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This year has seen a revival of many favorite Y2K trends, including the beloved graphic tee. Although if we’re being honest, graphic tees have been a timeless staple in some way or the other since their first appearance in the 1980s. The sassy slogans and fun art work are a great way to showcase personality through style. You’ll see variations with big political messages, or sometimes it’s not that deep, and it’s just fun. But the best part about these shirts is their versatility. I would equate it to a plain white t-shirt—it’s a classic piece that can be dressed up or dressed down for almost any occasion. If you have one of these in your wardrobe, you automatically have so many looks that you can create from this one shirt. So how can you build these looks? Here’s our favorite ways to style a graphic tee.
Starting with the most simple and classic. Graphic tees and denim go together like peanut butter and jelly. There’s so many ways to style the two together, but my personal favorite is by taking an oversized graphic tee and tying it into a front knot or tucking it in, while sporting a pair of wide or straight legged denim bottoms. A classic pair of jeans will go with anything, especially this pair from American Eagle that can be used with many other outfits in your closet. While this seems like a fairly simple and obvious pairing, a great way to play with it and elevate it is to pair the outfit with some open-toed kitten heels or sling-backs, like this pair from Lulu’s.
A favorite trend from the summer, maxi skirts became a staple in so many of our closets. Whether it’s a tiered white skirt or a satin slip skirt, these were my favorite bottoms to pair with almost any top. This outfit pairing is one of my personal favorites because of the balance between the casual and the more formal. If you’re pairing this with a tiered flowy skirt, wear a more fitted and cropped graphic tee to build contrast. My personal favorite is this one from Pacsun, as the length hits at the perfect point and the silhouette is super flattering. Alternatively, you could go with a regular or slightly larger fitted shirt and a fitted slip skirt, like this cream one from Lulu’s, to build the same contrast in reverse.
In warm or cold weather, wide leg pants are great because they’re roomy enough to keep you cool but still covered enough to keep you warm. Especially in the in-between seasons when you’re not quite sure how to dress for the weather. This is a great look to put together. Wearing a regular fit graphic tee allows the other elements to shine through the shape and silhouette, or even color. These linen pants from Halara come in a variety of colors, and while they are made from a more comfortable and casual fabric, the tailoring makes the outfit feel more complete. The cardigan can be layered on as a sweater or even draped over and sit on your shoulders as a chic accessory. A light cropped one, like this one from Lulu’s, makes it easier to carry around. This is another one of those effortless looks that still looks put together and chic.
This look is the epitome of how to dress up a graphic tee and make it look more polished. The contrast from the sophisticated blazer with a more casual graphic tee makes the outfit interesting, but then adding in the femininity of a pair of ballet flats just completes the look. A great way to combine femininity with polish is this blazer and flats combination from Lulu’s. The lighter colors make it look more delicate, but the shape of the blazer gives more structure to the outfit. It’s a great business casual look that can be worn either to work or simply out for a meal during the day.
This is a playful way to style the already playful graphic tee. There are so many variations of this outfit that can either lean into a more youthful aesthetic or something more grungy. A flowy pleated skirt will lean into the fun and youthful nature of the shirt or if you’d want a more grown-up version that’s still playful go for a more fitted skirt, like this corduroy one from Lulu’s that is perfect for the fall. These would pair well with combat boots or Chelsea boots, something a little heavier that hits at the ankle and give a more grungy look.
Graphic tees are so versatile for day-to-day outfits. They can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and come in so many styles. The best part about them is the ability to give more personality to your look and speak through your outfits, making it so unique to you. We've even included some of our favorite graphic tees to pair with these looks.
