A Unisex Guide to Styling a Patterned T-shirt
Whether you are male or female, we can help you. Are you questioning “why did I buy that t-shirt without thinking how I could style it?”
The truth is, patterned t-shirts are a lot easier to work with, than you think. You don’t need to play it safe, patterned t-shirts are far from being ‘safe’. The whole point of a patterned-shirt is to be brave and bold, to express your personality through your love of clothing and stand out from the crowd. There are many rules when it comes to styling a patterned t-shirt but by following our simple guide, we can make your life a lot easier. So, without further a do, let’s start with the men first.
Start safe with the men’s tropical print
All over patterned men’s clothing has become more popular over the last couple of years and has turned into a key menswear trend. You don’t have to be a fashionista with the latest Yeezy trainers to be able to pull off this look. Patterned t-shirts come in many colours and designs. The tropical vacation prints are a great starting point for any pattern newbie. Tropical prints look great with a pair of pale chino shorts and are very on-trend this SS19. Be sure to select prints that are fresh, modern and contemporary to avoid looking like you’re dad on a Hawaiian holiday. If you’re feeling a little more daring, then why not opt into the ‘Bold Conversationals’ or ‘Picture Postcard’ trends. There’s nothing more satisfying than a symmetrical shell print; that will really get the holiday vibes going.
/alt: Man wearing shell print t-shirt
If you’re just not the type of guy that will ever wear an all-over pattern, or it’s just not your style, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered too. We’ve stumbled across a fantastic independent Menswear brand who specialise in utilising small patterned areas throughout their entire casual wear. Tramp Menswear is a British brand, who manufacture their own clothing on a made to order basis. Due to their small numbers of manufacture, their designs are limited edition therefore, be assured, you won’t bump into anyone else wearing the same outfit as you. Individuality and on-trend prints is their forte, along with the highest quality fabrics and a personalised attention to detail with every order.
/alt: Man wearing navy t-shirt with floral pattern
Why woman should come out of their comfort zone
For woman, a patterned t-shirt is something we make the most out of every day. It’s not just patterned t-shirts though; it’s dresses, trousers, skirts, shirts and many more. It’s not as brave or bold for a woman to wear all-over patterned clothing because; it has been at the forefront of women’s fashion for decades. Women’s fashion is way more adventurous than men’s fashion, and in today world, as long as you’re wearing an on-trend pattern then this is very normal. It is a lot easier for a woman to style a patterned t-shirt than men; it’s no secret, women are way more confident in their fashion decisions than men are. Some women will even go to the lengths of wearing a ‘clashing pattern’, there is nothing wrong with this, just make sure they definitely compliment each other. If you are someone who’s a little unsure about patterns, stick to something that never goes out of fashion. For example, florals are an all-over print that isn’t going away anytime soon. They are easy to style, and easy to accessorise, just pick out a simple block colour from the pattern that will compliment the rest of your outfit. Two main key trends for SS19 are the ‘Retro Flower’ print and the ‘Geometric Structure’ print but, there’s more than just the easy printed patterns within women’s fashion. Why not try out the Galactic trend for SS19, full with sequins, embellishments and embroidery. Embellishments and embroidery are what woman would consider as ‘coming out of their comfort zone’.
/alt: Woman wearing Gucci spaceship sweater
Why are accessories so important?
The best thing about patterned t-shirts is that they can be completely unique to your personality and make a very bold statement. For both males and females, when it comes to patterned t-shirts, you need to be very careful about the type of accessories you will be wearing. Try not to take too much attention away from the t-shirt itself and opt for plain block colours that compliment the same colours in the patterned t-shirt. Also, be aware of adding too many block colours; only settle for a couple that can be found in your print. You don’t want your style to end up looking like it’s gone wrong.
Don’t feel under pressure
If you get it right, the patterned t-shirt can be a staple piece of clothing for life. Patterns and prints can transform an outfit, update an old pair of ripped jeans and brighten up your faded pair of chinos; there’s nothing wrong with freshening up you’re look. As spring is only just around the corner and we’ve only just stepped into a new year, why not try something new and exciting. Be bold, be daring and escape your normality. It time to play with your personality, play with prints, play with different combinations, colours and brands. Remember you don’t have to go for the boldest print, go with what you feel comfortable with.
