How to keep your shirt tucked in place without walking like a robot

Also known as braces or suit braces, this is an accessory you can pick up from your man’s closet. Because suspenders help to stop the pants from shifting excessively, they also maintain the position of the shirt to prevent it from coming untucked.

Braces tend to come in solid colours or with simple patterns such as polka dots. As such, there’s not much design options to really mix and match with our wardrobe. We recommend sticking to a safe classic colour, like this black pair from Zara since it can be matched with pretty much any colour. If you don’t want the braces to show, layer a blazer over to conceal it.

If suspenders are too obvious for your liking and you want something that can be hidden, opt for a pair of shirttail garters instead. These attach to the end of shirts all the way down to the edge of your socks, and will keep the former from untucking and the latter from slouching. Logically, these would only be concealed if you’re wearing full-length trousers or a skirt.

For times where you want to slip into a pair of black pumps or nude stilettos for work, the sockless variant of shirttail garters would come in handy. Unlike the traditional versions that need to be attached to the sock, these wrap around your calves to provide the tension to hold your shirt in place. The sockless styles also allow you to not be limited to wearing pants as long as the bottoms are long enough to conceal the band.

Another trick to learn from the boys is to tuck your shirt into your underwear. As unsightly as it sounds, this actually makes perfect sense. Underwear tends to be fitted to the body or have a waistband that holds it in place so that it doesn’t slip off mid-walk. Consequently, tucking your shirt into it can keep it from shifting about too much.

To make this hack work, you can’t use skimpy silhouettes such as thongs and bikinis. What you should get instead, are either boyshorts, high-waisted briefs and shapewear shorts such as this pair from Spanx. These have more fabric and grip to hold the shirt in place and be able to cling to the body.

Because bodysuits are constructed like one-piece swimsuits, it’s impossible for them to come untuck. Don’t worry, it might look sexy on the rack but with the right styling, they can be adapted for the office. There are also definitely some office-appropriate styles to choose from!

This Pomelo bodysuit is available in this stunning red hue or a more muted champagne colour. You can easily dress it up with a pencil skirt or tailored trousers for work and switch it a playful wide-legged number for the weekends. We recommend pairing it with a bold lip to show off your confidence.

This point is similar to that of tucking the shirt into your underwear. The elasticated band on your pants or skirt provides additional grip to hold the shirt in place and prevent it from slipping out. However, you might need to spend some time shopping for the right bottoms. Most of them (especially those that are work-appropriate) are built without elasticated waistbands but with zips and buttoned closure instead, but it pays off once you find the right design.

This pair of Cos culottes are made in a neutral, versatile hue that can match most coloured tops you pair it with. Another style you can consider shopping for are pleated skirts as they are usually made with elasticated waistbands as well.

This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.

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