8 outfits that show how to wear a printed tee
Keep the rest of the outfit solid and pull one color from the print into your bottoms. Here are eight plus-size outfits, each with a fit note.
The easiest way to wear a printed tee in plus sizes: keep the rest of the outfit solid and pull one color from the print into your bottoms, whether that's a knit pant, capri, denim, or a solid skirt. Add an open button-down, cardigan or jean jacket as a third piece for coverage or cooler days.
Every outfit here uses real Woman Within® pieces, starting with the printed styles in Woman Within t-shirts, and includes the length (or inseam) worth checking before you order.
1. Printed crewneck tee with a solid 7-Day knit pant
Choose one color from the print and match your pants to it. This single tip makes the print look intentional instead of busy. A print named Sage Blossom Vine, for example, points you toward a sage or soft green pant.
The Perfect Printed Short-Sleeve Crewneck Tee has a relaxed silhouette that doesn't cling and is 100% cotton (heathers are a cotton/poly blend). Pair it with the 7-Day Straight-Leg Elastic-Waist Knit Pant, which has a full elastic waistband and two side-seam pockets. Inseams come in Average 30 inches, Petite 28", Petite Short 26", and Tall 33", so the hem can land where you want it.
2. Printed crewneck tee with a knit capri for warm days
On a hot day, swap the full-length pant for a capri and keep the same color rule. A print like Sweet Coral Butterfly Ditsy, for instance, works with a capri in a coral or neutral shade.
The 7-Day elastic-waist knit capri comes in an Average 21" or Petite 19" inseam. Worn with the Perfect Printed Crewneck Tee, it's an easy errand-day outfit, and reviewers describe the tee as "so soft" and say it "Feels light and breathable."
3. Printed V-neck tee with straight-leg jeans
Denim works as a neutral, so nearly any print pairs with it. A medium or dark wash is the easiest weekday base under a busy pattern.
The Perfect Printed Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tee has short sleeves that hit right above the elbow for coverage and comes in regular and petite lengths. Wear it untucked over mid-rise stretch denim straight-leg jeans, a cotton/poly/spandex stretch denim with a mid-rise and Average 30", Petite 28", or Tall 34" inseams.
4. Printed V-neck tee with a solid tiered knit skirt
A solid skirt keeps the print in focus while the tiers add movement. Pick a skirt color pulled from the tee for the same one-color repeat.
The elastic-waist knit tiered skirt has a smocked elastic waistband, slat pockets, and a 25" length. With the Perfect Printed V-Neck Tee, it suits a backyard lunch or a summer day out when you'd rather not think about a waistband.
5. Printed tee under an open seersucker button-down
An open button-down is the third piece that adds coverage without much extra warmth. It frames the print and gives you a layer you can take off by afternoon.
The short-sleeve cotton seersucker button-down is 100% cotton with roll-tab sleeves, and the product page describes it as easy to wear open or closed and easy to layer. It comes in Average 30" and Petite 28" lengths. Choose a solid shirt in a color from your printed crewneck tee, or a neutral such as white.
6. Printed tee with an open long-sleeve shirt for cooler mornings
For a cool morning, layer a long-sleeve button-front shirt over a printed tee and wear it open. You get warmth early and a short-sleeve outfit by lunch.
The Perfect Long Sleeve Shirt is wrinkle-resistant with button cuffs, and it's 30" long (28" in Petite). Over the Perfect Printed V-Neck Tee with straight-leg jeans or the 7-Day knit pant, it handles a day that starts cold and warms up.
7. Printed tee with pull-on leggings, and when to choose a tunic
Leggings work with a printed tee if the tee gives you the length you want. The Perfect Printed Tee is 28" long, so if you want more coverage over a legging, a tunic length is the better choice.
The stretch-cotton knit pull-on leggings have a fully covered elastic pull-on waistband, and a solid pair in a color from the print keeps the outfit simple. Some reviewers say the crewneck tee is "long enough to cover my hips." To check for yourself, measure a top you already like from shoulder to hem and compare it with 28" measured from the center back top of your neck down to the hemline.
8. Graphic tee with a convertible cargo pant for the weekend
A graphic tee with a utility pant is the most relaxed outfit on this list. Keep the cargo pant solid so the graphic stays the focus.
The Woman Within graphic tee has a relaxed fit, a 28" length, and a cotton/poly blend. The 2-in-1 convertible cargo pant is 100% cotton with a 30" regular inseam that converts to 23" capris with button-tab hems, so one pair covers a cool morning and a warm afternoon.
How do printed tees fit?
The printed tees here have a relaxed cut, and reviewers often say tops may run big. It's always best to compare our Woman Within size chart with a tee you already own, rather than assuming your usual size.
- Length: the crewneck, V-neck, and graphic tees are all 28" long; the V-neck also comes in petite lengths.
- Sleeves: on the V-neck tee, sleeves hit right above the elbow.
- Comfort: reviewers call the tees "so soft" and say they buy several, often in more than one print.
Frequently asked questions
What color pants go with a floral top?
Pick one color from the flowers or leaves and wear pants in that shade, or choose a neutral such as navy, black, or denim. Repeating a single color from the print makes a floral top look planned rather than busy.
Can you wear a printed top with patterned bottoms?
You can, but it takes more care. Keep one pattern small and the other larger, and make sure the two share a color. For an everyday outfit, a solid bottom is the simpler choice.
How long is the Perfect Printed Tee?
The Perfect Printed Short-Sleeve Crewneck Tee and the Perfect Printed Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tee are both 28 inches long. The V-neck also comes in petite lengths.
Is a white printed tee see-through?
No, while our product page don't state exact opacity or gauge, and most all reviewers describe the fabric as not sheer or see-through. But if sheerness concerns you, it's best to choose either a mid-tone color or darker print, or wear an open button-down over your tee.
Do printed tees shrink in the wash?
Our crewneck tee is machine washable and can be tumble dried. Some reviewers report it shrinking a little in length after the first wash, and consider line drying your tee rather that throwing into a hot dryer.