How to Know the Correct Length of Your Shirt

While I recommend a daily selfie to check how your outfit looks, we also need to remember that getting dressed shouldn’t be a chore.

I decided to compare some of my daily outfits when I was wearing a shirt where the question could come up “To tuck or not to tuck?”

Which do you like best? Remember there is no right and wrong, but only personal preferences. I have mine and you have yours.

I’ll give a little commentary for my 8 side-by-side examples and include my preferences but let’s have fun.

#1 & To Tuck or Not to Tuck?

Here are two examples of a full-on tuck your shirt in vs leaving it hanging out.

In the left example with the shirt hanging out, you have the ideal proportions where the shirt is 2/3 and the skirt is 1/3. With the shirt tucked in, the proportions are almost half and half.

My preference? I liked the shirt tucked in because it seemed more finished to me. I also think the ruffle sleeves add volume to the top half which can be a factor in the equation.

This empire silky blouse and flowy midi skirt was a recent outfit. I did end up changing the shoes, but otherwise, the outfit is the same.

With the blouse untucked, you have a half and half proportion, but the hemline copies the shape of the skirt.

Tucked in gives you a 1/3 to 2/3 proportion, but I wasn’t sure I liked how the top bubbled up at the waistline.

My preference? I couldn’t decide.

#3 & #4 Using a Half Tuck to Change the Length of Your Shirt

I’ve found that half-tucks are very controversial among midlife women. When women carry weight in their middle parts, they think it should be covered.

So here are two examples of an untucked vs a front half tuck.

Related posts about other options besides a front-half tuck

1- Side tuck

2- Faux tuck

Insider tip: If you get my email, then you might have seen a plus size stylish showcase a great example of covering vs not covering a tummy.

This long chambray shirt is fabulous because it has an uneven hemline to start with. But I wondered if the bootcut pants made a difference.

Untucked is half and half proportion, while the half tuck gives the front view a change.

My preference? I liked the half tuck but I’m not sure it makes a huge difference.

A stretchy pencil skirt and OFS ruffle sleeve top are a fun print mix play. With the shirt untucked, you get a half and half proportion. When you tuck in the top, it’s still not perfectly 1/3 to 2/3 but it’s closer. I only tucked the front of the shirt because there was a lot of material.

My preference? I like the top tucked in especially because of all of the volume with the sleeves.

#5 & Knotting as a Way to Change the Length of a Shirt

These two examples show ways you can use a knot to change the length of a shirt. I use my trusty clear elastics ( found on Amazon) for both of these.

While this looks like I tucked my shirt in the second photo, if you look closely you can see how flat it is instead. That’s because I pulled the extra material to the back of the outfit and used my elastic to create a knot.

Insider tip: After you create a knot with your shirt, many times you can tuck the knot underneath the shirt material so it is hidden.

The proportions don’t change a lot with this example. Instead, you have a more casual look vs a more tailored look in my opinion.

My preference? Both. I really like them both. It’s my outfit, I’m allowed to not decide as a decision, haha.

I used a side knot (tucked under) for the second photo.

The T-shirt isn’t tight per se, but it does hug my body as opposed to an oversized T-shirt.

My preference? I like the faux tucked version because of the snugness of the tee as well as the proportions seem better.

Make sure to check out the other 2 examples on my blog.

My Goal

Thank you for visiting my space on the internet. I like to showcase how it’s never too late to look great for women of any age, size, or working with any kind of budget.

I feel I’m here to help move beyond the fashion rules of yesterday and evolve. Style and clothes are made to give you joy. Not cause us stress because we are worried about what others think.

My hope is that you get ideas and inspiration from this site. It’s not about buying new things all of the time, but about using what you already have and updating items along the way.

I also believe that we need to forget many of the “fashion rules” and learn to become the Boss of our Clothes.

Most of all it’s getting us to think differently and dare I say, have fun.