Styling Secrets: The T-Shirt

I am always, always overdressed. The other day I wore a black, bodycon Express dress to go to the supermarket. Yeah, it’s that bad. Because of this tendency towards more dressy looks, I almost never wear t-shirts. But recently, after a talk with my friend Jenni, I’ve been revisiting the style staple. Jenni designs t-shirts independently through Redbubble (see her work here) and asked me for some advice on wearing t-shirts in a fashionable way. This is what I came up with:

Some tips: When trying to dress up a t-shirt, I usually avoid wearing it with jeans. Tucking your tee into a skirt, a high waisted pair of shorts, or some printed trousers will automatically take it to the next level. I also highly recommend adding jewelry. I used a statement necklace to class up the simple v-neck but a pendant necklace, an armful of bangles, or some unique earrings could work just as well.

Layer, layer, layer. Putting a jacket, blazer, or sweater over a t-shirt makes it part of an ensemble, not a stand alone piece. Here I used a blazer but I also recommend a leather jacket as an easy way to add interest to a t-shirt. See my example here. Working in a more sophisticated color pallet also helps make your t-shirt seem more fashionable. For this purpose I generally graviate towards neutrals, black, taupe, grey etc. But navy, oxblood, or forest green will do the trick as well.

Footwear is another great way to dress up a t-shirt. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to wear five inch studded heels. (Although, how gorgeous are these beauties?) I would suggest avoiding casual, sporty footwear such as sneakers, boat shoes, and Toms. Pairing your t-shirt instead with flats, heels, or boots gives it a more sophisticated, put-together look.

Blazer: TJ Maxx, Shirt: Custom (see here), Skirt: Forever21, Shoes: Steve Madden, Necklace: Forever21

Photos are mine.