Confession: I'm an Outfit Repeater—I'll Never Give Up This Simple Combo

by Anna LaPlaca

Photo:

@tamaramory; @bria.jo; @sylviemus_; @jordanrisa; @fakerstrom

I'll admit it: My personal style can be a bit chaotic at times. I've always enjoyed testing out every trend under the sun, so my daily outfits tend to run the gamut. If I were to document each one, they'd be an amuse-bouche of trending aesthetics—minimalistic tailoring one day and slinky cutouts the next. But no matter how many different styles I rotate through, there's one simple outfit formula I always come back to in a pinch: a T-shirt and jeans. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's my uniform per se, but it is the outfit I wear without fail when I am zapped of inspiration, am running late, or simply can't be bothered.

I used to beat myself up about leaning on the simple formula too much instead of putting my styling skills to use for something more involved. But honestly, I've come to realize that there's a lot of value in relying on what works. If it's not broken, don't fix it, right? In the interest of validating my own sartorial habits, I went ahead and sourced nine cool T-shirt-and-jeans outfit ideas. I'll be taking notes from these fashion people on how to turn something as simple as denim and cotton into a bona fide 'fit, and if you want to do the same, then I suggest you keep reading.

Photo:

@sylviemus_

Make a simple white tee and jeans feel downright elegant when you style them with an ankle-length coat and slingback heels. Selecting denim in a darker wash with a tailored fit will ensure the overall look feels elevated.

Photo:

@luciacuesta_

Casual and easy but still cool—that's what this combo accomplishes. Jeans that are tucked into boots automatically give any T-shirt a fashion-person spin.

Photo:

@tamaramory

Jeans and a tee make for a great base to showcase your best accessories. Baseball hats are having a moment, and teaming one with a blazer feels like the perfect amount of preppy—well, 2022's preppy, that is.

Photo:

@bria.jo

Want to put a trendy spin on the combo? Layer a collared sweater over your crew-neck tee. It's a subtle layering detail that makes an impact. Relaxed jeans and loafers tie it all together.

Photo:

@salome.mory

A striped tee may be a French fashion cliché, but our Parisian friends are co-opting the staple in a fresh way. Take this look, for example, that styles one with a boxy leather jacket and straight-leg jeans. It's classic and cool.

Photo:

@amaka.hamelijnck

I keep seeing fashion people wearing their cardigans as jackets, and I'm now inspired to do the same by wearing one open atop a slim-fitting tee. As for the denim, a wide-leg silhouette looks excellent with a cropped cardigan.

Photo:

@jordanrisa

Here's your cue to screenshot this one and save it for warmer weather. Monochrome dressing is such an easy way to make jeans and a tee look put-together. I also love the idea of rolling up the sleeves of a boxy T-shirt to add some shape.

Photo:

@nlmarilyn

Once again, never underestimate the power of a great jacket or coat to bring the whole look together. Here, a structured coat does the heavy lifting for an otherwise dressed-down ensemble.