Suspenders for shirts?
April 24, 2011 2:22 AM Subscribe
Does such a thing exist that will allow me to keep my shirt tucked in, invisibly?
You know how suspenders keep socks/stockings pulled up? I want something similar that will keep my shirt tucked in. I've tried wearing a belt, but I just don't feel comfortable with one on.
My job involves a lot of bending over and straightening up, which means that my shirts keep coming out, which looks scruffy and which annoys me. I work in a customer facing position, so I can't really stand there adjusting my clothing constantly, especially as it involves me putting my hand down my trousers.
At the moment, I'm pulling a little bit of the shirt material out, to make a sort of "frill", that compensates slightly, but this isn't something I want to do long term. Appearance is a big thing in this job and I don't want to stand out as being untidy.
I'm thinking about something along the lines of an inverted suspender, that I could attach to the shirt to keep it pulled taut. But I'm open to suggestions.
You know how suspenders keep socks/stockings pulled up? I want something similar that will keep my shirt tucked in. I've tried wearing a belt, but I just don't feel comfortable with one on.
My job involves a lot of bending over and straightening up, which means that my shirts keep coming out, which looks scruffy and which annoys me. I work in a customer facing position, so I can't really stand there adjusting my clothing constantly, especially as it involves me putting my hand down my trousers.
At the moment, I'm pulling a little bit of the shirt material out, to make a sort of "frill", that compensates slightly, but this isn't something I want to do long term. Appearance is a big thing in this job and I don't want to stand out as being untidy.
I'm thinking about something along the lines of an inverted suspender, that I could attach to the shirt to keep it pulled taut. But I'm open to suggestions.
The abovementioned shirt stays are one solution I used when working with military uniforms. Another is an item called an invisible tailor, a rubber nubbed belt that hooks to your lowest button hole and wraps around, adding a lot of friction.
posted by kaszeta at 2:54 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by kaszeta at 2:54 AM on April 24, 2011
Another option is the Longtail T shirt by Duluth Trading. It has extra fabric in the back to stay tucked in. They seem to be very popular here in WI.
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 5:25 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 5:25 AM on April 24, 2011
tucking my shirt into my underwear rather than just my pants helps, depending on the shirt.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:39 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by rmd1023 at 5:39 AM on April 24, 2011
Oh, please don't tuck your shirt into your underwear.
Nobody wants to see your drawers.
Get some shirt stays, as mentioned above, or get longer shirts.
posted by bilabial at 6:08 AM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
Nobody wants to see your drawers.
Get some shirt stays, as mentioned above, or get longer shirts.
posted by bilabial at 6:08 AM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
Dancers sometimes wear shirts that are sewn to matching underwear, although these things are often more spangly than your average workwear.
Here's an example of the kind of thing I mean. Maybe you could have a look around a dance store near you.
posted by emilyw at 6:18 AM on April 24, 2011
Here's an example of the kind of thing I mean. Maybe you could have a look around a dance store near you.
posted by emilyw at 6:18 AM on April 24, 2011
OP, if you are a man, you should be wearing a belt in any circumstance in which you are tucking in your shirt. I wouldn't even call that a fashion law, because even grossly unfashionable men know to comply. If belts make you uncomfortable, it's because your pants are too tight or your belts are too small.
posted by MattD at 6:39 AM on April 24, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by MattD at 6:39 AM on April 24, 2011 [8 favorites]
If you are buying your own shirts for work, and are getting normal length shirts, go for the tall option on shirts. The extra material may be just enough that it helps out.
posted by deezil at 6:49 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by deezil at 6:49 AM on April 24, 2011
"OP, if you are a man, you should be wearing a belt in any circumstance in which you are tucking in your shirt. I wouldn't even call that a fashion law, because even grossly unfashionable men know to comply. If belts make you uncomfortable, it's because your pants are too tight or your belts are too small."
A tucked in shirt without a belt does seem to always look boyish and somehow immature, as if you lack the trappings of adult clothing, on both men and women. If you dislike belts, normal suspenders do help keep the shirt tucked in and look awesome, regardless of gender.
posted by Blasdelb at 7:40 AM on April 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
A tucked in shirt without a belt does seem to always look boyish and somehow immature, as if you lack the trappings of adult clothing, on both men and women. If you dislike belts, normal suspenders do help keep the shirt tucked in and look awesome, regardless of gender.
posted by Blasdelb at 7:40 AM on April 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you get a fitted shirt that is long enough, you shouldn't have this issue. Also, seconding MattD --- there is never a reason to be tucking in your shirt if you are not wearing a belt. The only men who can get away with it are in the J Crew catalog.
posted by Think_Long at 7:41 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by Think_Long at 7:41 AM on April 24, 2011
OP, if you are a man, you should be wearing a belt in any circumstance in which you are tucking in your shirt. I wouldn't even call that a fashion law, because even grossly unfashionable men know to comply.
Seconded. When I last worked a customer service oriented job, a belt was a requirement. You'd get sent home at told to find one if you came to work without it. In my more professional capacity now, I'd never dream of leaving the house without a belt. (I guess some people go with suspenders, but that seems odd to me. Id still wear a belt even with suspenders) Belts are a must.
It doesn't have to be functioning, if your pants fit it's more decorative than actually holding your pants on. It should be like insurance, or the adjustable fit for comfort. If your pants fall off without the belt, they're too big. If the belt chokes off your circulation, its too small.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:54 AM on April 24, 2011
Seconded. When I last worked a customer service oriented job, a belt was a requirement. You'd get sent home at told to find one if you came to work without it. In my more professional capacity now, I'd never dream of leaving the house without a belt. (I guess some people go with suspenders, but that seems odd to me. Id still wear a belt even with suspenders) Belts are a must.
It doesn't have to be functioning, if your pants fit it's more decorative than actually holding your pants on. It should be like insurance, or the adjustable fit for comfort. If your pants fall off without the belt, they're too big. If the belt chokes off your circulation, its too small.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:54 AM on April 24, 2011
Just to clarify -- don't wear a belt if you're rocking suspenders, because that looks weird. However, it looks even weirder to tuck in your shirt without any belt or suspenders.
posted by Think_Long at 8:00 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by Think_Long at 8:00 AM on April 24, 2011
Yeah, don't wear a belt with suspenders. It makes you look extremely insecure about your pants falling down. Suspenders are the better choice as they allow the pants to sit at a consistent point on the natural waist and drape nicely, rather than having to constantly be hitched up. And considering that suspenders are not meant to be visible, it calls into question the received wisdom that not having a visible belt is a horrible fashion crime. Suspenders will generally help the shirt not come untucked when bending. But those shirt garters are so cool... leave it to the military guys to think of that.
posted by kevinsp8 at 8:09 AM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by kevinsp8 at 8:09 AM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Unfortunately, I don't really have a choice about the length of the shirt, as it's provided by the company I work for. The shirt stays look exactly like what I'm looking for, though.
posted by Solomon at 8:13 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by Solomon at 8:13 AM on April 24, 2011
And it looks like the shirt stays would help keep your socks up, too. Bonus!
posted by Heretical at 10:33 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by Heretical at 10:33 AM on April 24, 2011
If appearances are a big thing at this job, then wearing a belt might be a good idea, whether or not you end up using the sock-shirt-suspenders that someone suggested. Belts just make guys look more put-together.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 11:08 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 11:08 AM on April 24, 2011
If you have trousers with belt loops and an uncovered front button, then sans belt will look un-put-together. If the button is covered and there are no belt loops (and thus presumably you are wearing suspenders) it looks sleek and classic.
posted by kevinsp8 at 12:40 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by kevinsp8 at 12:40 PM on April 24, 2011
Response by poster: A belt really isn't an option right now.
posted by Solomon at 1:03 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by Solomon at 1:03 PM on April 24, 2011
OP, if you are a man, you should be wearing a belt in any circumstance in which you are tucking in your shirt. I wouldn't even call that a fashion law, because even grossly unfashionable men know to comply. If belts make you uncomfortable, it's because your pants are too tight or your belts are too small.
To be fair, there are styles of waistband which neither require nor accept a belt, yet would never be worn with an untucked shirt. Are you prepared to argue with James Bond about this?
posted by pullayup at 1:57 PM on April 24, 2011
To be fair, there are styles of waistband which neither require nor accept a belt, yet would never be worn with an untucked shirt. Are you prepared to argue with James Bond about this?
posted by pullayup at 1:57 PM on April 24, 2011
Wearing a belt does nothing to keep a not-long-enough shirttail tucked in. I speak from experience.
Shirt stays or nothing, IME.
posted by Lexica at 2:41 PM on April 24, 2011
Shirt stays or nothing, IME.
posted by Lexica at 2:41 PM on April 24, 2011
Yes, the adjustable waistbands are an acceptable solution, although pants will drape better with suspenders. Suspenders aren't ideal if you plan to be taking off your jacket, as Bond has done in these scenes.
But even grossly unfashionable men know pleats are ugly! /sarcasm
posted by kevinsp8 at 4:14 PM on April 24, 2011
But even grossly unfashionable men know pleats are ugly! /sarcasm
posted by kevinsp8 at 4:14 PM on April 24, 2011
To be fair, there are styles of waistband which neither require nor accept a belt
Not just Bond's Piccadilly suits. There are also Sansabelt Trousers. I am investing in a few pairs now to wear when I reach my mid 60s.
posted by Ad hominem at 6:04 PM on April 24, 2011
Not just Bond's Piccadilly suits. There are also Sansabelt Trousers. I am investing in a few pairs now to wear when I reach my mid 60s.
posted by Ad hominem at 6:04 PM on April 24, 2011
If you don't want to go all the way down to your socks, the Galls Belt wraps around your shirt under your pants to keep it tucked in.
There are other versions that do the same kind of thing, often sold at uniform stores (since this is a problem for folks who wear uniforms doing active work, like police, security guards, and, apparently, umpires.)
posted by mendel at 6:13 PM on April 24, 2011
There are other versions that do the same kind of thing, often sold at uniform stores (since this is a problem for folks who wear uniforms doing active work, like police, security guards, and, apparently, umpires.)
posted by mendel at 6:13 PM on April 24, 2011
Response by poster: The shirt stays are working really well.
posted by Solomon at 11:37 AM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Solomon at 11:37 AM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bizzyb at 2:28 AM on April 24, 2011 [5 favorites]