How to Style Graphic Tees, the Popular Choice for Self-Expression & Casual Fashion

Graphic tees continue to be a popular choice for self-expression and casual fashion. When have they not been so? As they have been a common wardrobe staple in the past, they will continue into the future as far as my eye can see. Similarly, we’ve worn them in the past and we will wear them in the future…unless you don’t like to. But whether you have one or a lot, wear what you love. Age doesn’t matter. So let me show you how to style graphic tees, starting with a few tips. Then I’ll share outfit ideas for Spring & Summer, Fall & Winter, anytime and easy evenings. 

All references to leather or fur in this post refers to faux leather and faux fur in order to be kind to animals.

How to Style Graphic Tees

If you always think of graphic tees as something comfy to wear around the house, you might be surprised how many new ways you can wear them. There are rock-style tees, animal-motif tees, cute sayings and designs, humorous tees, political statements and more. Therefore, you can be creative with your style and express your true self.

Use what you have to design outfits that make you feel wonderful. You might want to mix prints, be a rock chick or broadcast your thoughts to the world. Layering keeps you warm and interesting. Feminine touches soften the vibe. A blazer or heels elevate the casual look. Sequins, lace or feathers dress you up. 

So I hope you’ll read on, experiment and have fun! 

I used to avoid anything but the shortest of necklaces, thinking they got in the way of the graphic on these t-shirts. A choker works great. But it’s actually okay to let certain necklaces overlap part of the graphic, as long as it’s subtle and goes with the colors and design.

Here are some of simple necklaces to wear with a graphic tee:

• A delicate gold necklace or a gold layered necklace,
• Dainty chains,
• Pearls, 
• Short or medium-length necklaces with colorful charms,
• A long pendant,
• A statement necklace that doesn’t take away from the graphic.

Tip:  pull together your look in a flash by adding any blazer over your jeans & graphic tee.

Spring/Summer Outfits

1. A graphic tee + a floral skirt + slingbacks. Add jewelry of your choice.
2. Wear a graphic tee with a printed skirt. Add a pretty belt + a chunky chain bracelet + sandals.
3. Pair a graphic tee with an animal-print skirt. Add a necklace & sandals.
4. Pair a graphic tee with printed pants.
5. Pair a graphic t-shirt with printed or tie-dyed shorts. 
   

   

6. Tie on a sarong with a graphic tee. This is great over a swimsuit on your way to and from the water.
7. Tuck a fitted graphic tee into a pair of shorts that can be belted. Add earrings.
8. Try a short-sleeve yellow graphic tee with khaki shorts. Add elongated hoop earrings & bracelets.
9. Wear a graphic tee with a maxi skirt & a vest. Add sandals, perhaps gladiator style. Stay neat and cool by putting your hair up.
10. Or, simply wear a fitted graphic tee with a maxi skirt. For example, wear your tee with a tiered maxi skirt & flat tan sandals. 
    

    

11. Pair a graphic tee with striped pants. Add a strand of beads and flip flops.
12. Pair a graphic tee with palazzo pants. 
13. A graphic tee + any bottoms + a lightweight ruana. 

Use the basic jeans & a tee idea: 

1. A graphic tee + ripped jeans + a kimono or duster.
2. Jean shorts & a graphic tee. You might like to belt it. Add a gold layered necklace + sandals + maybe a bangle.
3. A short-sleeve gray graphic t-shirt + jean shorts accessorized with black heeled sandals, some rings, a big black bag & sunglasses (sunnies.)
4.  Front tuck a graphic tee into blue jeans. Belt it and top with a vest (such as crochet, fringed, sequined, etc.) Add beads (necklaces, earrings, bracelets) & moccasins. 
5. Simply top off your jeans & graphic tee with a straw hat. 

Fall/Winter Outfits

1. Day to Evening:  With a graphic t-shirt and velvet pants (from leggings to lounge to trousers) add a faux leather jacket or faux fur vest. Add a ton of bangles.
2. Take a gray graphic t-shirt and black pants. Top with a gray & black duster, kimono or cardigan.
3. Or, start with any printed duster, kimono or cardigan and pair a graphic tee and pants in the colors of the topper.
4. Warm up with a chunky, cozy cardigan over a long-sleeve graphic tee and blue jeans.
5. Layer a thermal top under a short-sleeve graphic tee & blue jeans. Add a long muffler.
6. A black graphic tee + blue jeans + a black leather jacket. Add a leopard scarf.
7. Pair a graphic tee with cargo pants.

Outfits With Faux Leather Pants or Skirt

1. A rock tee goes perfectly with a leather skirt or pants.
2. Top a graphic tee and a faux leather skirt with a bomber jacket. Add nude heels.
3. Pair a graphic tee with a black leather skirt. Add peep-toe booties. You might like to add a necklace, such as a statement metal necklace or a multi-strand bead necklace.
4. A black graphic tee + black leather pants + a jean jacket. Add sneakers & sunglasses if sunny.
5. A black moto jacket + a black graphic tee + leather pants. You might like to add sneakers, a big gold watch or silver ID bracelet and/or a spiked bracelet…or any spiked jewelry.

Graphic Tee Outfits to Wear Anytime

Since these outfits are not obviously cold-weather or warm-weather looks, they are good for transitional weather. Or, they can be useful anytime throughout the year that they comfortably fit the occasion.

1. Slip a graphic tee over or under a slip dress. If cool, add layers and/or boots. For more about layering slip dresses, see my post “Does a Slip Dress Really Have to be Sexy?”
2. Tuck a black graphic tee into a black crinkle maxi skirt. Add black heeled boots. If warm, wear perforated or cut-out booties. If cool, you might like to add leggings under the skirt.
3. A graphic tee + a sequined skirt + combat boots.
4. Pair a short-sleeve graphic tee with a velvet maxi skirt. Add sneakers. 
   

   

5. A graphic tee + trousers. You might like to add a blazer.
6. A black blazer + black graphic tee + black skinnies. Add moto boots. Cuff the blazer sleeves.
7. A graphic tee + a toned duster cardigan in a cozy material + any bottoms. You might like to add  long earrings + silver & turquoise bracelets + rings + flat comfortable sandals.
8. A blazer + a graphic tee + bottoms of your choice.

Using Basic Jeans & a Tee

1. Tip #1:  Pair jeans & a graphic tee. When leaving the house, add a cool blazer.
2. Tip #2:  Spice up a black rock tee & black jeans with leopard-print footwear.
3. With a graphic tee and jeans, add a black blazer or black leather blazer. You might like to roll back the blazer sleeves & add a bracelet. 
   

   

4. A gray graphic tee over a long-sleeve ivory lace top
5. Layer a long-sleeve black lace top under a black graphic tee+ blue jeans. Add booties.
6. Pair a graphic tee with black or blue jeans. Add a pearl necklace. If cool, add a jean jacket or a blazer or a chunky cardigan or a fur-collar cardi & over-the-knee boots. 
   

   

7. A graphic tee + distressed jeans + a jean jacket. Layer some dainty necklaces. Good for transitional weather.
8. Wear a navy printed duster over a graphic tee and blue jeans. Or, wear a graphic tee and any-color jeans with a printed duster based on the color of your jeans (i.e., a white printed duster with white jeans or a black printed duster with black jeans.) You might like to wear a chunky chain bracelet and a statement ring. Add ankle boots or footwear of your choice.  
9. Top a graphic tee & distressed jeans with a boyfriend cardigan. Add cool sneaks.
10. Wear a vest or blazer over a graphic tee & distressed jeans. Add sneakers.

Easy Evening Outfits With a Graphic Tee

Tip:  Elevate a graphic tee outfit by wearing heels.

1. Casual Dinner:  Pair a rock tee with a long denim skirt. Add platform footwear. 
   

   

2. Pair a black graphic tee with a black chiffon skirt. Or, wear any graphic tee and chiffon skirt in a matching color. You might like to add heeled sandals.
3. Pair a graphic tee with a lace or tulle skirt.
4. A graphic tee + a sequined skirt or pants. Or, pair a graphic tee with a silk skirt or pants. Add sneakers or boots. 
5. For a fun casual evening, add a boa (a long feather scarf) to a white graphic tee & black pants.

I hope I’ve made the graphic tee more fun for you to wear.

There are lots of new political tees during times of change. So this might be a good time to pick up something new.

I’d love to hear from you. Your comments always bring up new ideas and discoveries. So please share your thoughts with us.  

Let’s Connect!

Let me know if this was helpful to you. Did you get inspired with new outfit combinations using these tips and ideas?  Please leave a reply in the comments below!

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Angie

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