Well Hung

At some point in my adult years there has been a serious disconnect between manufacturers of trousers and makers of shirts.

I know that in the current upheaval and unrest on a global, regional and national scale that this rift in the fashion world should be amongst the least of my worries but when walking along a street in full view of the public there is nothing worse than finding that my shirt tail is hanging out.

To a person like myself who has a certain professional image to portray the detachment of shirt tails from waistband assumes some significance.

I do, of course, have a belt and I have been known to wear braces but there is something, more fundamental in play.

There has been a change in styling and sizing of formal work shirts over the last 20 to 30 years. From post war generous cuts and long tails, intended to cater for wearing an undershirt or vest as was the expectation the movement has been to a slimmer fit with sharper non ballooning tailoring.

In order to maximise the profits of manufacturers there has been a noticeable cut back in the amount of cloth used and there, frankly, lies the problem of my involuntary undressing on a public street.

I am comforted in the knowledge that my particular problem is one that has inspired many, many hours of thought and design.

A number of patents have been issued to keep shirts  tucked into trousers.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,993 entitled “Shirt-Locking Device,” provides a pin type means for fastening a sliding weight upon the lower portions of a shirt or the side of an undergarment to retain the shirt from becoming un-tucked by a double or two part fastening means.

There is more;

U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,923 entitled “Shirt Hold-Down Device,” discloses a central elastomeric web or harness arrangement, having concave sides to accommodate an individual's groin area, with a plurality of tethers extending longitudinally and laterally upwardly from the central web, with each tether including a clip-type fastener for securing to a perimeter portion of an individual's shirt to prevent it from riding upwardly.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,669 for “Clothing Anchor Apparatus,” is in the form of a garter type apparatus for securing in the crotch area and attached to the lower edge of a shirt to retain the shirt in position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,393 entitled “Clothing Combination Comprising A Self-Releasing Bonding Means,” discloses an arrangement for maintaining a shirts and pants or a shorts and shirt combination together by means of hook and loop material which is said to provide a self releasing arrangement.

U.S. published application 2004/0154069 is for an “Adjustable Shirt-Tapering System,” for the use of hook and loop fastenings for forming custom fitted as it were shirt-tails to prevent the shirt from becoming untucked and presenting a messy and untidy appearance.

While there have been previous developments or technologies going back well into the 19th century , most of the prior art technologies have required mechanical modifications which have interfered in one way or another with the normal use and comfort of the clothing.

A perfect solution is still awaited.

My affliction of always fidgeting with my shirt tails will no doubt persist.