10 Ways to Style a Graphic T-Shirt

To say fashion is circular would elicit a Liz Lemon worthy eye roll from most, but the fact remains that you will often find yourself shopping for pieces from your past. Enter the graphic t-shirt—it's simple yet cool and perhaps the missing link to exude ease and confidence with your fashion. This isn’t like your high school days when you threw on a tissue tee with a quirky saying (Live. Laugh. Love. Anyone?) and some low-rise jeans. The current trend of mixing high and low styles is where today's graphic tee lives comfortably. 

Think of a graphic tee as your way of adding a bit of flair to an otherwise formal outfit, like a blazer and trousers combo or paired with a mini-skirt. Take a favorite vintage tee or band t-shirt to create outfits that give off a sense of nonchalance and in-the-know of what’s on trend. It can be a great addition to any outfit that needs that extra bit of visual impact without resorting to a plain blouse.

Ahead, you’ll find 10 fashion-forward ways to style a graphic t-shirt. 

With Mixing Patterns

If you're a maximalist who loves playing with colors and mixing patterns, a graphic t-shirt can be worn as a neutral option in your outfit arsenal. Choose a shirt in either white or black as the base color to balance out a plethora of patterns. Think of this as the time to have fun with your look and show off your styling skills by combining unexpected combinations.

Style with a tee using a smaller graphic if your outfit incorporates large-scale prints and vice versa for smaller prints.

With an Oversized Suit

Easily one of the most popular ways to style a graphic t-shirt is with a matching oversized suit. A seasonless look that works for the office, evening drinks with friends, or attending an art exhibit. A graphic tee gives a suit an easygoing feel without bordering on shlumpy, something we can all strive for in an outfit.

With a Mini-Skirt and Men's Jacket

A great example of high/low dressing is mixing a mini-skirt and a simple graphic band tee. This combo gives you the opportunity to show off both a bit of your personality but also your polished style. Extra points if the T-shirt has been worn and loved. Pair the flirty look with a men's evening jacket for a sharp yet sweet outfit that feels cool no matter the setting.

With a Sophisticated Silk Skirt

A cheeky graphic T-shirt can anchor a standout jewel-toned, midi-length skirt. Keep the look chic with tall boots and a graphic T-shirt in equally bright colors to complement your statement skirt. Again, it's all about mixing sophistication with a touch of rebellion.

Over a Long Sleeve Shirt

The familiar style from the early aughts of layering your graphic t-shirt over a long-sleeved shirt is back and updated for grown-up you. For a modern, relaxed take on the look, grab an oversized graphic tee to wear over a loose-fitting long-sleeved t-shirt and finish the outfit off with a pair of boyfriend-cut jeans.

With a Sweater Set

Who knew a twin set could be edgy or cool?! Your prim and preppy sweater and skirt set gets a visual update with a graphic t-shirt. Either keep things streamlined with a tee in similar colors and simple text for a modern monochromatic look as seen above, or mix with a bright graphic to shake off the waspy notions of a matchy-matchy outfit.

With a Leather Jacket

There’s a reason the Ramones are still the standard bearers of punk rock. Their uniform of pairing a graphic t-shirt with a leather biker jacket is the definition of effortless counter-culture style. Layer your favorite band tee under a distressed leather jacket to channel your inner Joey Ramone. A maxi denim skirt and sneakers add a bit of femininity to soften the look. 

With a Canadian Tuxedo

The Canadian tuxedo is here to stay. Let a graphic T-shirt breathe new life into this blue staple ensemble. Breaking up a denim-on-denim outfit with a boldly colored graphic T-shirt is a surefire way to update this classic laid-back suit. Adding a pair of heels adds that extra touch of style.

With Tailored Shorts

Less business and more casual, a tailored short gets an injection of cool with a vintage-inspired graphic tee. Similar to the sweater set, a tailored shirt and blazer matched with a printed t-shirt lend this look a bit of edge, especially when paired with heavy-soled combat boots. 

With a Monochrome Look

Bright monochrome matching from head to toe is the perfect palette choice to style with a vintage graphic t-shirt. A black and white tee can create a well-placed visual break between the saturated hues of a pink knit jacket and bubblegum parachute pants. Finish with contrasting accessories to round out this singularly colored outfit.

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