19 Streetwear T-Shirt and Graphic Tee Outfits for Men

A graphic tee is the simplest streetwear piece to buy and the easiest to get wrong. The print is too big, the fit is too tight, or the pants fight with the colors. The fix is simple once you see it on someone.

These 19 streetwear t-shirt and graphic tee outfits for men show it in real photos. Each look lists the pieces, where to wear it, and one swap. There are black tees, white tees, back prints, layered tees and a few loud ones.

1. Purple Graphic Tee and Light Blue Baggy Jeans

Purple is a loud color, but one clean block of it keeps the outfit easy. The print sits on the chest and a small patch sits lower, so the tee has detail without shouting. Washed light blue jeans with a loose leg keep it relaxed.

Wear it to: a casual day out, the mall, a weekend with friends.

Swap: if purple is too bright, a dusty lilac or a faded plum tee works the same way.

2. Black Cartoon Tee, Black Pants and Blue Sneakers

All black is the safest way to wear a graphic tee. The cartoon print has red in it, so the tee does the talking. The blue and white sneakers are the only color below the waist, which pulls your eye down the whole look.

Wear it to: a walk downtown, a casual dinner, a gig.

Swap: go with all white sneakers if you want the print to be the only loud thing.

3. White Tee With a Bandana, Cargo Pants and Orange Sneakers

The tee is white with a red and orange print, and the cap and sneakers pick up the same orange. That match is what makes a busy outfit look planned. Brown cargo pants are a good change from the usual black or blue.

Wear it to: city days, markets, a festival or any day when you carry a few things.

Swap: skip the bandana and keep the bag. The outfit still works with the tee, cargos and shoes.

4. White Tee, Dark Shorts and a Crossbody Bag

This is the simple summer version. A white tee and black shorts are the starting point, and the cap and the small bag make it look like streetwear instead of gym wear. Nothing in it is hard to find.

Wear it to: hot days, a quick errand run, a beach town trip.

Swap: long socks and chunky sneakers make shorts look more street. Short ankle socks make them more sporty.

5. Black Tee With a Pastel Print, Black Pants and White Sneakers

The print mixes purple, pink and yellow on a black tee, so the shirt looks like a band tee without being one. A thin chain is the only extra. Black pants and white sneakers keep the bottom half calm.

Wear it to: a night out, a skate park, a coffee run.

Swap: try dark olive pants for something softer than full black.

6. Paint-Splatter Tee in White With Black Pants

A tee with many colors needs a very simple bottom, and black pants do that. The shirt is cut big and a little boxy, with sleeves that reach past the elbow. It looks like an art piece, so you don't need other accessories.

Wear it to: gallery visits, a creative workplace, a relaxed date.

Swap: if the print feels like too much, pick a tee where the colors stay in one family, such as blue and grey.

7. Black Tee, Distressed Light Jeans and Black Sneakers

Light ripped jeans and a black tee is a classic mix, and it works because the two colors are far apart. The black cap and black sneakers frame the outfit from top to bottom. The jeans have plenty of room, so you don't need a belt.

Wear it to: college, a casual weekend, hanging out with friends.

Swap: plain light blue jeans, if the rips feel like too much.

8. Blush Pink Tee, Black Slim Pants and Light Sneakers

Not every streetwear tee needs a big graphic. This blush pink one has only a thin script line on the chest, which makes it a good first step if you like quiet prints. Slim black pants give the loose tee a shape.

Wear it to: lunch, an afternoon in town, a relaxed date.

Swap: tuck the front of the tee into the pants for a cleaner line. It's a small change that shifts the whole outfit.

9. Black Slogan Tee, Denim Shorts and Chunky Grey Sneakers

Denim shorts and a boxy black tee are an easy summer outfit. The red lettering on the chest is the only color on top, and the chunky grey sneakers make the shorts feel intentional. White socks finish it.

Wear it to: a park day, a summer barbecue, a street food stop.

Swap: black shorts look cleaner if the denim ones feel too casual. Keep the tee the same.

10. Black Car Graphic Tee With Baggy Dark Jeans

Car prints and Japanese lettering are a big streetwear theme, and this tee uses both. The cut is a little loose and the jeans are baggy, so the proportions match. The pink and teal print is the only color in the outfit.

Wear it to: a car meet, a night walk, a casual hangout.

Swap: pair the tee with black cargo pants instead of jeans for a more techwear feel.

11. Band-Style Tee, Black Pants and Skate Sneakers

This is the band tee look. The artwork is blue and pink, the bucket hat is black, and everything else matches. Black skate sneakers with black socks keep the outfit from breaking into too many pieces.

Wear it to: concerts, skate sessions, a late night out.

Swap: a grey tee works if you want it lighter. Keep the hat and shoes black.

12. White Cartoon Tee and Black Shorts

A white tee with a fun print looks best when the rest is plain. This one has a cartoon animal on the chest, and black shorts give it a sharp edge. The sleeves reach almost to the elbow, which gives it that oversized feel.

Wear it to: a hot afternoon, beach days, a theme park.

Swap: light khaki shorts give a warmer look.

13. Black Tee With Orange Lettering and Dark Cargo Pants

Orange on black is bold, and the dark cargo pants calm it down a bit. The big pockets add shape to the lower half. Boxy tees like this one sit straight from the shoulder, so you can wear them with big pants without looking swamped.

Wear it to: a night walk, a casual dinner, hanging out after dark.

Swap: use plain black cargo pants if you don't want to risk the dark blue and black mix.

14. Back Print Tee, Quilted Olive Pants and a Beanie

Sometimes the best part of a tee is on the back. The print is big and lime green, so you see it as soon as someone walks away. The quilted olive pants add texture, which makes a simple black tee more interesting.

Wear it to: a cool evening, a casual shoot, a coffee date.

Swap: dark green cargo pants give the same color mix without the quilted look.

15. Faded Tour Tee, Chain and Light Frame Sunglasses

A washed, faded blue tee looks like something you've owned for years, and that's why it works. It has a big tour-style print across the chest. The thin silver chain and white frame sunglasses are enough extras.

Wear it to: a street photo, a festival, a casual night.

Swap: toss the jacket over your shoulder or tie it around your waist when it warms up.

16. Red Brush Print Tee Over a Long Sleeve, Black Jeans and Skate Shoes

Layering a short sleeve tee over a long sleeve is the easiest way to get more depth. The red print pops against black, and the patterned sleeves peek out at the wrist. A long silver chain adds a line that matches the length of the tee.

Wear it to: cool spring days, an evening out, a gig.

Swap: if you don't own a patterned long sleeve, a plain white one works well too.

17. Washed Charcoal Tee Over White Long Sleeve With Patchwork Pants

This one is for guys who want something louder. The charcoal tee is faded, the sleeves underneath are white with a print, and the patchwork pants bring all the color. Here the tee and the pants are both loud, so keep the shoes and extras quiet.

Wear it to: a concert, a fashion event, a photo day.

Swap: plain black baggy jeans make the tee and sleeves the main part of the look.

18. All White: Tee, Light Pants and Sneakers

A white tee with light pants needs no planning and looks clean in sunny weather. The pants are pale blue-grey, so they don't match the tee exactly, and that keeps it from looking like pajamas. Light sneakers carry the same pale colors down.

Wear it to: vacation, a warm evening, a beach town.

Swap: pair a white tee with dark pants when you want more contrast.

19. Black Back Print Tee, Dark Pants and White Sneakers

Another back-print tee, this time with a green teddy bear graphic and small text under it. Dark pants and white sneakers are all it needs, and the bright shoes help the dark outfit stand out in photos.

Wear it to: a day out, photos, a stroll through the city.

Swap: use black sneakers for a darker, quieter version of the same outfit.

How to Wear a Graphic Tee in Streetwear

Pick one loud thing. If the tee has a big print, keep the pants plain. If the pants are loud, wear a plain tee. Look 6 shows it: a loud tee with plain black pants.

Check the shoulder seam. On an oversized tee, the seam should drop a little past your shoulder bone, not down to your elbow. The hem should land around your hips or just below your belt line.

Choose the fabric. Heavy cotton jersey hangs straight and keeps its shape after washing. Thin tees cling and wrinkle.

Match the cut to the pants.

Tee	Pants that work
Oversized or boxy tee	Slim or tapered pants, straight jeans
Regular fit tee	Baggy jeans, cargo pants, wide trousers
Tee layered over long sleeve	Black jeans, straight pants

Keep colors in a small family. Black, white, grey, navy and olive go with almost anything. Pick one accent color from the print and repeat it once in a cap, a bag or shoes, like in look 3.

For more streetwear ideas, see the colorful streetwear outfits or the streetwear hoodie and zip up outfits for cooler days.

FAQ

What pants go with a graphic tee? Straight or baggy jeans, black pants and cargo pants. Choose slim pants if the tee is oversized, and wider pants if the tee is a regular fit.

Should a streetwear tee be oversized? Often, yes, but not huge. The shoulder seam should sit a little past your shoulder and the sleeve should stop above the elbow. Too big and it looks like a hand-me-down.

Can you wear a graphic tee to a smart place? Only if it's a plain or very quiet print, in black or white, with dark trousers and clean shoes. Keep loud prints for casual plans.

How do you wash a graphic tee so the print lasts? Turn it inside out, wash cold, and hang it to dry. Heat cracks prints faster than anything else.