RIP to the White Tee—Wear This Unexpected Top If You Want to Dress Like a Fashion Person
Just when you thought there was nothing new to say about the humble T-shirt, the fashion set found a way to make it feel exciting again. This summer, white tees are out, and dopamine shirts are in.
Before you panic— No, we're not suggesting you toss every white T-shirt you own. The classic staple will always have a place in our closets. But if you've been paying even the slightest attention to what the fashion crowd is wearing lately, you've probably noticed a colorful shift taking place. Instead of reaching for a plain white tee, the style set is swapping it out for bright, saturated versions in shades like cherry red, Yves Klein blue, olive green, and even neon yellow.
The best part about the rising colorful t-shirt trend is that the styling is nearly identical to how you'd style a basic white tee. Think relaxed jeans, breezy linen pants, denim shorts, easy slip skirts, and your favorite sandals. The formula hasn't changed—only the color has. That one simple swap instantly makes an outfit feel fresher, more intentional, and, dare we say, a little more fashion-person-coded without requiring any extra effort. It's proof that sometimes the smallest styling tweak can have the biggest impact.
If your summer uniform is starting to feel a little predictable (I know mine is!), consider this your sign to retire your white tee and embrace a brighter alternative. Ahead, discover the colorful T-shirt trend that's making every warm-weather outfit feel infinitely cooler.
Red T-Shirts
While pops of red were everywear last fall and winter, including red knitted tops and sweaters, the rising summer heat is encouraging stylish people to wear red baby tees or tank tops instead. Our Senior Fashion Editor, Anna LaPlaca, wears the trend with matching red jelly flip-flops and a linen column skirt,
Blue T-Shirts
A cerrulean or Yves Klein blue baby tee feels like a fun, exciting way to spruce up your basic flip-flops and jeans outfit this summer. Instead of a basic white tee or black crop top, this unexpected color play feels fun and fresh.
Orange T-Shirts
Orange you glad you swapped out your white tees for something more fun? Simply style a mandarin-hued baby tee with white linen pants or white bermudas and leather flip-flops, similar to Marianne Smyth who's wearing the hue, above.
Purple T-Shirts
We called it earlier this year: royal purple is the It hue of 2026. So much so, we placed our bets on royal purple t-shirts replacing traditional boring white ones earlier this year in Who What Wear's Great Try On for Spring 2026. Our bets paid off—the fashion set has been gravitating towards this rich-looking hue all summer when it comes to tops.
Neon T-Shirts
While you'd think styling a neon yellow t-shirt can seem intimidating, apply the same style cues you would if you were styling a regular 'ole white tee. Simply pair with black capris, wide leg jeans, or ivory linen pants and a neutral shoe of choice.
Green T-Shirts
Olive! Sage! Pistachio! The colors that you can chose to style a green t-shirt are practically endless. I've seen dozens of cool girls style green t-shirts, especially striped shirts, across my Instagram feed over the last couple of weeks. Just based on their styling alone, I'm sold.
