Readers usually ask whether or not I put on shirts untucked – normally at the moment of 12 months, when instantly an untucked shirt appears delightfully cool. 

The final reply is not any however there are just a few exceptions, sufficient to make it value writing a full article moderately than a one-word reply to a remark. On this article I’ve used some pictures in our showroom to stroll by way of variations on a single outfit, and show these exceptions. 

Untucked shirts are simpler, extra relaxed and sometimes extra comfy (consolation is, as we’ve mentioned, as a lot psychological as bodily) however typically – for most individuals more often than not – they’re much less flattering.

Take into account the outfit under. Having the chambray shirt tucked into the chinos means there’s a sharp horizontal line at my waist, emphasising what is sort of the slimmest a part of the physique. It additionally means the legs seem longer – ranging from that time moderately than one decrease down – and the shoulders seem broader in proportion to that shorter torso. 

On this case having the shirt buttoned a little bit decrease aids the have an effect on, because it creates an extended V-shape on the chest. I’m slim and tall however not that broad, so something that provides to the impression of breadth is useful. 

However flattery isn’t all the things. There’s additionally fashion and propriety. Carrying a tailor-made jacket and trousers can be much more flattering on me – giving me shoulders I don’t have – however the formality can be utterly completely different. 

So right here’s the primary, most blatant exception to a tucked-in rule: when dressing very casually in the summertime, I’ll gained’t tuck my shirt in. 

That’s illustrated within the shot under. I’m carrying shorts – and really informal shorts at that, classic navy ones – and to me a tucked-in shirt can be too formal. It’s not what I’m after when dressing like this. It’s sizzling, I’m off-duty, and there is a good probability I will be doing one thing like chasing a five-year-old spherical a park.

Exception quantity two: an untucked shirt that’s actually an overshirt. 

I put on overshirts rather a lot on the weekend, and have written about just a few of my favorite ones. These are normally thicker than an everyday shirt, so I wouldn’t need to tuck them in even when it have been doable. 

However I additionally put on lighter shirts on this method when the climate’s hotter – under is an instance. The shirt and the T-shirt are the identical, however the shirt is untucked and unbuttoned. 

Word that the T-shirt continues to be tucked, retaining that horizontal line on the waist. This makes an enormous distinction, I discover, in stopping the overshirt look from changing into sloppy. 

I like this outfit, and it’s the type of factor plenty of more-casual-dressing readers might use I believe (certainly, in all probability already do). The navy trousers with black belt and footwear make the entire thing good/informal, however darkish denims and trainers would work too. 

An fascinating variation is doing up only one button on the shirt, someplace across the waist. Carl at Rubato does this (he hardly ever wears a T-shirt by itself, there’s at all times a collar there someplace).

The shirt needs to be fairly loose-fitted for this to work, in any other case it’ll type of gape oddly if you sit down, however I like the way it offers some form to the shirt. The issue with untucked shirts typically is that they create this huge, rectangular block that doesn’t flatter the physique; buttoning it at one level creates some form, virtually just like the buttoning of a jacket. Plus you see a few of that waistline beneath.

That is one thing I usually emulate if I ever do put on a shirt untucked and buttoned-up (normally spurred by some mixture of fatigue, warmth and laziness). 

Within the shot under the shirt is untucked but it surely’s unbuttoned a little bit on the backside, including a little bit form. You may unbutton the highest extra too, however that’s not for everybody; in any case have two buttons undone. 

I don’t do that consciously, however I’m additionally conscious that that block of blouse is damaged up by having my palms in my pockets. I’ve executed it in all these pictures with out even occupied with it, and it definitely helps. 

Should you like this type of untucked good/informal look, one challenge will be what to put on excessive. Tailor-made jackets are normally too good, and bombers or blousons are too brief. 

Finest are hip-length items like chore coats, or waxed and looking jackets. Within the picture under I’m carrying a wool chore from Anderson & Sheppard over the fourth look above (the one-done-button). It’s a fantastic deep, darkish navy, and fits the good/informal vibes of all the things else. Not sloppy, however not dressed up both. 

In case anybody didn’t see it final 12 months, we did a sequence of articles on these sorts of jacket substitutes – chore coats, tebas, overshirts and many others. You’ll find the primary in that sequence right here. 

A final variation I believed was fascinating to incorporate was one exhibiting the variations of layers I put on with overshirts. 

Throughout this previous winter, I discovered that overshirts and denims turned my default on the weekend: the mix was merely and straightforward, however had sufficient variation to imply I loved briefly choosing out which of them to mix. 

British winters are unpredictable although, and the climate went from gentle to genuinely very chilly. So I discovered I diverse the layer beneath the overshirt relying on the climate – moderately than hassle the remainder of the formulation. 

The vary went from nothing, to a vest, to a T-shirt, to a thermal. And there have been two sorts of thermal – the Joe McCoy henley from The Actual McCoys, which is a stunning cotton, and the wool crewneck from Stevenson Total. The latter is extremely heat, extra so even than a cashmere sweater. That’s the Joe McCoy one under.

I’m positive untucked shirts are one thing PS readers may have views on – from contemplating them against the law in opposition to menswear to an exquisite, laidback fashion all their very own, however hopefully this provides some nuance to that debate. 

Garments proven:

• Orslow chambray shirt (closely work, purchased second hand), dimension massive
• PS Tapered T-shirt, dimension massive
• Rubato braided black-leather belt
• Rubato French pocket trouser in navy, dimension 33
• Edward Inexperienced ‘Piccadilly’ idler in black London Grain
• Classic US-army shorts
• Classic Ralph Lauren cap
• Anderson & Sheppard tweed Jacket No.2, dimension massive