Along with jeans, t-shirts are perhaps the world’s most ubiquitous fashion item – not bad for a garment that started out life as underwear. Since World War Two, t-shirts have gone from strength to strength, and today it’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t have a t-shirt in their wardrobe.

But since they’re so common, it’s easy to become bored of wearing t-shirts quickly. Looking for new ways to wear a t-shirt? Here’s a few tips for men and women on t-shirt fashion.

In Praise Of Plain T-Shirts

For some men and women, there’s nothing better than a plain white t-shirt. It might sound boring, but plain white tees are versatile and timeless: they’ll never go out of style. But if you’re going to wear a plain white t-shirt properly, you’ll have to make sure the style suits you. For instance, most men plump for a crew neck white t-shirt with short sleeves as the default option. If you’re of a more muscular physique, you may suit a t-shirt that’s a little tighter in the body, while men with beer bellies should ensure their t-shirts are loose-fitting and several inches longer than waist-length, to provide ample coverage.

In the same vein, women with large chests often look more flattering in a v-neck t-shirt with short sleeves or a scoop neck t-shirt with three-quarter length sleeves. It’s all about making sure that your body shape looks in proportion. Notably, some fashion experts suggest avoiding white altogether if you have a large chest as it may overemphasise your assets. It completely depends on your body shape, but if you think white t-shirts don’t quite suit you, try a dark colour instead. Black or navy, for instance, may have a slimming effect.

Printed And Graphic Tees

Tie-dye might have been big in the 1960s and 1970s, but since the 1990s printed t-shirts have become the norm. From slogans to characters from Sesame Street, there’s no limit to what t-shirts may have printed on them in 2012. If you’re replenishing your stock of t-shirts, look for graphic tees that suit your own personality. If you’re a music or film buff, look for t-shirts with prints of famous films and album covers. The cover of Joy Division’s album Unknown Pleasures, for instance, is a design that’s gained a lot of cache on t-shirts over the past few decades.

If you want to go graphic-lite but need something more arresting that a plain t-shirt, go for a simple but colourful striped design instead. It’s also worth considering a t-shirt with a comic slogan, or a simple image – like a piece of fruit or a plant – as well to add another dimension to your t-shirt collection.