3 steps to elevating shorts + a tee

Living in a busy tourist area, this tee shirt + jean shorts + flip flops combo is a ubiquitous look around town each summer. It’s easy and comfortable, no doubt, but I wanted to break down 3 easy steps to upgrade the look without taking away from that!

1. Start with high quality, elevated basics

The “before” tee is fine, but a little limp and shapeless. Small details like cut, fabric weight, fabric structure, and neckline all play a role in transforming the finished look. Tucking in is also key for showing off the natural waistline.

Here’s a few examples of basic tops that are easy to throw on, but look a little more elevated:

• A well-cut cotton tee shirt. See below for my top 2 picks.
• A sleek top that’s easy to tuck. ie: Madewell modal top (see on me), Quince mock neck
• A simple square neck tank. ie my old favorite Reformation tank
• A classic bodysuit. ie. this soft Amazon one

Tee shirts are not created equal, and I’ve spent the past few years searching for the best ones. The COS clean cut tees (also sold at Nordstrom) are an excellent premium quality option that’s a little thicker weight with structure. Just note that each color has a different fabric feel, with the off-white color I’m wearing (“light beige”) being very soft, while the striped one I have is a little more rigid.

My other favorite -and probably most worn tee- is the Everlane box cut tee, which is more of a traditional 100% cotton tee. The box cut style has the right amount of slouch and isn’t too long on me, even when untucked. It’s not as thick and less structured than COS, and great for everyday wear.

I usually take xxs in clothing, but sized up to an XS in both tee shirt styles for a relaxed fit!

2. add Polish + Texture via accessories

Changes made above:

• Replaced rubber flip flops with simple leather sandals
• Traded the nylon tote with a straw bag that adds texture & a summery vibe
• Added a coordinating belt to tie together the shoe and handbag colors

Over the past few years I’ve invested in minimalist sandals that can pair with a lot of different outfits. A few that I’d recommend for comfort are these Madewell T strap sandals (front strap runs a little narrow), Sam Edelman slides (on sale!), and these Amazon faux leather sandals with straps. While the Hermes Oran sandals are a classic and super versatile, they are not the most comfortable for me.

Other classic bags I like that add a textural element are this Madewell woven leather tote, or the Naghedi woven bags.

3. add a Layer

Layering plays a number of roles here – it adds another dimension to an outfit, can help incorporate color / texture / pattern in an otherwise plain look, and is also functional if you find yourself in a heavily air conditioned building.

In this case, a tee or sweater knotted around the shoulders lends an effortless vibe, and the stripes add interest to an outfit of solid pieces.

Optional: swap denim for a tailored piece

To be honest, I rarely wear denim shorts these days since a good tailored short can offer the same level of comfort while looking a lot more polished! These Quince crepe shorts are one of my best finds this year, and worth getting in multiple colors. I wear mine at least 1-2x a week from very casual to going out occasions.

These shorts are wrinkle-resistant in an elevated fabric, there’s elastic at the back waist for comfort, and the mid length is absolutely perfect. Size wise, unfortunately sizing starts only in 0, so these fit big on me and need to be worn tightly belted.

I do find the 0 to fit TTS compared to other brands, though some reviews found these to run small. Size 0 measures: 13″ across the waist when lying flat and un-stretched, with a 10″ rise and 4.5″ inseam.

Below is another variation of this same outfit formula and these Quince shorts, dressed down with sneakers. I also reversed the striped and solid pieces to show how easy it is to change those up. I wore this to my kids’ weekend sports practice, and a simple swap of the footwear back to sandals made the look brunch-ready!