Not 'Hello Fellow Kids'

August 6, 2023 9:39 AM

Another fashion question: I have a lot of cool t-shirts with neat images on the front, but want to look more like a grownup when wearing them, just tshirt and jeans feels like I'm a 50 year old trying to look like a teenager.

What I *think* I'm looking for is a light jacket or button-up shirt I can wear open over the tee, with kakhis or slacks, but I'm not sure what looks right over a tshirt. I have some suit jackets where I've tried this but they feel too heavy or mismatched to me (although I may be over thinking it). Or, if there's other ways to wear a graphic tee without looking lazy I'm open to suggestions.

posted by AzraelBrown to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (19 answers total)

Best answer: I usually do a button up in a different material than a dress shirt. for example, I have one in jean material,.corduroy, and flannel. that goes with the bottoms and I find it elevates the tee. you may have to size up one size for the desired effect. in my experience, it is very difficult to do tee shirt and blazer combined, although there are some people who can (the reporter on Ted Lasso comes to mind). hope that helps.
posted by afterdark at 9:56 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: 50-year-olds can wear t-shirts without looking teen-aged, happens all the time. If the motive is looking younger than your years, the 'tell' in that get-up would be jeans with the knees cut; but by age 50, you're no slave to fashion. If it's a little chilly this near-70-year-old favors a loose short-sleeve shirt over the T, not tucked in (because not long sleeved) and not buttoned, so the neat design on your T-shirt's visible.

BTW the suit jacket over just-a-T and jeans is a Hollywood producer wannabee/lazy rich-f*ck look I never emulate.
posted by Rash at 10:00 AM on August 6, 2023 [14 favorites]

Best answer: You’d be wanting a “sport coat” style jacket/blazer (lighter weight and a slightly less formal cut) or a cardigan (dad style, cashemere or lightweight wool), and a nice belt and dressy shoes (brogues or oxfords, though a gentrified, closed-toes huarache would also work for hotter summer days; loafers can work, but I think it’s harder to get the right dressiness level). The belt and shoes are the most important part, though, when it comes to dressing up jeans (or casual slacks) and a t-shirt.
posted by eviemath at 10:05 AM on August 6, 2023 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Maybe one of these?
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:05 AM on August 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: An image search for John Ellis (the theoretical physicist) will provide some good examples of t-shirt chic. I think the belt, slacks, and sometimes blazer are the key elements for "dressing it up".
posted by heatherlogan at 10:09 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Per your profile you're in the Upper Midwest, like me, so I'm gonna say -- wearing a T-shirt with jeans is just 50-year-old looking like a 50-year-old. Ditto cargo shorts. Wearing a buttonup (whether flannel or more dressy) open over the T-shirt is saying "I'm 50 years old and I want you to know I'm from the 90s."

I recommend it.
posted by escabeche at 10:09 AM on August 6, 2023 [22 favorites]

Best answer: I would let the T-shirt be the star and not cover it up. Perhaps a casually wrapped scarf of lightweight material...A pair of culottes might work...or go all out and do a boho chic mid length skirt with some sassy black boots ...
posted by Czjewel at 10:33 AM on August 6, 2023 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Bomber jacket or leather jacket, preferably a bit loved and worn. Barn coat style waxed canvas or flannel would also be nice in more inclement weather. A linen blend or other type of lightweight fabric button up with the cuffs rolled up, unbuttoned in warm weather - either do tone on tone so a white shirt with a white tshirt, a navy shirt with a navy tshirt, etc, or pull a color from the print on the tshirt to choose the button up like a pink button up over a green tshirt with pink in the art. The hues don’t have to be exact matches, so you can do like salmon with pink, lime green with forest green, sky blue with royal blue, grey with black. But having some communication between the pieces in your outfit makes you look more put together no matter how casual the clothes. Wear a belt with your pants even if you don’t need one to keep them up. Makes any outfit look a bit more intentional.
posted by Mizu at 11:00 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I looked up Azriel. I could totally be stereotyping but I don't think he (?) is going to be wearing culottes or a skirt.

But I really wanted to say, no scarf unless you want to look like Oliver Stone.

Just let the tee shirt be free. My partner is 77 and wears his with casual slacks all the time. If you wear anything over, you will not let people see the design on the tee shirt.
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:02 AM on August 6, 2023 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I'd say make the other parts of your outfit and appearance be as solid as possible. Jeans but they are properly sized and tailored. Nicer shoes than most people would wear...not ostentatious or peacock-y but it looks like you we well put together. Same goes for having a good hair cut and being clean shaven or properly tending to your facial hair. And lastly since you mentioned suit coats, suit coats go with suits so t-shirts are too informal. Casual sport coats and the like go with t-shirts.
posted by mmascolino at 11:04 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Here in suburban so-cal this is the go-to look for dads 40+ so I don’t really see an issue with it; if you have grey hair and tattoos even better. They all look like they used to headline a grunge band in the 90s lol. Just be neatly tailored elsewhere - sharp sneakers and good haircut. I suppose it depends on the logos whether you’re trying to be young (no Pokémon).
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:22 AM on August 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Nice jeans and a cardigan.
posted by Polychrome at 12:09 PM on August 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: From techlandia I'd say an open flannel or light button-up shirt over the top is a nice step up from just t-shirt and jeans. If the t-shirt fits well, that's also an improvement; lots of folks wear t-shirts that are either too baggy or too loose, and caring about *how* it looks (not just that it has a cool picture/logo/joke) is a differentiator.

But I wouldn't consider someone wearing jeans and a t-shirt to "look young", so I'm not sure what the details are in your styling that are giving that impression. My suggestions here are some *ways* to get a more mature look (too loose and you look small / childlike, too tight and you look "trying too hard") but I can't say what your specific current issues are.
posted by Lady Li at 12:45 PM on August 6, 2023 [4 favorites]

Best answer: The character Trent Crimm on Ted Lasso does the t-shirt and blazer look really well (at least to my probably very unfashionable eye). Might at least provide you with some styling ideas.
posted by hilaryjade at 2:18 PM on August 6, 2023 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Personally I've never liked blazers...but I hang with an arty crowd, so that explains that...If you are on the conservative side of the spectrum, that could work for you. I would choose a unstructured and loose fitting one in a natural fabric...linen or cotton or blend...blandish color like oatmeal, ecru, or the like..
posted by Czjewel at 4:00 PM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Don't wear a suit jacket over jeans

Blazer/sports coat over graphic tee is a really dated look. I would go for something more casual, a more workwear vibe, like a field jacket, chore coat, overshirt...
posted by airmail at 7:08 PM on August 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: airmail took the words out of my mouth.

I could have sworn there was an Ask in recent months about alternative kinds of jacket to sports coats but I cannot find it now. I think I shared this overview from Permanent Style then.

I think how you feel about wearing a t-shirt (graphic or not) and jeans as a 50 year old is going to depend on both where you are and your general vibe. I see lots of middle aged men wearing this in UK cities, towns and countryside and mostly look completely fine and normal, and not trying to look young. But I'm one of them, and have rarely worn anything else, so maybe I would say that!

The style of jeans and the footwear will make a difference. If you're wearing tight jeans, that probably looks too much "I'm trying to be young". And if you're wearing, say, black lace-up shoes, it says "I don't usually wear jeans but I'm really trying to look relaxed, how am I doing?"
posted by fabius at 5:58 AM on August 7, 2023 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Everybody gets best answer, there are so many good ideas -- plus a pretty strong consensus that I'm overthinking it, I can wear a band/logo shirt and jeans without looking like I failed to grow up. Also bonus for teaching me the term 'shacket'.

Yes, the 'Trent Crimm look' is what I was kind of envisioning, and it sounds like I need the right jacket, if I can pull it off at all in the first place.

Also, I apologize for not specifically identifying my cis male appearance, I should have clarified that better than expecting you to look at the tags or my profile.
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:52 AM on August 7, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Sport coat over graphic tee is doable but easy to do badly. The Permanent Style article linked above is great. Safest option is a chore coat — it's fashionable but classic, easy to find new or vintage. Navy cotton would be the most classic, but there are lots of fabrics around. Overshirts are pretty similar and would also work well. Just avoid anything too bold or patterned if you're paring with a graphic tee.
posted by ludwig_van at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2023 [1 favorite]