# Just noticed major generational fashion divide:  Shirt-tail  tucking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-noticed-major-generational-fashion-divide-shirt-tail-tucking/264863>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 18, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-noticed-major-generational-fashion-divide-shirt-tail-tucking/264863 "2004-09-18T16:33:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-noticed-major-generational-fashion-divide-shirt-tail-tucking/264863/41 "2004-09-21T00:40:00Z")

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The real rule is that if the side seams have a “slit” at the bottom, so that the last two or three inches of the tail hem don’t meet , then the shirt is meant to be worn untucked. (There’s a technical name for this in sewing, but I’m ignorant of all that crap… but the spousal unit is an expert.)

I’ve even found “tuck-in” shirts in my inventory on which the wife had ripped the seam and resewed in order to make then “no-tuck” shirts, 'cause she thinks the untucked look is _rico suave_.

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-noticed-major-generational-fashion-divide-shirt-tail-tucking/264863/42 "2004-09-21T13:40:46Z")

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> [@bughunter](#):
>
> It was just a matter of time until it became the rebels who are the ones who tuck their shirts in, buy clothes that fit, shave…

So am I a conformist if I don’t tuck & if I buy clothes that are ostensibly too large because binding clothes drive me (even more?) insane?

The only good suit I’ve ever owned was fitted by a tailor who _actually listened_. He put me into a jacket that was a size or two too large, and then brought it in so that the arm holes wouldn’t drive me nuts.

I still must agree with Horace, however, that “neckcloths…connote effimanacy and poor health.” At the very least, if one insists on insisting on neckties, one could at least know a Nicky from a Pratt, and a Grantchester from a Balthus, no?

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