and drinking soda up there on the bleachers.
DeleteHere is the solution to your problem:
ReplyDeleteDon't buy new shirts. Go to a charity shop and search there. These shirts are usually made a few years ago and are much better quality than new shirts!
My wife bought me a shirt from a jumble sale earlier this year. It cost 29 pence and it is a perfect fit. Lovely shirt. Thanks for dropping by Margaret. How much is butter worth?
DeleteTuck in
ReplyDelete