It’s not difficult to amass a collection of t-shirts. A few concert purchases, picking up one or two to wear to sporting events to support your favorite team, or simply buying one because you love the design. However, they can look juvenile and be tough to wear unless you are attending the aforementioned sports or event, running errands, or other ultra-casual activities.
For the sake of this post, we’ll use this WGACA Vintage Queen Vintage Concert Tee tee as an example, but these recommendations would work for a variety of tees, as long as they fit well – save the inexpensive boxy tees for the gym.
Blazers – topping your tee with a blazer is the easiest way to make it look more adult. Throw this gray and black OASAP jacket on over the t-shirt, add skinny jeans, and you’re set.
Full Skirts – while this can be a risky move, tucking a tee into a full or a-line skirt can be a distinctive look that can toughen up an otherwise girly skirt like this shimmery charcoal number by Pink Tartan. A pair of relatively classic pumps and statement earrings or stack of bracelets completes the look.
Pencil Skirts – tucking a tee into a pencil skirt with a coordinating cardigan or scarf on top can work well. Just choose a skirt in a relatively similar fabric, like this one by Gabriella Rocha, since anything too “business-like” almost always looks like a mismatch.
Maxi Skirts – tucking your graphic tee is an easy casual summer look that’s a good way to keep cool, just choose something in cotton or jersey with a defined waist like this cobalt blue maxi by Splendid.
Moto Jackets – with colorful skinny jeans or twill pants, moto jackets paired with a graphic tee can be edgy and modern. This inexpensive vegan option by Free People is a great choice for spring.
Button-ups – wearing the tee over a button-up like this lemon yellow option by G-Star can totally change the look. Something patterned like this worn with skinny jeans and boots or shorts and wedges is an interesting take on a preppy staple.
Overall, there are a few simple rules to wearing a graphic tee without looking like you raided a 14-year-old’s closet or you’re headed to the gym – keep everything else polished, let the pattern be the focal point, and stick to tees that fit you well (oversize t-shirts almost always looks sloppy).
1. WGACA Vintage Queen Vintage Concert Tee, $248
2. Oversized Notched Collar Color Block Slim Blazer, $98
3. Pink Tartan Shimmer Skirt, $295
4. Gabriella Rocha Mallori Ponte Skirt (Burgundy), $36
5. Splendid Modal Lycra Maxi Skirt, $79
6. Free People Vegan Leather Sunburst Moto Jacket, now $169.99
7. G-Star Denim Chambray Shirt, $150
–Jacqueline Zenn
Image Layout: Ronshulay Pennington
