Style

Your Style Guide On How to Wear Oversized Shirts

By Isa King | July 7, 2022

You can wear oversized shirts to create many outfits, from classic looks to the latest fashion trends and street styles. Learn how to wear oversized shirts with these styling tips.

What Are Oversized Shirts?

Oversized shirts are baggy shirts with a loose fit that fall below the waistline and add volume to your outfit. These wardrobe staples come in many styles, from a classic button-down to an oversized tee.

3 Tips for Styling Oversized Shirts

Selecting the right fit is essential to pull off an oversized shirt look.

Choose pieces with detail. It’s easy for an oversized shirt to engulf your body in extra fabric. Prevent your oversized shirt from overwhelming your body by selecting pieces with detail; a pattern, pop of color, or unique stitching gives an oversized shirt a point of focus, drawing attention to the design rather than the excess fabric.
Consider the occasion. Opt for a baggy oversized T-shirt for a slouchy loungewear or athleisure outfit, but try an oversized button-up shirt for a business- or smart-casual combo.
Go two sizes bigger than your regular fit. When shopping for oversized clothing, stylists suggest purchasing a shirt two sizes larger than your normal size. Your shirt should fit loose around your waist and shoulders while falling a few inches longer than a typical shirt. For an oversized T-shirt, the shirt sleeve should fall lower than the typical mid-bicep range, as low as the elbow in some oversized styles.

Daytime Oversized Shirt Outfits

Try these outfit ideas to create casual daytime looks.

1.Create an athleisure look. Style an oversized colored or graphic tee with a sweatshirt and a pair of fitted bike shorts. This athleisure look creates a balanced and comfy outfit you can wear while exercising or lounging at home.

2.French tuck into shorts. Pair an oversized shirt with wide-leg pants or cut-off denim shorts for a casual outfit. Half tuck your oversized shirt to create a chic and relaxed French tuck, finishing the outfit with a pair of strappy sandals or white sneakers.

3.Pair with dress pants and heels. Wear an oversized button-down shirt with dress pants and heels or loafers for a business casual look. Add a blazer to finish the outfit.

4.Tuck into jeans. A classic way to style an oversized shirt is to wear the top with a pair of formfitting blue jeans, like straight-leg or skinny jeans; this balances the oversized top, creating a laid-back outfit. Try a long-sleeved white shirt with white jeans to create a minimalist, monochrome look.

5.Wear a cotton shirt as a beach coverup. Consider styling an oversized blouse as a cover-up over a bathing suit. As a loose and flowy piece, an oversized shirt promotes air circulation, keeping you cool in the summer heat. You can also play with colors and patterns, styling a vibrant floral blouse or bright polka dot shirt as a beach cover-up.

How to Wear Oversized Shirts: 3 Evening Looks

Here are three oversized shirt outfit ideas for nights out:

Style as a mini dress. Wear an oversized button-down as a shirt dress, finishing the look with wedges or ankle boots. Style an oversized T-shirt with heels and a black leather jacket to create an edgy outfit and cinch your waist with a belt, or wear the T-shirt dress loose for a breezy summer outfit.
Tuck into a midi skirt. Pair a formfitting midi skirt with an oversized button-down shirt to accentuate your silhouette. Choosing a loose top for this outfit balances out the look and highlights your lower body. For a glam look, pair a sequined skirt with a simple button-down shirt, or add a pop of color by pairing a bright skirt with your top.
Wear your shirt as a jacket. Create a casual nighttime look by styling an oversized button-down shirt as a jacket. Wear the shirt unbuttoned and roll up the sleeves for a lightweight jacket ideal for warm weather. For a chic date night outfit, wear a leather mini skirt and black lace crop top with a white button-down shirt as a light jacket.