How to Style a T-Shirt: The Complete Guide for Men
October 07, 2021

How to Style a T-Shirt: The Complete Guide for Men

T-shirts — they serve a dual service in our society. On the one hand, they represent the pinnacle of relaxation, comfort, and anti-fashion. On the other hand, if you want to learn how to be fashionable, you have to learn how to style a t-shirt.

T-shirt styling is one of the biggest traps of men's fashion. The ease of throwing on a t-shirt can make men forget just how impactful it can be when it's worn right.

Do you want to unlock the secret power of the t-shirt? Then you've come to the right place.

This article will walk you through a few style tips to make sure your men's t-shirts always look perfect.

Get a Proper Fit

The number one thing that kills a T-shirt look for men is the fit of the T-shirt.

The wrong color, wrong pants, and wrong design can also hurt your fashion — and we'll talk about those later — but what turns a T-shirt from a fashion staple to a representation of laziness is, at the end of the day, how the shirt fits.

To understand the importance of the fit of t-shirts, you have to learn a little history lesson.

Before the 1950s, T-shirts existed. However, they existed only as undershirts. Sure, you might see your Dad wearing one when he was fixing the house, and you might see GI's walking around in them, but no one wore them in fashionable society.

When Marlon Brando hit the scene in Streetcar Named Desire, nothing was the same. In this movie, Marlon played a working-class man who almost always wore a T-shirt. The fit of the T-shirt on his body made everyone realize, however, that the T-shirt could be a very fashionable option.

When you wear a T-shirt as a man, your either invoke Marlon Brando or your Dad when he was fixing the house. There's no in-between. With the right T-shirt, you can be a master of sex appeal; with the wrong T-shirt, you're a dud.

Neckline and Armline

The key to a well-fighting T-shirt is a good armline and neckline. The shirt should cling snugly to your arm and neck. This will help enhance your form, and show the world that you're confident.

Shirts with baggy necklines and armlines make you look small and inward-facing. While this might be nice for hanging around the house, it's not a look that you want to show off to the world.

If all you have to work with is a loose t-shirt, we recommend tucking it into your pants. The tension will create a fit that's more desirable and could save your baggy shirt look.

However, we also recommend not only having baggy shirts to work with.

Head over to JasperHollandCo.com for the best T-shirts out there. This brand has proved time and again that they care about the neckline, they care about how your T-shirt fits on your arm, and they care about men's fashion.

Don't let your T-shirt prevent you from looking your best. Instead, use this standard article of clothing to create something amazing.

Go Minimal

T-shirts are one of the most casual articles of clothing out there. Because of this, they're the go-to shirt for logos and designs. Go out to any public place, and you're more likely to see shirts with writing on them than you are solid color T-shirts.

However, we recommend you go as minimal as possible.

Though they might have been popular in the early 2000s, graphic T's are definitely out. They are gaudy, over-the-top designs that just don't work for today's fast-past ironic world.

We also recommend staying away from any T-shirt with a joke or witticism on it. Humor is subjective, but the internet has vastly influenced the way people think. Posing yourself as the "funny person" by wearing the funny shirt simply doesn't connect the way it used to.

A solid one-color shirt is always a strong option. You can style it up with a necklace, some nice pants, or a long-sleeved shirt that you throw on over. There's nothing wrong with a shirt that doesn't call attention to itself.

We also recommend wearing t-shirts with subtle brand logos on them. This shows that you care about fashion. Fashion companies also usually have sleek logo designs.

Wear the Right Pants

Your pair of pants can make or break your shirt. You have to know what look you're going for when you decide on your pants, so you can make the shirt shine.

We recommend making use of color theory. With T-shirts, go for a complimentary look — two colors on the opposite side of the color spectrum.

This means black jeans with a white t-shirt, brown pants with a purple t-shirt, red chinos with a blue t-shirt, and so on.

With the right pants, even the most bland, most casual t-shirt can become a fashion statement. Marlon Brando didn't wear a specially designed T-shirt after all. It was all about how he wore it.

Belt Magic

Another key concept in learning how to dress a t-shirt is learning how to use a belt. Belts aren't just for keeping your pants off. They can work as the perfect interface between the upper half of your outfit and the lower half.

If you have a t-shirt that doesn't draw too much attention, consider tucking it into your belt. This works particularly well when you have a nice pair of shoes that matches your belt. It's a great way to turn a casual outfit into something special.

Learn How to Style a T-Shirt

T-shirts are a strange beast in the world of men's fashion. On the one hand—they can make you look schlubby. On the other hand—they can turn you into Marlon Brando.

It all depends on whether or not you know how to style a T-shirt.

Make sure you wear a proper fit, find a great company to shop with, stay away from graphic T's, and wear the right pants. If you do this, your t-shirt fashion will shine.

For more articles like this, check out our section dedicated to men.

How to Style a T-Shirt