Picking what shirts to wear with jeans can sometimes be a little tricky. To save you the trouble of trial and error, we’ve put together a full run-down of every style. You’ll be an expert in no time.

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Shirt and Jeans

Shirts and jeans are two crucial cornerstones to any man’s wardrobe and, when combined properly, offer a failsafe partnership that will stand the test of time. Whether you’re on a first date, heading to the pub, or it’s casual Friday at work, shirts and jeans offer a put together look that’s perfect for casual and smart-casual occasions.

It’s easy to think that there are only a few options for you to play around with but you’d be wrong. With the huge range of styles on offer for jeans and shirts, there’s a load of possible outfits for you. No matter what your style or the occasion is, there’s a match made to suit you.

The Idle Man Black shirt White Jeans Sunglasses
Black Shirt, White Jeans and Sunglasses

A well-ironed shirt is a staple in any formal situation. You can’t complete a tuxedo without it. Shirts are so important that there are hundreds of rules on how they should fit around your gut, what length they should be, and what colours you should wear when paired with your tailored suit. However we’re not talking suits here, and it can be a little harder to achieve a smart look with a pair of jeans. However it is achievable, and it just requires the right combination of colours and textures.

White Shirt and Jeans

The blue jeans – white shirt combination is a classic in the realms of both smart and casual. For that reason, it’ll never ever go out of fashion. If you’re having one of those days where you simply don’t know what to wear, wearing a white shirt with a pair of jeans will surely put an end to your style crisis induced panicking.

The Idle Man White shirt jeans
White Shirt and Jeans

White Shirt – Black Jeans

Same rules apply to the white shirt and black jeans combo. Sometimes the easiest and simplest solutions are also the most reliable and we often forget that they’re always in front of our eyes. Your favourite black jeans and slim fit white shirt are an example of that.

white shirt black jeans mens street style

Checked

Now, checked shirts can often to be associated with more casual outfits, and you might see the super informal lumberjack look sported from time to time. However, if you pick the right colours and pattern, a checked shirt can actually bring an interesting dimension to a formal look.

Pick a darker colour like navy or a muted green, and avoid anything too bright with too many colour combinations, to give your outfit a less intense and more simplified look. Pick a print that’s not too busy to ensure the finished look is as polished as possible.

checked shirt mens street style

How to Wear Jeans

Jeans are also important in achieving a formal look. Even if you’ve got a neutral checked shirt, if you pair it with a bright blue denim the outfit is automatically going to appear more casual. When choosing your jeans, like with the shirt, try and pick a darker colour, so as to ground the outfit and give it a sleeker overall appearance.

Black or navy is an obvious choice. If the outfit is looking a little drab you can always mix up the look by turning up your jeans, or going ultra smart with your footwear. A pair of Desert boots can do wonders.