How to Style A Black Shirt – A Thorough Style Guide for Men - The Jacket Maker Blog (2024)

Wearing black is the hottest trend in men’s fashion, and it’s been like this for years. If you go out and ask people, “If you can only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Nine times out of ten, they’ll say black. This is because black is the most versatile color. That’s why this guide is here to tell you how to style a black shirt.

The term “shirt” here refers to all kinds of shirts like formal, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. Without further ado, let’s get started.

What To Expect In This Article?

Why Should You Wear A Black Shirt?

The first and most well-known benefit of black is its ability to work with anything. You can wear any color, texture, or style around a black shirt, and it will look good. You’d have to go out of your way to make a men’s black outfit look bad.

Additionally, black is proven to be a look enhancer. Almost everyone looks better in black than they do in any other color. This is especially true for men, whether they go for arugged lookor just a casual one; black makes them more attractive.

The third biggest benefit of black is that it saves time. This is connected to the first point of black working with everything. So, you can put together an outfit in mere minutes and know that it will look decent and well put together.

Outfit Ideas for A Black Shirt

There are endless possibilities when it comes to styling a black shirt into a coherent outfit. But this does not mean that every black shirt outfit is made the same. Some work better than others, and those are the ones that we’ll be looking at. Here they are.

Black Shirt with Jeans

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The title says it all. That’s it, that’s the whole outfit. All you need is a black shirt and a pair of jeans. Wearing a formal shirt over a pair of navy-blue jeans makes a greatsmart casual outfitwithout much effort. You can wear it when going out with your friends, or to a business dinner. Just make sure that the shirt and jeans fit right and aren’t too large or too small.

Black T-Shirt with Ripped Jeans

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The simple shirt and jeans look work with a black T-shirt as well. However, it gets extra stylish if you swap out normal jeans for ripped ones. This one is a purecasual outfitand will not work in any professional setting. But this does not mean that you’re limited by this style.

Honestly, this is more appropriate for day-to-day use. You can visit your local coffee shop, go grocery shopping, and hang out with your friends all in the same outfit. As far as the color of the jeans goes, both black and blue are excellent choices. You can also try wearing a black T-shirt over brown or grey ripped jeans for something a little unconventional.

With A Leather Jacket

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Leather jackets and black shirts have one thing in common; they work with almost anything. So, what do you get when you put both of them together? A banging outfit that makes youlook well-dressedand polished without requiring an eternity to set up.

Now, when it comes to leather jackets, you have tons and tons of options. First, you have the most famous types likemen’s bomber jacketsand biker jackets. They are a core part of men’s fashion as a whole, and you probably already have one of these in your wardrobe. Just put the jacket over your black button-up shirt or t-shirt, and you’re done.

Then there are the lesser-known types likeleather sports jackets. They look just as good and even have a design that most people have not seen before. So, if you want to stand out from the crowd and become the center of attention for a party, look into these other options.

Colors

As far as the leather jacket’s color is concerned, a leather black jacket outfit with a black shirt is the safest, and brown is the best by far. But, on the flip side, unconventional colors like green or blue allow you to add a sense of personal expression to your overall outfit.

Black Shirt in formal Settings

The conventional wisdom is that a white shirt is an optimal choice for formal orsemi-formal attire. This statement is true but to an extent. Black shirts are just as good a fit for semi-formal events as white. Some would even say that black looks classier and more polished than white.

A great place to start with semi-formal fashion would be an all-black tuxedo with a black shirt and a black tie. You might think that something so monochrome will look uninspired or boring; that’s not the case at all. This all-black outfit looks fabulous.

Preppy Style

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Do you want to look professional and neat without putting any effort into your outfit? Try wearing a blazer over your black T-shirt alongside a pair of bright blue jeans. A simple outfit with jaw-dropping aesthetics.

Outfits like these are part of thepreppy style. They make you look like a sophisticated modern gentleman in no time. It looks like you put in tons of effort, but you really did not. If done correctly, the results-to-effort ratio can seem too good to be true.

Streetwear with A Black Shirt

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Streetwear and black shirts go hand in hand. A long-sleeve black t-shirt with a pair of black streetwear sweatpants is all you need to perfectly follow thestreet style. It’s easy to execute and looks as modern as it gets. You can also experiment with multi-colored sweatpants and vibrant shoes.

The point of streetwear is to experiment with unusual cuts and colors and express yourself. However, keeping a simple black shirt consistent between your various outfits gives you a center point of your outfit.

Shirt and Shorts

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Finding something good-looking to wear in summer can be tough. The stuff that makes a nice-looking outfit tends to be hot, while the items that are light enough for intense heat don’t form a coherent outfit. Well, this is the case, with one exception; a black T-shirt and black shorts.

This outfit is simple enough that a baby can figure it out. Moreover, it provides you something decent to wear when going out in the blistering sun, without getting baked in the process.

Business Casual

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Business casualis clothing that looks interesting and feels comfortable while staying within the workplace dress code. Black button-up shirts, in particular, are a great addition to these sorts of outfits. A black shirt underneath a sweater is a great example of a business casual style.

If you want to wear something a bit more professional, then try a black dress shirt with grey dress pants and a grey tie. Finish the outfit off with a pair of brown leather oxfords, and you’ll look like you mean business in no time.

All-Black Outfits

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Yes, technically, an all-black outfit is not part of any particular style. You can wear anything from ablazer and jeansto a formal suit in all black without it looking out of place.

Black is basically the only color, besides maybe white, that you can craft an entire outfit from head to toe. A black t-shirt with aleather jacket, black jeans, and black sneakers is a mighty fine ensemble. You can even add black accessories like watches, scarves, and beanie hats without it looking over the top.

The crazy thing is, instead of looking simplistic and basic, an all-black outfit looks fancy and stylish.

Creating new all-black outfits is also super beginner-friendly. You could have no idea what works with what and still craft something magnificent. So, it is encouraged to come up with your own combos, your own all-black ensembles. Who knows? You might find the next big trend in men’s fashion.

FAQ

The above-mentioned, obviously, does not cover every possible style that you can try with a black shirt. But these are some of the most popular and wildly-loved sectors of men’s black shirt fashion.

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions regarding black shirts and things associated with them.

Do Black T-Shirts with Prints Look Good?

Whether printed black shirts look good totally depends on the person you are asking. A general rule of thumb regarding prints is that you want as little of it as possible. Additionally, prints that are only in white are preferred over colorful ones.
One thing to keep in mind is that printed black t-shirts heavily limit your outfitting options. So, if you want something universal, avoid prints altogether.

Is It Okay to Wear Black Shirts in Summer?

Yes, you can wear black shirts in summer without any issues. In fact, a clean black shirt looks great in bright sunlight. But, areas with really hot summers might make wearing black a bit tricky. Black color absorbs almost all of the light hitting it and thus heats up faster as well. This can make you uncomfortable really fast if you live in an area with particularly hot summers.

Do Black Shirts Work with Plaid Pants?

Yes, they not only just work but create a pleasing contrast between the plain black shirt and colorful pants with bold patterns. If you don’t want to wear colorful plaid pants, then grey ones work perfectly fine as well.

Final Words

To say that a black shirt is a must-have would be an understatement. It is, arguably, the single most important shirt in a man’s wardrobe. A white and black shirt combo is all you’ll need in any situation that you might find yourself in.

If plain black shirts are not to your liking, then look into the countless available variations like sweatshirts, hoodies, V-necks, and many more.

The best way to wear a black shirt, however, is with an outfit that you crafted yourself. So, sit down, and try to come up with something personal for you. You’d be surprised by how amazing some of your creations end up being.

How to Style A Black Shirt – A Thorough Style Guide for Men - The Jacket Maker Blog (2024)

FAQs

How do you style a plain black shirt for men? ›

Some of the greatest colors for black shirt combo pants include black shirts, gray pants, black shirts with blue jeans, or even as bright as white. Black trousers and a black shirt are another timeless combo to explore.

What color blazer goes with black shirt? ›

Unquestionably, if you still want more options for 'which blazer suits on black shirt', the ideal blazer pairing would be a black shirt with Dark Magenta Colored Blazer. The perk of wearing a Men's Magenta Blazer and a black shirt is that it is a very appealing combination.

What color jeans go good with a black shirt? ›

Among the black shirt outfits, the black shirt combination jeans which are either white, blue, grey, brown, olive green, maroon or even black themselves, look great on men, You can try any format like normal jeans or the ripped ones and even the rugged jeans, it all gels well, when you have black shirt.

Which Colour pant is best for black shirt? ›

Q: What Color Pants To Wear With Black Shirt? A: Black pants are a classic choice to wear with a black shirt, creating a sleek and monochromatic look. You can also opt for grey, deep navy, or white pants for a stylish contrast.

How do you dress up a plain black shirt? ›

You can't go wrong when you pair blue jeans with a black t-shirt. You can feel confident in a pair of thin jeans, distressed denim, sweatpants, and any other type of jeans you want. For a more sporty vibe, throw on a bold belt and some white sneakers. When going out, though, you should wear heels.

What jacket to wear with black shirt men? ›

You can't go wrong. A black dress shirt needs to be worn with dark denim. Whether tucked or untucked, dark denim goes extremely well with a black dress shirt. For extra boldness, wear your black dress shirt with a dark blazer.

What color suit jacket to wear with a black shirt? ›

Charcoal Grey Suit: A charcoal grey, or dark grey, is a classic and timeless choice that pairs well with a black shirt. The deep, dark shade of charcoal grey provides a strong contrast against the black shirt, resulting in a bold and sophisticated combination.

What color jacket goes with black t-shirt? ›

Match Up Black T-Shirt With Denim Jacket

A black t-shirt best belongs under a denim jacket. The undeniable denim jacket for men can take your look to the next level. Make sure to keep the denim jacket color different from the jeans to have a hot look.

What color pants to wear with a black shirt for men? ›

For a more casual look, you could go with beige or gray pants. For a more formal look, navy pants would be a great choice. If you're feeling more daring, you could consider pairing your black shirt with a bold color. Bright colors such as red, yellow, and green can all look great with a black shirt.

What shoes to wear with a black shirt? ›

What could be more classic than brown shoes and a black shirt? In fact, this combination is so popular that it can work for any outfit, from formal to casual.

Should you wear light or dark jeans with a black shirt? ›

Any color jeans will go great with a black shirt! Even black, if it's the same black as the jeans. White is my personal favorite but the proportions of your body need to look good if you do black and white.

What is the best color combination for black men? ›

The color white is an excellent pairing choice. Other neutral colors such as grey and black are also good options. Navy is a rich, captivating, and bold choice. It effortlessly brings out the deep tones in your complexion and provides an exquisite look.

What color pants and shoes go with a black dress shirt? ›

Well, when it comes to black dress shirts, the best color of pants that you can wear with them are black pants, white pants, gray pants, and, yes, brown pants. You also can go with blue pants, red jeans, patterned trousers and denim jeans.

Should I wear dark or light jeans with a black shirt? ›

Any color jeans will go great with a black shirt! Even black, if it's the same black as the jeans. White is my personal favorite but the proportions of your body need to look good if you do black and white.

How do you dress up a plain shirt? ›

5 Ways to Dress Up a T-Shirt for Day Looks
  1. Throw on a blazer. If you can wear a T-shirt to work, dress it up by putting a blazer over it. ...
  2. Pair with a skirt. ...
  3. Wear a button-down over your T-shirt. ...
  4. Tuck into your shorts. ...
  5. Play with colors and patterns.
Feb 24, 2022

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