How to Style Jeans and a White T-Shirt

Here are the ways I am using clothes that are already in my closet to create 4 different looks this spring. Copy these outfit forumlas to style your own wardrobe.

Spring is well under way and as this beautiful season ushers in milder weather I find myself gravitating towards lighter layers, easy accessories, and simple outfit formulas. A combo I always seem to reach for is a classic white t-shirt and pair of jeans. Simple, timeless, and easy to dress up or style down, it's the perfect base layer for so many great outfits.

I'm also a big advocate for curating a wardrobe you love so that you can shop your own closet instead of constantly buying new items. We live in a culture of over-consumerism so it has become normal for us to think shopping all of the time for new styles is just what you do. When you focus on timeless pieces that will last for years instead of buying cheap, trendy styles you will have so many more options in your closet that won't need to be replaced every two years when they aren't in style anymore. On top of that, styling pieces you already own is obviously more sustainable and economical, but it also works to develop more creativity too.

One of my goals is also to teach people how to shop mindfully. Whenever I share clothing items with you I don't want you to run out and buy everything I recommend. I want you to consider whether something will benefit your wardrobe by either being an item you already have on your list and is what you've been looking for, is something that will fill a gap in your wardrobe, or is something you love and know you would get tons of wear out of. We all have way more clothes than we actually need and learning how to style what we have is so much more important than buying new items to put outfits together.

With that being said, here are the ways I am styling my jeans and t-shirt this spring with clothes I already own. Many of these items I got either from thirfting or handed down from my mom or grandmother. I encourage you to find similar items in your own closet or thrift pieces to recreate these outfit formulas, but I will also link a few similar items to what I have if there is something you just love.

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Here are 4 ways I am wearing a white t-shirt and jeans this spring.

1. Striped Cardigan and Black loafers

I got this Striped Cardigan from Amazon when it was on sale after I had had my eyes on it for months. I don't buy many clothes from Amazon but if I do I want them to be good quality pieces that I will get a lot of wear out of so I'm not just donating them in a couple years. This sweater is lovely and filled a gap I had in my wardrobe for light weight cardigans for the warmer months.

The shoes I have had for years and are ones I wear all the time. If you are looking for something similar I found THESE on Amazon that look almost the same as mine and have decent reviews. My earrings were my grandmother's but I found these really cute ones that are very similar also on Amazon. The belt I have had for years and got from Amazon but the quality isn't very good so I honestly wouldn't recommend it. Leather belts are a great thing to look for in thirft stores since you can often find really nice ones for great prices. The sunglasses are cheap ones I got from Amazon in a two pack because I like having inexpensive pairs to travel with so if I lose them or they break I'm not heartbroken.

2. Silk Scarf and Brown Accessories

This is the type of outfit I love throwing together because it is so easy and effortless but looks put together. I recommend finding elevated basics like these accessories that go well together and can make any outfit look polished.

I thrifted this silk scarf a while ago and have been loving styling it different ways this spring. Everything else I am wearing I have had for years and are items I wear all the time. I absoluetly love my Sperry loafers but when I tried finding the same ones now it seems like they may have changed the type of leather they use versus when I bought them. They do still have a lot of 5 star reviews, though, so if you are interested in looking into them and deciding for yourself you can find them HERE on Amazon. I have owned mutiple different syles of Sperry shoes over the years and they are some of my all time favorite footwear.

The purse is old from TJ Maxx but they always have good purse options so definitely check them out if you are looking for a new one. The sunglasses are the other pair in the Amazon two-pack I mentioned in the outfit above.

3. Lady’s Work Jacket and Flats

This outfit is almost fully a second hand look since I got the jacket and belt from my mom, the clutch from my grandmother, and I thrifted the loafers. The only item I bought new were the sunglasses and I have had them for several years and believe I got them at TJ Maxx. THESE ones from Amazon are very similar to the ones I'm wearing, though.

I love this look for brunch or church since it is a little more classy with the jacket but still feels laid back because of the jeans. You could easily copy this formula to make a work outfit by just switching out the jeans for a black pair of trousers.

4. Button Down, Baseball Hat, and Clogs

This is the exact Polo Ralph Lauren Shirt I have but it is crazy expensive when you buy it new. I thirfted mine and you can usually find high qaulity shirts in this style in the men's section of thrift stores. I am 5'9 and wear a women's medium/large so I usually look for a men's medium for that perfect "oversized but not drowning in it" fit. The clogs I got from Target becuase as much as I love real Birkenstocks I just cannot bring myself to pay that much for clogs when the cheaper versions hold up well too. Amazon has basically the Same Clog I got with good reviews also, so if you are looking for similar ones I would start there. The baseball hat is one I've had since college with our school mascot on it but I think these Navy Letter Hats are super cute too.

Embracing the Classics

In today's fast-paced fashion world, styling pieces from your current wardrobe helps both with sustainability and your wallet. By pairing a white t-shirt and jeans with various accessories and layers, you can create many outfits that are versatile and classic.

Each of these four looks showcases how adaptable essential wardrobe pieces can be. Even though I have shared where you can find some of the same or similar pieces to what I am wearing, start in your own closet and see if you have something that would work for a similar outfit before buying new. When you do buy go to buy a new piece think first about whether it is something you have been looking for, if it's something that will enhance your wardrobe, something you will get lots of wear out of, and something that will hold up well and be in your closet for years.

Instead of always buying new, embracing what you already own promotes creativity and fun with styling your closet. As spring unfolds, consider how you can reinvent your classic outfits with items already in your closet. Happy styling!

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