Are you looking for summer tops that fit and flatter but don’t need to be tucked in? Look no further for no-tuck summer tops that will have you feeling confident and comfortable and looking good too!
Is it just me or does everyone seem to be tucking in their shirts lately? I have a complicated relationship with shirt tucking, so I don’t know whether I like this trend or not. On one hand, I definitely get it. Tucking in my shirt defines my waist and makes me look less like the rectangle that I am. On the other hand, I have PTSD from 13 years of Catholic school, and anything that reminds me of it can be triggering. And a tucked in shirt definitely reminds me of Catholic school.
Because I am of two minds about tucking in my shirt, I need options in my wardrobe to fit whichever way my shirt tucking pendulum swings. But I still want my no-tuck summer tops to look nice. I spent way too many years in oversized clothing looking like a blob to go back to that. Lucky for me (and you!), there are lots of no-tuck summer tops that still flatter the female figure, whatever yours looks like.
Before I dive into my favorite no-tuck summer tops, I want to give a bit of a caveat. This post isn’t necessarily a shopping post with tons of links to specific tops currently for sale. Instead, I’m walking through silhouettes that work well as no-tuck summer tops and maybe giving an example here or there of a shirt you can buy now if you want to try out a new shirt type. But before you buy, go look in your closet – you probably have many of these at the ready!
No-Tuck Summer Tops
Peplum
I’m starting off my list of no-tuck summer tops with my personal favorite category – the peplum top. Like I noted above, I am a human rectangle, so I need some help creating visual interest where there is none. For me, the best way to do that is to throw on a peplum top.
A peplum top is a no-tuck summer top that fits close to the body at the waist and then flounces out at the hip. A peplum accentuates an hourglass figure or gives the illusion of hips to those of us who aren’t lucky enough to have natural hips of our own. Because the flounce is the whole point of the peplum top, no tucking allowed!
I have quite a few peplum tops in my wardrobe that range from casual t-shirts to dressier tops that are appropriate for the office or a summer date night. I seem to never have enough, though, so I’m thinking off adding this eyelet option to my closet. This peplum tank also caught my eye for a more casual option.
Cropped
Show of hands: how many of you panicked when you saw that I included cropped tops on this list of no-tuck summer tops? You have no reason to panic. I hate my midsection as much as the next lady, so I’m not recommending you bare your midriff in a crop top from our teen years. I’m calling tops that skim your waist and land just lower than the waistband of your pants cropped tops. These aren’t scary at all!
A cropped shirt makes a great no-tuck summer top because it gives the appearance of a tucked in look without the aggravation of getting the perfect tuck. This is literally what we are all looking for. Unfortunately, because we all have different torso lengths, finding the right cropped top for you involves quite a bit of trial and error.
I have found a few cropped tops that hit at just the right spot on me, but I’m always on the lookout for more. This gauze Old Navy number is a great cropped length for me (and it’s gauze, my summer fashion obsession!), so it might be worth a try-on for you too. I also love the idea of this cropped summer sweater, but I haven’t made my way to Kohl’s to try it on yet. The white just screams find me at the country club but it’s very budget friendly.
Elastic hem
When I was originally finding my fashion footing as a young woman, the bubble hem shirt was everywhere. I haven’t seen them around much these days, but they’re worth searching out if you’re looking for no-tuck summer tops.
If you’re not familiar with the bubble hem shirt, it’s a short with elastic at the bottom hem. It could be thick or thin, but the idea was that the elastic clung to the body wherever you placed the hem and then the shirt kind of bloused from there. Another way to get the look of a tucked shirt in a no-tuck summer top.
This is definitely one area of my no-tuck summer top wardrobe that could be augmented. I really only have one of these and it’s a really old number I bought at a T.J. Maxx. I haven’t pulled the trigger on any of these elastic hem shirts yet, but a few have caught my eye. Like this green mixed media option and this cutie lemon print top. Basically, I need to go to Loft.
Tie
If you want no-tuck summer tops with a more laid-back look, consider a tie-front top. They make tops that are specifically intended to tie in the front, but you can also accomplish the look of a tied top (in the front or the back) with many of the shirts you already own.
Specific
First, let’s talk about the tie-front tops that were made that way. These can have a little tie right at the bottom in the middle like this striped option from Kohl’s, or they can have an off-center tie that does more waist nipping like this one from Walmart that I’ve had my eye on.
Versatile
If the made-to-tie shirts aren’t for you, you can still accomplish this look with more versatile tops. You can take an oversized button front top and tie it up at the bottom for a cute look. Or you can take any t-shirt you have and gather it in the back with a hair tie. Both of these options take something you already have in your closet and turn it into a perfect no-tuck summer top.
Flowy
Some shirts are just not meant to be tucked in. I love these types of shirts, and I wear them often when I’m wearing something tighter on my bottom half or when I’m feeling a little bloated.
Flowy shirts can be as simple as oversized (think extremely oversized) t-shirts that you wear with leggings or bike shorts. They can also be boho-style tops that evoke those flower child vibes. Whichever flowy style you like, these shirts definitely give a specific look that doesn’t read I didn’t try today.
If you’re someone who likes the oversized t-shirt and bike shorts look, might I suggest a high quality t-shirt from a small shop like Blair Lamb Design? She pulls off this look a lot and she looks so cute. If you’re more of a boho girl, I would suggest something that has a bit of seaming or other detail that makes your flowy look more intentional. This embroidered gauze shirt fits the bill nicely.
Button front
If you have read any of my fashion-related posts, you know that I’m partial to a button front shirt. We could blame this on my personality, my profession, or my mother (who loves a camp shirt). Regardless of what or who is to blame, I have a whole lot of button front shirts in my closet. I wear them tucked in sometimes, but I often keep them untucked and I think they look just as nice. Something about the vertical line of the button placket draws the eye in and makes you look long and lean and oh-so put together.
I have a plethora of options at my disposal when I want to wear a button front shirt. I love my favorite Darby shirt that I own in multiple colors, button-front linen tanks, and button front t-shirts. Give me all the buttons!
Any top
Literally any top can be a no-tuck summer top if you feel good in it. Don’t let people on the internet (including me) convince you that you need to wear any article of clothing any specific way. If you like tunic tops, wear the tunic tops. Do you like to wear plain t-shirts untucked? Those are the perfect no-tuck summer tops for you!
My only advice is that you try a whole bunch of things and see what works for you. Even those things you think won’t work just might be your new favorite styles. Sure, I mean this in the specific context of no-tuck summer tops, but it also works for all clothing types – dresses, pants, shorts (yes, wear the shorts!) – you name it, you should try it!
Other posts
Are you looking for other fashion-related posts? I don’t have a lot, but I do have some that you might want to check out:
I hope you’re feeling confident about your no-tuck summer tops now. See what you have in your closet and then have fun filling in from there! Do you have a favorite no-tuck summer top? Pop the link below or tag me over on Instagram – I’m @sarainseason.