How To Make A T Shirt Stylish | 5-7 Ways To Dress Up A T-Shirt

Ever heard a guy say this?

“Yeah, I’m not stylish – I’m just a T-shirt and jeans type of guy”.

Great!

I love t-shirts.

They’re a classic piece for a man’s wardrobe.

But you can still wear T-shirts AND be incredibly stylish.

It all comes down to a few key elements.

The mantra that one is unstylish simply because they don’t wear a suit & tie every day is a myth.

Keep reading for ways you can dress up a T-shirt & look AWESOME.

T-Shirt Style Tip #1 – Nail The Fit

Wearing a shirt is like making a cake – you need an exact amount of sugar so it tastes just right. For t-shirts, it’s all about getting the right fit.

A shirt that’s too big makes the fabric “bunch up” and the sleeves and waist look sloppy. A shirt that’s too small can make you look and feel constricted. The key to avoiding both issues is to know your body type.

A perfect fitting t-shirt will conform to your body, while still giving you comfort and freedom of movement. Fit highlights your masculinity.

The principles of a well-fitted t-shirt:

• The t-shirt is long enough that you’ll be able to tuck it into your pants. It extends past your hipbone and covers the waistband slightly.

• Sleeves are fitted around your arms and don’t flare out. Ideally, they don’t extend to the elbows (if your arms are muscular, look for slightly shorter sleeves or fold the sleeves up).

• The t-shirt slightly follows the curve of your torso (but not too tight since this can make the stomach more visible).

• Seams lie perfectly on the edges of your shoulders.

• With your arms raised, there shouldn’t be a big gap around the neck area.

T-Shirt Style Tip #2 – Choose A Good Fabric

If you want a kickass shirt – the material itself has to kick butt. Even though t-shirts may have the same color and design, different fabrics = different results.

Fabric affects overall performance. So make it habit to read the label on a t-shirt not just for the price, but also to find out how the shirt was made.

Here are some fabric materials that might work for your personal style:

Organic Cotton

• A soft material from cotton that was grown with minimal pesticides/fertilizers
• It’s more expensive than treated cotton

Pima

• The highest grade of cotton which has extra long fibers
• It resists stretching, pilling, fading – and gets softer with every wear

Merino

• A special wool (you can wear a shirt made of 100% Merino for 1 week before it starts to smell)
• It’s an excellent choice for traveling
• It’s used for some of the more expensive shirts

Bamboo

• A soft, breathable material that gives the shirt a nice sheen
• It’s used for higher-end clothing

Polyester

• A fabric material that’s light and quick-drying (but not very breathable)
• It maintains its shape well and resists shrinkage/wrinkling

Jersey

• A comfortable and flexible material that’s typically made of a cotton/synthetic blend.

Bonus T-Shirt Style Tip – Leverage A Nice Accessory

By no means should your t-shirt be sparkly or have shiny embroidery (it’s a rather tacky look).

What you need is a classic touch – coming from a classic accessory – to make your style stand out even more. When people spot it, they think it looks awesome on you.

Elegant men’s watches fall into that category. I happen to know this fantastic company Original Grain – which handcrafts some amazing “minimalist” watch styles.

Using exotic hardwood and 316L stainless steel, they prove that watches under $200 don’t have to be of poor quality or have cookie-cutter designs. Check out Original Grain for their unique watch collections.

T-Shirt Style Tip #3 – Make It A V-Neck

The cardinal rule to rocking a t-shirt: make sure it does NOT resemble an undershirt. That’s why the V-neck – with a neckline that doesn’t overexpose the chest – is such an effective style.

V-necks aren’t just unique t-shirts. They’re made to “add” height and width to your overall appearance. Unlike typical crew necks, these shirt styles expose your neck more and make it look bigger. They balance out any disproportions you may have (such as a narrow face or a shorter neck).

However, don’t go overboard with the cut of the neckline. You’ll want to stay away from boat necks and scoop necks – only a select group of fashionable men can pull off those styles.

 

T-Shirt Style Tip #4 – Go For A Classic Color

You can’t go wrong with the basics – black, gray and navy. These colors have done wonders for men’s style throughout time.

Take note: white isn’t included since most undershirts come in that color. It’s better not to risk looking underdressed (unless it’s a white V-neck).

Gray

• Gray comes in different shades, which makes it flexible for both darker and brighter outfits. A gray shirt also enhances your body shape.

Black

• Black is another versatile option that matches up well with most clothing combinations. The only problem is this shirt color tends to fade quickly.

Navy

• In the daytime, it’s better to go with navy than black. This color also works well for tonal looks when the shirt is combined with jeans (meaning the clothes “unite” and don’t clash).

T-Shirt Style Tip #5 – Put A Vest On

Wearing a vest is a good way to add maturity to your look. People tend to associate vests with older men who are wealthy or have good taste.

So if you’re trying to catch a woman’s eye, it helps to have the perfect vest on for more sophistication. Make sure that your shirt is tightly tucked under the vest.

Good tucking will keep any shirt fabric from “ballooning” in little puffs from the bottom – which tends to draw more attention to your waist.

T-Shirt Style Tip #6 – Put A Sports Jacket On

You can add more ruggedness to your look with a good-quality sports jacket.

Some features that make them very stylish are the ticket pockets, arm patches, and pleats. They accentuate masculinity – and we can trace it back to their origin as a gentleman’s sporting attire.

To match up a jacket with your shirt – the first thing you should pay attention to is the collar. There should be some similarity between the jacket’s collar shape and the shirt’s neckline. You can refer to this guide to choosing the right sports jacket.

T-Shirt Style Tip #7 – Wear Dark Wash, Well-Fitted Jeans

Denim has this uncanny ability to make your whole outfit sexier – including the shirt you have on. So find jeans that complement your body type.

Pick dark blue because it’s the most versatile, and you can use these pants to dress up/down based on the occasion. Take your style a step further by turning the jeans into a dark wash pair.

You can produce a darker hue and pattern through vintage wash, stone wash or acid wash. This helps prevent the jeans from looking too faded – which is good for men who wear them regularly.