As someone who is always a bit overdressed for everything, styling casual pieces in an elevated way is one of my favorite things to do. T-shirts are a closet staple for me but I rarely dress them down. I like using them as layering tools or as the foundation of my outfit before adding accessories. T-shirts will always be a wardrobe essential no matter the season and there are many ways to style them in a modern and stylish way. T-shirts are usually associated with casual wear, but there are so many ways to style and elevate them to look more polished. If you love the comfort of wearing t-shirts but aren’t sure how to wear them in a stylish way, this blog post will give you a ton of inspiration. I’ll be sharing a roundup of ways to wear t-shirts in style.
How To Style a T-Shirt
Wearing a t-shirt is easy but styling one is a bit harder. I’ll share some tips on how I wear t-shirts in an elevated way and hopefully this will help you see the t-shirts in your closet in a different light. Before we even get into styling t-shirt outfits, it’s important to evaluate your t-shirts and get rid of any that are discolored, stretched out, don’t fit anymore, etc. I try to buy one or two new t-shirts in spring and fall so I can rotate through them and not have to reach for the same one over and over.
For more tips on classic style and how to create the perfect wardrobe, check out my posts on how to style wide leg jeans, how to dress casual and the wardrobe essentials to give your closet an instant upgrade.
What T-Shirts Are in Style?
I always stick with classic fits and shapes over anything too trendy. Band tees go in and out of style so I would skip those in favor of solid color t-shirts. A simple v-neck or crewneck tee will always be timeless and will always look modern and fresh. Most of my t-shirts are in basic and/or neutral colors because that provides the most versatility in terms of wear. Try to skip the bright colors or any graphic tee which can look dated quickly and will limit your styling options. A simple black or white t-shirt is a must have for every closet. If you do want to have a few colors in rotation, stick with neutrals such as brown or army green. Striped tees will always be a great choice but only buy them after you have a good solid base of classic neutral t-shirts.
Sleeve length is another feature that is entirely up to each person and their lifestyle but I recommend a short sleeve option and a long sleeve option first. A cap sleeve or muscle tee can be tricky so I usually test out a few options from various brands to see which fit I prefer. But a safe rule of thumb is to go classic – the more classic the better. While there are a ton of affordable t-shirts available, I like to invest in at least one or two high quality styles to put into rotation.
What To Wear With a T-Shirt?
Denim
A t-shirt and jeans is always a great combination. But if you want to wear a t-shirt with jeans, choose a pair of denim that looks more polished and dressy. Perhaps a wide leg or trouser style denim, or even a slimmer straight leg style would be your preference. Avoid any distressing or overly embellished details on the denim and opt for a timeless dark wash or medium wash classic fit.
Blazers
A blazer with a t-shirt and denim was one of my favorite looks to wear to the office years ago. We had a business casual dress code and I loved wearing a simple white tee and a structured blazer with denim. It manages to straddle the line between casual and dressy in the most perfect way.
Trousers
I no longer work in an office but trousers are a regular staple in my wardrobe. I love dressing trousers down with some cute (non-athletic) sneakers, a t-shirt and bold accessories. A t-shirt with trousers is a great foundation to build any type of outfit around. Throw on a blazer, cardigan, heels, flats, studded belt, statement necklace – the possibilities are endless.
Cardigans
Layering a t-shirt under a cardigan is a great styling tip that I learned years ago. You can leave the cardigan closed and have the collar of the tee peeking out from the top or unbutton a few buttons to show the tee – either way it creates dimension with an outfit by adding that simple t-shirt layer.
Statement Necklaces
Your closet could be full of nothing but simple classic pieces but as soon as you add a statement necklace, the entire outfit shifts. It instantly creates more interest and becomes the focal point of the look.
How To Wear a T-Shirt in Style
T-Shirt with a Blazer
I’m combing a few of my recommendations in this look by adding a structured blazer and statement necklace to a simple white tee and jeans. There is something about the sharpness of a blazer with the softness of a tee that creates the perfect balance.
Outfit details: Blazer (similar) | Tee | Jeans | Shoes | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses | Necklace (discount code: MAREE20) | Belt
T-Shirt with a Trench Coat
Another outerwear piece that I like to wear as the entire outfit is a trench coat. Depending on the style, it can be a statement piece in itself so opting for a simple tee underneath is the best option.
Outfit details: Trench (similar) | Tee (similar) | Jeans | Shoes | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses
T-shirt with Straight Leg Jeans
In essence this outfit is a t-shirt and jeans. But focusing on the drapey well tailored fit of the t-shirt combined with the classic line of the straight leg jeans and it instantly looks polished. I decided to make the outfit even more interesting by adding a statement belt and some jewelry.
Outfit details: Tee | Jeans | Shoes | Bag (similar) | Belt | Sunglasses | Necklace (code: MAREE20)
T-shirt with Denim Shorts
Another example of how accessories can really make the outfit. There is a bit of distressing on the shorts which gives them a casual vibe so I balanced that with some cute woven flats and bold jewelry.
Outfit details: Tee | Shorts | Shoes | Bag | Sunglasses | Necklace | Belt
T-shirt with Statement Accessories
Here is the small bit of color I have in my t-shirt collection which still looks quite neutral and can be easily styled with tons of pieces in my closet. I chose my studded belt again with a statement necklace to instantly elevate an otherwise plain outfit. Don’t underestimate the power of accessories!
Outfit details: Tee | Jeans | Belt | Shoes | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses | Necklace (code: MAREE20)
T-shirt with Wide Leg Jeans
I’ve tried a handful of different cap sleeve/muscle tees and this one had the best fit. The slight bit of sleeve makes the tee look less casual and I wanted to style it with a pair of wide leg jeans because the wider neckline/cap sleeve paired well with the wider fit of the jeans.
Outfit details: Tee | Jeans | Belt | Sandals | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses
T-shirt with a Slip Skirt
Here’s a great way to style a t-shirt with a skirt and make it appropriate for a dressier occasion. I layered it under a cardigan which is more of the focus of the outfit but I still like the casual mix of the tee and skirt as the base. For an outfit like this, I decided on a fitted tee rather than something loose or blousy. The fitted tee mimics the fitted style of the skirt and creates the perfect base outfit that can easily be styled with any cardigan in my closet.
Outfit details: Cardigan (similar) | Tee | Skirt (similar) | Bag (similar) | Shoes | Sunglasses
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