Wearing a suit should make you feel a million dollars, so the last thing you want is for your dress shirt to be ill-fitting on you. A fitted dress shirt is the foundation piece to your suit and getting it wrong can completely ruin the rest of your look.
An oversized or ill-fitting shirt is likely to have more material than needed and when tucked into the waistband of your trousers will cause the shirt to bunch up at the bottom and the back giving your that rounded, ‘muffin-top’ shape at your waist.
And no man wants a muffin-top, believe us!
How do you fix this though? Is it even fixable? The short and sweet answer- yes! From choosing the right fitting shirt to some simple tips and tricks that many men swear by, it’s time to say goodbye to the muffin top for good.
How Do You Get Rid Of A Muffin Top On A Dress Shirt?
The best way to get rid of a muffin top is to buy the right fitting shirt for your body.
An oversized or loose fitting style might seem like a good idea at first (after-all you don’t want a shirt that’s going to look uncomfortably tight) but this is actually a bit of a myth.
Looking for a shirt that doesn't cause the dreaded muffin top? Check out our collection of fitted shirts here.
If you have a slim build, you should always ensure that your shirts are in a slim style and fits to your body well. If not, the shirt will likely balloon when tucked in giving you that odd shape.
The same goes for men who are bulkier in build. While you might think that it’s better to have more movement in your dress shirt, this can usually have the opposite effect to the one that you want to achieve.
Ultimately, you want to ensure that your shirt is tapered around the waist so that it there isn’t an unnecessary amount of material in that area.
A dress shirt that is crafted with some shape will also stay in place much better when tucked in to your trousers.
Trying on your shirt before you buy it can help you choose the correct fit and of course, prevent you from making any costly mistakes.
You can even test run a dress shirt with your suit trousers to see if there is an excess of material gathering around your waist, especially when you move around.
If the shirt stays firmly in place, then you likely have the right fit for you. If you are not still not sure whether you have the right fitting shirt however, don’t be afraid to ask for advice from the sales staff or a good friend.
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If you have already bought a shirt that’s baggy or oversized then don’t worry, there are still some things that you can do to get it fitting better.
Having material billowing from the waist will do nothing for you except swamp you and your frame, so getting your shirt altered by a tailor can fix the problem and stop you from having to buy another expensive shirt later on.
See your visit to the tailor as an investment.
They will be able to reduce the amount of fabric by creating some shape within the shirt and then fit it specifically to your body shape.
This means that you will no longer get that annoying pool of material hanging around at your waist causing the dreaded muffin top.
How to Prevent Shirt Muffin Top
Thankfully, there are also a few tips and tricks you can do yourself at home to correct an ill-fitting shirt and to banish the muffin top. Some men swear by tucking their shirt into their pants for extra hold, for example.
While others use suspenders or shirt stays to pull the shirt taunt and in place. While these tricks work for some men, they don’t work for everyone.
Let's first look at how to tuck in a dress shirt properly to try and avoid the dreaded shirt muffin top.
How to Tuck a Dress Shirt
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Start by putting on your dress shirt, buttoning it up, and leave it untucked. Also, put on your undershirt if you wear one.
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Align the shirt by ensuring that the front and back of dress shirt tails are even. Check that the side seams line up with the sides of your body for an even tuck.
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Now, start to tuck your shirt. Begin at the front, gently pushing the tail of the shirt into your trousers.
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As you move towards the sides, make sure the shirt is smooth against your body to prevent wrinkling.
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Once you reach the back, tuck in the rest of the shirt, ensuring it lays flat against your body.
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Fasten your trousers, and ensure the waistband is snug to hold the shirt in place.
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Perform a "shirt sit" test by sitting and raising your arms. If the shirt stays tucked, you've done it correctly. If not, re-tuck and adjust as necessary.
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Do a final visual check in the mirror. The shirt should be smooth, with no bunching or billowing. Adjust as needed for the perfect tuck.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Over time, tucking in your shirt will become a quick and easy part of your routine. But there is a special sort of method of tucking in dress shirts that you should try and master to keep your look polished.
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Military Tuck Dress Shirt
The Military tuck is a quick and easy technique that is guaranteed to help reduce the muffin top from rearing its ugly head during the day or night.
Essentially, it works by pulling the shirt at the side seams and then pulling it towards your back, making sure that the shirt is taunt and tight the entire time.
Keeping a tight grip on the shirt you can then pull your trousers up and belt up, keeping your shirt firmly in place. It does help to have a belt that is tight so that the shirt doesn’t untuck.
Of course with movement and posture, the shirt will make some movement, but this technique really does help to keep the shirt in place much better than other methods.
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Best Shirts To Avoid The Muffin Top
If you are looking for a shirt to avoid the muffin top then look no further than Tapered Menswear. Our dress shirts are made with a V shaped cut that tapers in at the waist, meaning no unnecessary material ruining your stylish vibes.
The narrow fit on the waist also means that you’ll never have to worry about your shirt spilling over the top of your trousers.
Light Blue Tapered Fit ShirtLikewise the enhanced darts at the back of the shirt also reduce the amount of fabric at the back of dress shirt, so that you don’t get that unflattering ‘parachute’ look. You’ll look good. You’ll definitely look slick.
Plus, crafted with extra stretch cotton to mould effortlessly to your body, you’ll always feel your confident best self- Whether at the office or out on the Town.
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Best Shirts For To Avoid Muffin Tops
Muffin tops are a problem for a lot of men. Maybe you’ve even experienced it yourself. Knowing how to sort out this problem however can transform your formal dressing for the best.
White Short Sleeve Tapered Fit Shirt
Finding the right fitting shirt is the best way to combat the muffin top, as is getting your dress shirt altered. If all else fails, there’s always the military tuck to try out right now. Either way, there’s no space for muffin tops in fashion!
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Our revolutionary cut provides a 10" drop from chest to waist.
Fully fitted in chest and shoulders whilst tapering sharply down, giving a tailored look. No more bagginess in the waist.
Enhanced Darts
Expertly tailored darts at the back, for the perfect fit.
Stretch Cotton
Super soft, breathable and allows complete freedom of movement.
Perfect for the office.
With our non obtrusive logo stitched subtly on the wrist makes our TAPERED Fit Shirt ideal for formal occasions.
Tapered Fit Shirts are the true solution to your shirt fitting problem. If you want a shirt that fits your body like it should, check out or best selling shirt here
