How to Make Men's Shirts Look More Feminine

Last Updated: September 10, 2021 References

If you ever find yourself with some men’s t-shirts or button-ups and you don’t quite know what to do with them as a person who identifies as female, you’ll be relieved to know there are so many different ways to make them look more feminine! You can create a professional look with the right bottoms and blazers or emphasize a casual look by embracing the baggy. Alternatively, accessorize well to make people forget the shirt didn’t look feminine in the first place. Whatever you decide, your men’s shirt is the perfect place to find a more feminine look!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Professional Look

1
Pair an oversized t-shirt with a blazer and trousers. Tuck an oversized t-shirt into a pencil skirt or office pants to lose some of the bagginess associated with this type of shirt.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Cassandra Sethi
Personal Stylist & Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.} Layer with a tapered blazer to emphasize your waist and keep it professional. Finish the look with heels or booties for a more feminine touch!^{[2]
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- Wear more form-fitting bottoms to balance out the proportions, or go fashion-forward by keeping your trousers loose, too.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Cassandra Sethi
  Personal Stylist & Image Consultant
  Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.}
2
Cinch an unbuttoned button-up with a belt. Hang your button-up open as if it were a jacket and use a belt to cinch not at the hips but around the waist. Pair with a patterned tank, or keep it classy with neutral colors. Finish the look with a pencil skirt for a more feminine cut, or pair with trousers for more comfort.

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3
Tuck your shirt in for added professionalism. You can tuck in a t-shirt or a button-up. Tuck in completely, and then raise your arms to un-tuck the fabric slightly. Not only does this prevent the shirt from coming fully un-tucked later on, but it also helps the tucked shirt look more natural.^{[4]
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Cassandra Sethi
Personal Stylist & Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.}^{[5]
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- Make sure the shirt is tucked in smoothly and there are no bumps showing through your bottoms!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Embracing the Casual

1
Turn a button-up into a tie-front shirt. Leaving the bottom buttons unbuttoned, take the ends of the shirt in your hands. Tie them together at belly button-height to accentuate your waist. For a more cropped look, tie the shirt above your belly button, or go for a more sophisticated look and tie it level with your waistline. Pair with a cute skirt or high-waisted jeans and flats.
2
Roll up your sleeves and embrace the baggy look. Pair a button-up with skinny jeans and let the shirt hang long and loose to play with proportion.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Cassandra Sethi
Personal Stylist & Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.} Roll the sleeves up and unbutton the top button or two for a more casual, relaxed feel.
3
Let the shirt slip over a shoulder for a flirty feel. If you’re comfortable, and the shirt is big enough, this can be a great way to emphasize how casual you are while still showing off some skin! The eye will naturally be drawn to the asymmetrical shirt and exposed shoulder, making it easy to forget that the shirt is baggy in the first place!
4
Create a dress out of an oversized t-shirt. Start by slipping your body through the neck hole so that the shirt hangs around your breasts with the sleeves hanging down. If the shirt looks odd, you’re doing it right! Then, grasp the sleeves and tuck them into your bra so they form a fringe over your breasts. Make sure to overlap the sleeves to make a complete fringe! In seconds, you can go from drab t-shirt to simple but cute dress!^{[7]
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- To accentuate your breasts, take the sleeve and tie the together outside your shirt beneath your breasts. Note that this only works well with t-shirt that doesn't have a logo.
- For a bonus look, create fake “pockets” by inverting the sleeves and tucking them into the shirt. This will create a “pockets” look, and you can even put your hands in them. Just don’t forget that they aren’t actually real pockets!
5
Cut an oversized shirt into a muscle tank. To create a muscle tank, use scissors to cut the sleeves off at the seams. Further widen the arm holes by cutting further down the side. Cut the front and back side at the same time to preserve symmetry. Cut as low as you want - a simple muscle tank can show off a cute bralette, while a more adventurous muscle tank can show off your belly as well!^{[8]
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- Make sure you keep the hem intact, so the t-shirt doesn't fall apart.
- Pair with skinny jeans or leather for a bold statement during a night out.
6
Cut your shirt into a one-shoulder garment. Cut the shirt from the left side of the neck hole to below the right armpit hole. Cut the left sleeve off. Then, cut short, 3 in (7.6 cm) horizontal slits into the left-hand side of the shirt, spreading them out by about 1 inch (2.5 cm). Tie the slits together to create a smaller, more form-fitting shirt!^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing Accessories

1
Sport a wide-brimmed hat. Not only are wide-brimmed hats flirty and friendly, but they’re also surprisingly versatile! You can use one to make your look more preppy, edgy, or classic, depending on the color you choose. Your hat will turn heads and catch everyone’s attention, which will take the focus away from your shirt while making you look cute and flirty!
2
Add colorful scarves. Wear a light scarf in summer or a chunkier scarf during fall or winter. Colorful scarves take attention away from your shirt and help put the focus more firmly on your fashion sense and feminine side! Use an infinity scarf to emphasize your neckline or let a traditional scarf hang long around your shoulders. Play around! Try knotting the scarf in different ways and find the look that feels right for you.
3
Layer with a vest. Adding a vest on top of your t-shirt or button-up can help accentuate your curves and hips, and remove some of the bagginess these shirts typically have. Choose a neutral vest, or go for a fun feel by choosing one that has a design like polka dots or stripes.
4
Drape a chunky necklace to emphasize your neckline. A chunky necklace will weigh down the shirt around your breasts and help remove some of the baggy look associated with men’s shirts. Go bright with magenta and gold necklace or aim for a more subdued look by accessorizing with matte black and gray piece.
5
Pair with ankle boots for a fun, flirty flair. Heeled boots like ankle boots or booties help give your legs an extra boost and highlight your curves. Tuck skinny jeans into ankle boots that show off your ankles, and let the t-shirt hang as-is or tie it in a knot by your waist.^{[10]
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6
Try some knee-high boots for a more slimming look. Pair your t-shirt with skinny jeans and a pair of knee-high boots. These boots will accentuate your legs and help give your outfit that extra feminine flair. Knee-high boots can be great with a baggy shirt since their slimness offsets the bagginess!^{[11]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What is the difference between male and female t-shirts?

Cassandra Sethi
Personal Stylist & Image Consultant
Cassandra Sethi is a Personal Stylist, Image Consultant, and the Founder of Next Level Wardrobe, a luxury personal styling service for busy professionals. With over 20 years of fashion industry experience, Cassandra helps people transform their confidence by creating a work wardrobe they love to wear. Cassandra holds a BA in Fashion Merchandising from California State University, Long Beach, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from the London College of Fashion. She created Soulcycle's retail business and was the Senior Buyer for 90+ Equinox gyms. Cassandra has been featured on New York’s PIX11 in an interview about how to achieve great work-from-home style as well as in Men's Health, Business of Fashion, and NYMag.

Cassandra Sethi

Personal Stylist & Image Consultant

Expert Answer

Well, usually the cut and the proportions, as men's shirts are usually bigger and look "oversized" on women. If you want, try balacing that out with fitted bottoms.
Question

Is it OK for a girl to wear guys clothes?

Cassandra Sethi
Personal Stylist & Image Consultant
Cassandra Sethi is a Personal Stylist, Image Consultant, and the Founder of Next Level Wardrobe, a luxury personal styling service for busy professionals. With over 20 years of fashion industry experience, Cassandra helps people transform their confidence by creating a work wardrobe they love to wear. Cassandra holds a BA in Fashion Merchandising from California State University, Long Beach, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from the London College of Fashion. She created Soulcycle's retail business and was the Senior Buyer for 90+ Equinox gyms. Cassandra has been featured on New York’s PIX11 in an interview about how to achieve great work-from-home style as well as in Men's Health, Business of Fashion, and NYMag.

Cassandra Sethi

Personal Stylist & Image Consultant

Expert Answer

For sure! If the shirt is huge, don’t forget to tuck it in to make it look like you’re wearing it, not the other way around.