How to style oversized t-shirts – these seven outfit formulas will help you perfectly elevate your favourite tees

Once you've figured out how to style oversized t-shirts, you'll be reaching for them all year round. This simple wardrobe hero can be worn in a myriad of ways, from styling for smart office days to wearing beachside for alfresco dining; the options are endless.

A summer capsule wardrobe is not complete without a collection of oversized t-shirts, but they don't just have to be reserved for lazy days at home or sweaty gym sessions, and they make for the perfect staple when considering what to wear in the heat. An oversized t-shirt is one of the easiest items to dress up or down with endless styling possibilities. From layering underneath sleek tailored blazers for evenings out to pairing with breathable high-street linen every day.

Team with relaxed fabrics like jersey and denim for off-duty days, or elevate your look with pieces like silk slip skirts and heeled mules for more formal occasions. For a more in-depth guide on how to style oversized t-shirts, you can't go wrong with these foolproof outfit formulas that will reframe how you view this slouchy wardrobe basic.

1. How to style oversized t-shirts with a blazer

When it comes to how to style a blazer with an oversized t-shirt, the sharp cut, structured shoulders, and longline length of a classic blazer will make even the baggiest of oversized t-shirts feel smarter. To avoid overwhelming your frame, it’s best to keep your blazer true to size, as long as there’s enough room for your t-shirt to sit comfortably beneath it without ruching the sleeves or adding unwanted volume at the shoulders.

Robing (wearing your blazer over your shoulders like a cape instead of putting your arms through the sleeves) is a chic way to style a blazer if you find your t-shirt is too oversized for straightforward layering. When choosing the colour of your blazer, copy the same hue of your tee, or keep it simple with neutral tones like black, white, or navy.

2. How to style oversized t-shirts with heels

The category of heels is pretty broad, with a vast number of designs coming under the same umbrella; however, we'd recommend a pair of heeled mules or wedge clogs to channel the shoe trends of 2025.

The kind of heels you choose to pair with your oversized t-shirt will depend on the overall feel of your look, the length of your t-shirt, and the occasion. If you're headed out for dinner or a special event, we'd recommend opting for wide leg or flared trouser silhouettes to offset your t-shirt or alternatively, tuck your t-shirt into a satin slip skirt and finish the look with some slingback heels.

3. How to style over-sized t-shirts with shorts

An oversized t-shirt teamed with some shorts is a summer uniform worth wearing on repeat. When it comes to how to style shorts with an oversized tee, for a figure-flattering silhouette, we'd recommend a more fitted pair of shorts to offset the oversized shape of the t-shirt. Alternatively, if you prefer more androgynous styling, boyfriend or Bermuda shorts will help you create that effortlessly oversized look.

To keep the balance, choose a style with a nipped-in waist, half-tuck your tee, or for colour block with a darker shade on either your top or bottom half.

4. How to style oversized t-shirts with jeans

If two pieces were to form a sartorial sisterhood, it would be oversized t-shirts and jeans. The fabrics work perfectly together for an effortless and relaxed feel. But that’s not to say this look can’t cut it for evening or smarter occasions too - you just need to consider the colour, fabrication, and silhouette of both pieces and select the right type of jeans.

For daytime, go as oversized as you like with your t-shirt, rolling up the sleeves to exaggerate the effect, and team with the best wide-leg jeans or boyfriend jeans in mid to light washes (think stone blue through to white).

When it comes to how to style oversized t-shirts for the evening, on the other hand, this requires a slightly more structured silhouette and darker tones. Ideally, your t-shirt should be more subtly oversized (think one or two sizes up from your regular size) rather than all-out baggy. Look for silk jersey fabrics for added luxe and tuck your oversized tee into tapered straight jeans or your best skinny jeans in black or indigo, and finish with a pair of on-trend heeled mules.

5. How to style oversized t-shirts with tailored trousers

Tailored trousers are the backbone of any good wardrobe, and a button-up shirt can sometimes feel too formal, but an oversized t-shirt works wonderfully with your favourite tailoring.

For the whole look to work in synergy, pick up on the hues in your t-shirt and opt for trousers in matching colourways. Or simply opt for neutral tones. How oversized you can go with your t-shirt is dependent on the fabric and cut of your trousers, for more oversized tees choose streamlined trouser silhouettes like straight leg or bootcut.

A top styling tip is to opt for brightly coloured shoes if wearing a neutral outfit, such as crimson red ballet flats like these.

6. How to style oversized t-shirts with skirts

Want to add a cooler edge to a pretty skirt? An oversized t-shirt grounds a skirt look, making them feel slightly more androgynous in the process. For the most flattering fit, make your skirt a high-waisted one. Anything with a low or dropped waist will not only make tucking your t-shirt in tricky, but also mean you lose definition around your middle. To make this look work, you'll want the kind of oversized t-shirt that says you've sized up once or twice, rather than going for something overly baggy; it should feel gently relaxed.

This look is also ideal for hotter days, as you'll get greater airflow to your skin in an oversized t-shirt. Not sure what colour t-shirt to wear with a printed or colour-pop skirt? You can’t go wrong with a classic neutral, such as white t-shirts or a basic, plain black design.

7. How to style oversized t-shirts with trainers

Fully embrace the sporty feel of an oversized t-shirt by teaming yours with your most comfortable trainers. All you need to do is pick a side. The fashion industry is currently divided into two teams when it comes to trainers: sleek and streamlined, or super chunky.

Both styles of trainers are not only extremely practical, making hot-footing around town an all-around comfortable experience, but will keep your oversized t-shirt look feeling suitably relaxed. One of the easiest holiday outfit ideas for any destination, this is an outfit formula you'll turn to over and over again.

FAQs

How to style oversized t-shirts

When it comes to nailing your oversized t-shirt outfit, there are a number of choices. As the look has grown in popularity there are an increasing number of specifically designed pieces from both designer and straight-to-market brands. However, you can also simply size up on a regular tee for a less dramatic look.

“There are brands that offer oversized t-shirts in their ranges, which means you don’t have to think about it too much, as they’re designed intentionally for an oversized look,” explains Farrah May Archer Boadi, Styling Team Lead at Stitch Fix. “However, if you’re shopping standard t-shirts in a larger size then there are various factors to consider - from body and sleeve length, to shoulder seam and neckline.”

“The good thing about buying standard t-shirts in different sizes is that you can control just how oversized you go. Cropped t-shirts are a great style to embrace in larger sizes as they will be wider on the body, with longer-length sleeves and a dipped shoulder seam, but, most importantly, the body length won’t overwhelm your frame," says Farrah. This tip is especially handy for petites, who can feel swamped in swathes of excess cotton.

But don't feel limited to your usual brands and categories.

“It can also be fun to experiment with oversized t-shirts by shopping in the menswear section,” continues Farrah. “A lot of menswear styles aren’t fitted, so they already have a slightly looser fit. Experiment with a few sizes and once you’ve found what menswear size works for you, try French tucking the t-shirt into your jeans and roll up the sleeves for an effortlessly cool look.”

Not au fait with a French tuck? It’s a styling trick that involves just tucking the front of your top in and leaving the back out, drawing attention to your waist without the added bulk of a full tuck. This is a great styling trick for all shapes but is also useful for how to style an oversized t-shirt for plus sizes as the gentle half tuck creates more of an hourglass silhouette, skimming your frame whilst lighting contouring.