How To Make A T-Shirt More Interesting
[ 18 February 2008 ]
“I told you a while ago that I spent a long time wearing nothing but jeans and t-shirts, the unisex kind you buy at concerts. After I started developing a personal style, I tossed out all the old threadbare and gross ones, but since music is such a big part of my life, I do have a fair number of oversized band t-shirts that I’d like to wear in a less teenage-boy kind of way.
“So many of these shirts are really great and have such strong, eye-catching designs, and if I had the body for it, I’d wear them with cropped jackets and skinny-jeans, but I’m a hippy dippy size 10, meaning that skinny jeans aren’t actually the greatest look for me and cropped jackets make it seem like I have a huge gut. Which I don’t! So can you help a girl out?”
I can’t/don’t wear skinny jeans either, so I feel your pain!
Here’s what I team with t-shirts: Maxi-skirts. Capri pants. Jeans (bootcut or flared). Tartan skirts. High-waisted skirts. Cardigans. Leggings. Shorts. Dresses (worn underneath). When it’s colder I wear long-sleeved cotton tees underneath them for more texture & colour. It also helps stop you looking like a big blob if your t-shirt is oversized!
I like to make an effort to dress up my t-shirts because while I do love vintage tees, it’s very easy for it to move into messy or unkempt territory, & that’s not usually a look I relish. I like to tie a scarf around my neck, pull my hair back, wear good shoes (rather than my beaten-up old boots) & keep my make-up quite clean. I feel like that helps bring it into more classy territory. It’s very hard to beat a great vintage tee, jeans which fit immaculately & a flattering pair of heels.
Since you have so many big shirts, you might like to compensate for their size by wearing a cardigan that buttons at the waist (to pull your shape inwards) or buckling a belt around your midriff. I often wear a studded belt slung around my hips to break up a black outfit. It depends on where you want to draw attention, though — the eye is always drawn to any horizontal lines in your outfit, so keep that in mind.
You might also want to look into leather jackets — not a cropped one, just a normal waist length one with cool shoulder details. Push up the sleeves & throw on a scarf & ROCK it!
But I admit, I am not much of a t-shirt wearer! Nonpareils, I give you the floor! What do you like to wear with your favourite t-shirt? How do you make it look stylish?
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala 
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i would definitely wear them under pinafore dresses with long scarves in winter. and opaques.
good luck!!! :D
i am in a similar position! i lived in skinny jeans & band shirts since i was about 15 and have slowly been trying to change it over the past few months.
if you’re any good with a sewing machine, then altering the oversized shirts is a good way to go. i have done this a few times, making the shirts tailored to my shape and lowering the neck line. i also like to widen the neck a whole lot and the you can wear it as an off the shoulder top.
if you’re into alterations then check out tshirt surgery for some more ideas!
otherwise, i think you’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head, gala! i am a fan of all you’re suggestions on how to make a tshirt more girly.
tiny donna — Your suggestion rules! That sounds totally minxy.
Anna — Oh yeah, t-shirt surgery is another subject entirely! Since I can’t sew to save my life, I haven’t done much, but I did once adapt a t-shirt neckline to a square shape. It sounds crazy but it was super flattering, it looked so good!
I have to alter most of my tshirts to fit me since I’m on the smaller side and even men’s small ones make me look like I’m lost in a sea of fabric, but loose fitting shirts look good if the proportions are right.
I wear tshirts with everything, but I especially like them with leather jackets, thick black tights, miniskirts, or well-fitting jeans. Wear’em with some snazzy jewelry and you’re good to go.
Cut horizonal slits in the back and pull the shirt so they roll up, and wear something of a different colour underneath, then accessorize to match the colour underneath. Cut the neckline and wear a vest beneath it. Stone it! Make it sparkly by adding stones on.
Firstly, alter them to fit you better, because if they’re really big and baggy it’s difficult to make them look good with skirts.
Secondly, wear them with skirts! It automatically makes them look less casual.
I love t-shirt surgery, although oddly I haven’t done much before. I’m reading a book at the moment that I’m going to review soon for my blog…let me just go get the link I put there…: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/07…
It’s really good, and it starts from the actual beginning, assuming you can’t sew so it’s really good if you need the basics! When I eventually finish the essay and stories I’ve got due for uni, I will be charity shopping for t-shirts to attack :)
I support the altering suggetions !
Here are some great examples:
wiredminds.ca/mari/urbn/urban….
And some awesome tutorials !!!
www.craftster.org/forum/index….
Gala, this has nothing to do with t-shirts!
But I was on http://www.livemocha.com/ and I think that it is so cool. It’s a free way to teach people a foreign language. It’s a social networking thing, like facebook, except that you speak samples of a different language, and you write a few sentences, and native speakers correct them for you. In return, you correct whatever your native language is when others submit it. It’s a great way to meet new people and I really enjoy it.
I am brushing up my Spanish and learning Chinese. There is also Hindi and German and French and all sorts of languages! Unfortunately no Japanese . . .
Get a tank top and use it as a template for larger shirts then cut up and stitch together!
I really love layers, long knitted cardigans, crochet jumpers etc over the top.
I just bought some awesome tshirts from Topshop that I’m wearing tucked into dark danim shorts, with a classic plain brown leather belt through the beltholes, a pair of neautral coloured tights and slouchy boots. You can pretty them up with awesome vintage brooches or earrings, or turbans/headscarves and giant sunglasses!
Long live the t shirt.
You can use any shirt you like to use as a template to make a bigger shirt into another shirt.
You can wear skinny jeans as long as the shirt hits at your at the bottom half of your hips (I believe that is the rule), but i woudln’t wear skinny jeans with giant t-shirts, if that’s the case.
If you look up threadbangers on Youtube they have a whole bunch of fun DiY advice, like how to make your fav shirt into a hoodie (something I’m going to work on soon!).
One of my absolute fave looks is t-shirts tucked into high-waisted pencil skirts (such as the one at american apparel). With a cute little cardigan and scarf – adorable!
I also have a couple of shirts which I just pin or tie at the back to make them more flattering and then throw a cardigan (or fitted blazer!) on over top to hide the handiwork. It can be a bit of a pain, especially if it keeps coming undone, but it’s an option! After all, a lot of times the clothes are pinned at the backs of mannequins to make them fit better too.
I like wearing open waist coats with lots of vintage looking jewellery with mine. Usally with my knitted red brete.
Because I am rather well endowned up top and oversized shirts make me look real blob like, I tend to cut the neck to make a v-neck or off the shoulder.
I like all the suggestions above for how to alter t-shirts to fit your size, but here’s another route you could go.
If you really like the design on the shirt you could also turn it into other things such as a bag or even a skirt!
this link has a great book for changing up the appearence of a shirt:
www.amazon.com/Ways
there are also other useful books as well.
I also like this brand that takes old t-shirts and create something new and sell them. (its kind of overpriced but good for inspiration)
www.superluckycat.com/projects…
unfortunately they don’t have any good examples in their store right now =(
but they do make wonderful things out of shirts
I agree with Stubby. Go to Threadbangers and look for the T-Shirt Reconstruction episode.
www.threadbanger.com/thread
and 99 Ways to cut, sew trim you T-shirt
www.amazon.com/Ways
make it yours and then it goes with any jeans, mini or tights.
Great suggestions, Gala! I have been mulling over how to wear my teeshirts (which are few)—especially since my sister has given me some awesome ones for birthday and Christmas! My current, favorite way is to pair them with long, aline skirts. The kind that really have a high waist and are super-duper long (like I wear high-heel boots with them so the hems don’t drag)! I also like pairing my short sleeve tee’s with antique petticoats (worn as a skirt) during the warmer months. It makes wearing a t a little less “predictable”. I have lately been layering a large tee (or tunic) over a couple of vintage slips (that show!!) and tights. Tres chic. ;)
Try searching for a black “jumper” if you will. I myself have one that’s about the size of a minidress and has 1” thick straps. I wear it over t-shirts whenever I don’t want to think about what to wear. If the weather allows I’ll wear it with some light leggings however here in Canada jeans are usually my frigid go to.
Also, I find that a black and white scarf tied cowboy-gansta style around your neck works quite nicely.
Waist sincher belts over unisex tees! Also tight ladies dinner jackets, always go a size smaller so it really fits where it touches (nice black satin one, pinstripes or plain material). You could also take in band t-shirts, take off the sleeves if you’re daring enough to create a nice boat neck that can be really flattering, or take in the sides to make it a slimmer fit.
I cut them into boat-necks, cover them in vintage pins, ribbons, and lace, wear them under secondhand cardigans with summer dresses and crinolines, embroider little birds or flowers or skulls into them, put them over a blouse and pair with a pencil skirt or nicer jeans.
About half of my t-shirts are just plain colored v-necks which are mankind’s greatest invention, lol. But when I’m wearing a band t-shirt or one of my vintage shirts, I’ll try and do something fancy with my hair. Sometimes in my laziness this is only pulling it up with a headband, but a quick beehive and a strand of pearls with anything look amazing. Or you could follow the advise of those above me and just alter them, it’s surprisingly easy, and there are a lot of cute things you can do with them.
www.amazon.com/Generation
That book is
amazing, if you’re brave enough to wear some of the designs in it. ;)i have a feminine figure, but i’m big-boned. for years i just wore band tshirts in a size adult small, so they were long at the waist, fitted throughout the torso, yet still kind of baggy with a pair of dark cuffed jeans. its a very tomboyish look, and i got kind of bored with it, so i just cut the necklines off most of my band tshirts. i also sometimes cut the sleeves off. its so very easy yet completely changes the tshirt. now i can put a beater on (any color, most of the time i try and wear a color thats in the shirt somewhere to make it pop and look more put together) and throw my creation over it. i wear this with everything. if the beater is tunic style and long enough, i put that on with the band t and wear it with some leggings and boots/flats/heels/tennis shoes. or i just throw it over some jeans. if i’m going out i nix the beater and just wear the shirt with very very cute brastraps showing or a strapless. get creative and practice on some shirt you don’t really care for… it really expanded my wardrobe!
Swap the skinny jeans for regular fitted jeans, bootcut or what-have-you, and swap the cropped jackets for a menswear vest. Maybe add a nice long necklace.
Find plain, well-fitting t-shirts, cut the band t-shirt picture off and sew it (applique) onto the new t-shirt. I do this all the time for my kids when their fave tees have been outgrown or get stained or holey. Or take them in – I cut the sleeves off, take in the sides, recut the armholes and reattach the sleeves. With luck I don’t have to re-hem anything this way. (It’s a great gift, knowing how to sew. If you can’t, I totally recommend learning.)
With a cardigan, shorts, tights, and ballet flats! It’s one of my favorite funky but laid-back looks, and sheer tights can add a very sexy edge!
I love to wear t-shirts with high-waisted skirts, waist-cinching belts & heels, because they balance each other out to create a look that isn’t too sloppy or too classy.
Over dresses is great too. I have some thin dresses with cool patterns & interesting necklines/sleeves that peek out from under a t-shirt & it looks great. Depending on the cut/color of the shirt, you might also be able to get away with wearing it under a dress, especially if the dress is low-cut.
It might be possible to wear the shirt in an ironic/“character-dressing” way, depending on what’s on it. For example, I have a shirt that says “Nerds are cool,” & I love to wear it with thick geek glasses & other items that play up the “nerd” look.
You can layer t-shirts with tank tops too, which can look really nice with the right color scheme.
You can get really complicated with layering – one of my favorite outfits of mine consisted of a purple t-shirt over a navy polka-dotted dress over a long-sleeved grey shirt over jeans over cowboy boots.
If you have any translucent slips, you can wear them over tees with skirts & dresses.
I think the best t-shirts are those with unique colors and/or patterns because then you can let them peek out from under anything (cardigans, dresses, another shirt) for a hint of interesting detail, which I love the look of. For example, my 2 favorite t-shirts are a) a really bright blue one that is long & comes down to my hips, & b) a bright green zebra-print one with puff-sleeves.
If the shirts are too big, my first impulse would be to belt them, or pin them in the back with safety pins, but I’m a huge fan of the feminine silhouette. If you like the baggy look & think you can make it work, then by all means leave it baggy.
I have two oversized (mega oversized, I’m a small, they’re large to extra-large) & so they make me look kind of formless —> so I took two perfume sample ribbons, threaded each one through the armhole & neck, & tied. Voila —> Instant boatneck which looks (IMO) really cute. i &hearts it.
suspenders or sheer blouse on top (with all or some buttons unbuttoned) or caridgan or full skirt with cowboy boots and scarf
BRACES! minxtruck.livejournal.com/1357… x
Wearing a catsuit or full-body american apparel leotard underneath a huge t-shirt with a waistcoat over top works for me. You can add a tie as a scarf, too and wear it with heeled sandals or some kind of cute, feminine vintage shoe. It sounds a bit odd, but it always gets compliments.
When all else fails, a cinch belt around the waist turns an oversize t into a cute minidress.
If the t is gray or white, layers and layers of gold or silver junk jewelry chains and charms with a tight bandage skirt or dark denim mini and boots looks very medieval punk and tough.
High waisted bell jeans balance a short or tight shirt well, and a sleek high ponytail or headscarf with a doctor bag and trench or peacoat rounds the look out into 70’s sailor chic territory.
I sometimes like to chop my really oversize t-shirts into skirts, with little or no sewing, but it does require some pinning here and there.
If the t-shirt has cute sleeves or a cool neckline, wearing it under a jumperdress (you know, schoolgirl pinafore) looks sporty and effortlessly cool. I like to compliment this look with thigh-hi gym socks or dark kneesocks and maryjane shoes or big boots.
Hope my tips help, as they’re a little biased to my own rather weird style.
I always wear my t-shirts with cool belts and jeans.
Top them off with a very cool and fitted jacket or my element hoodie.
Soo comfy for college n_n.
Kisses.
I love wearing my t-shirts with skirt. I like them a bit more fitted. I have several pair of brightly colored tights in red, yellow, blue and purple, my striped stocking and even just plain black tights. I try matching the colors. I also love to wear my shirts over my white button up. It makes them look much more dressed up. I love to accesorize the hell out of them. I have so many accessories it’s not even funny. Just yesterday I wore this new shirt my mom got me. I threw my hair up, tied a bandana around my head like a headband, wore my neon green earring and bracelet and my shoes with neon green laces. The shirt is huge on me, but it looked completely different after I added my accesories. Accesories make everything looks put together.
Felicity I totally agree, BRACES!
I like your lj by the way :)
Vests.
Vests, vests, vests, vests, vests, vests, vests, vests, vests, vests!
X
I am SO glad this post was written! I’ve been having a similar quandary wondering how to dress up T-shirts, and all the comments have been fantastically helpful! THANK YOU!
A few years ago, I bought a cheap skinny fit T-Shirt and decided to experiment. :)
I ripped some holes in it; a big one near the bottom, some slashes, and some medium ones here and there.
To be honest, it looked really nice. This was back in the Summer.
A cute guy who I liked last year designed an old t-shirt using Fabric pens.
He wrote “PTRC CMNTs” across the front using bright pink, yellow, green, and blue. The word on his shirt is used on Myspace. :D You probably already knew that anyway, Gala!
He’s at University now, and is seeing a girl. I miss him :’(
But the point is – Fabric pens, everyone! Get creative.
:)
I like wearing t-shirts with black skirts; I have a wooly, ra-ra black skirt, that I like to flatten out with a nice t-shirt.
And black, high waisted shorts. :)
Braces are also brilliant. :)
Have a lovely week everyone.
xxxx Lucy
I like to wear my t-shirts with an open waistcoat… because I have a teensy waistcoat obsession. If the t-shirt in question is fairly long, I will team it with opaque tights and ankle boots, or pattered stockings, leg-warmers (or thick socks) and ballet flats. If the shirt isn’t so long, I will pair it with tailored shorts and a belt. :)
I wear tshirts with vests buttoned partially, so you get more shape but still see the design.
hi gala
my absolute favorite thing to do with old tshirts that i cant bear to part with is to cut out the old logo/motif and sew it onto a really cute girly singlet or shirt. the best thing about this is that you can play with how the new shirt looks to suit your style…i normally add some really cute bows or buttons, or mix a few motifs together to make a really awesome scrapbooky type shirt. using the motifs on new shirts is great because it gives you the chance to choose a shirt type that flatters your body and fits well (rather than getting the tent affect). i would also suggest keeping the leftover material from old shirts to make headscarfs and decorate other shirts!!
ps: i cant go past wearing these new creations with either (not too short) shorts and high waisted pencil skirts. amazzzzingggggggggg
This is so crazy! Just yesterday I was thinking “I should email Gala and ask her how to dress up my over sized band t-shirts.”
Thanks for the great advice! And perfect timing!
I cut the neck and sleeves off of my big tee shirts and wear them with everything, high waisted skirts (with the shirt tucked in), especially my favorite super high waisted black skirt with suspenders and let it blouse a little. or with a short skirt underneath and an oversized cardigan, or over a few layers of multicolored tank tops different lengths and my favorite jeans. I think tee shirts can be worn with everything!
This post came just as I was considering buying some cute new Ts. <3 Very helpful! Thanks Gala and to everyone for their great comments.
I don’t know if anyone’s posted this link, but I was surfing threadbanger (sooo addictive) and I came across this tutorial, which made me think of this post right away.
www.flickr.com/photos/outsapop…
Pretty much every t-shirt that i get
i always cut out the collar
for a hippie-80’s look
it looks fabulous over dresses when you can see the straps and such =]
Hey there! I also have to same sort of problem, kind of. My dad wanted to get rid of some old 80’s t-shirts, and the thought of loosing those priceless clothes horrified me. Case in point: XXL T-shirt that reads “SAVE BETAMAX” in big letters. I wear it over skinny jeans, with the sleeves folded up and plastic bangles up to my elbows.
Another great thing is this book:
www.amazon.com/Generation
I got Generation T for my birthday, and it’s filled with simple, easy on the not-so-crafty redesign ideas. Making tank tops, or pillows (this is how I started). Most are designed to be used with size L or XL shirts. Once you get past the basics, there’s instructions on how to make skirts and even wedding dresses (for the really daring). The down side is that most of these designs need a sewing machine, or a thimble and a lot of free time.
But yeah, that’s my two-bit. Good luck with styling!
I Live in band shirts or any other great shirts with prints on them.
I normaly wear them with a cute denim skirt and Vans slip ons or Flip Flops.
Or team them up with a super cute pair of jeans, or some amazingly gorgeous shorts.
However, if the shorts are “short-shorts” Don’t let the Tee be too long or it may seem as if you are wearing No pants!
If you are good with a sewing machine, try adjusting them to you size, or cut the neckline lower.
I find that round necklines tend to make you look bulkier than what you actually are, especially if you are very busty.
try adding some cute little ribbons, or for the more “grungy-punk” look, add safety pins or a zip?
For the smaller, petite sizes, Get an extra large tee, and wear it as a dress over tights! Provided you adjust the sides, to make it look more flattering of course :)
If your fave tee has a few holes in it, Either create more holes to make it look like they are meant to be there, Or simply cut out the design or print and re-arrange it onto another shirt or singlet!
And of course, always add some super cute accsesories!
But don’t go overboard with them!
Keep it sweet and simple!
They are so many ways to alter a boring old tee,
Only your imagination limits you!!
Hope these ideas helped! :)
I have so many t shirts! In Winter, like Gala said, I wear mine with a long sleeved shirt undeneath (plain if the T is patterned, patterned if the T is plain) or just with Jeans and a coat.
My favourite jeans are always worn with TShirts, I love the look so much. What looks really cool is bootcut jeans with high heels (closed toe looks esp. awesome) and a printed T (my fav for this look is a shirt that says “Kiss me I have awesome powers!”)
And don’t forget accsesories and rocking hair!
Oh, revisiting this piece:
I totally just skipped over the aversion to skinny jeans… I have the same problem. My size varies (8-14) but whenever I want the skinny jean look, I just pull on a pair of straight-leg jeans with flats or huge, 80’s style high tops. The flats continue the line, making the jeans look like skinny jeans, and the high tops just squish the line, so everyone just assumes their skinny jeans.
Clever, no?
My girlfriend buys huge t-shirts from the Warehouse, then cuts the back into strips so she can tie the shirt at the back. I’m aware that I’m not explaining this very well.
It’s not a way to wear it but I have an option for t-shirt salvage.
If you have a t-shirt that you don’t wear, (due to it being to large OR too small) but you can’t bear to part with, you can turn it into a pillow case.
It’s fairly easy. Just cut a square shape out that encases the entire design and the bottom hem of the shirt. Then cut one the exact same size from the back of the shirt (or a pretty print material).
You may want to trace a chalk outline around a square template on the inside of the shirt to help you out and to ensure the same size. Flip the squares inside out, band/logo/brand name facing inward, and sew the two squares together around the edge. (Machine or hand stitch.) Leave the side open that has the seam from the bottom of the shirt so you don’t have to hem it. Flip it back to printed side out and voila’! T-shirt pillow case.
It’s not a fashion statement, but it’s a great way to hold onto that cherished shirt a bit longer. Especiall if it’s too small.
When I have a useless plain roundneck I cut a vertical line down the front to make a v-neck, and pin back the ‘collar’ with badges or brooches, and maybe cut slits in the sleeves. Literally a 2 minute make-over.
Also, sometimes slogan t-shirts are even cooler if you make up the slogan yourself. Then your t-shirt will be one-of-a-kind. It could even be a private joke, and noone would be any the wiser.
I wouldn’t dare go near my favourite t-shirts with a pair of scissors (I’ve ruined a couple of shirts that way), I just team the mens black t-shirts with a pleated mini (making it look sort of like a dress), my ultimate spiked belt and my Doc Martens. But then I suppose the whole goth look works when it’s a metal band’s shirt :P
If your favourite T-shirt is too small cut the sleeves of it (or tear them off for a different effect) and wear a belt on your waist so it is flattering. Wear it with jeans and high heels and your ready to go.
This has been so inspiring. I’m going to go shopping for oversized shirts and then have a ball hacking them up and altering them in the near future :D
Thanks guys xx
I wash my t- shirts. Then hang. While hanging spray with a green alcohol. Let dry and they look like suede. Their gorgeous, especially the more expensive.
When I get ready to wear them, I spray my shoulders with water, to remove hangr marks.
There are so many things I do to embellish, or change my t – shirts. This is only one way.
Every body I run into complements me on my t – shirts.
I am printing this all out — these tips are too good not to include in my stylebook.
Thanks for the great ideas everyone!
I know this post was forever ago but I didn’t see my idea posted so I thought I’d share anyway.
I alter clothes for a living and one of the easiest ways to make a shirt fit you is to poke 2 vertical rows of holes along the back and hammer eyelets in (which you get at the craft or fabric store in all sorts of sizes)then use ribbon or a long strip of fabric to lace it up like a corset. You can also do this along the side or the front.
tshirt_surgery community on livejournal, someone posted a link in one of the first comments, is the best!!!
Check out ebay and etsy for “diy shirts” or “deconstructed shirt”
Good luck and happy altering:)
good luck!