It's so easy to fall into the shorts and t-shirt rut when it's 100 degrees outside. Trust me, I know. I've been living in this very basic combination for the past month. It's just too hot and humid for anything else in south Alabama these days. But that doesn't have to mean a summer full of boring outfits. Achieving an interesting shorts-and-a-tee outfit is actually pretty simple: make sure your shirt has interesting details. I'll demonstrate using my two new favorite pairs of shorts (from Walmart!)


This tank is a triple threat of interesting details. It's got stripes, a tie waist, and buttons. I picked it up from my local T.J.Maxx last week, but of course can't find it on their website (shop similar here, here, here). I like the wider shoulders, v-neck, and not-cotton material of this shirt. It makes it feel a little more dressed up, like I actually made an effort.

I paired it with these raw-hem white denim shorts from Walmart. They are so soft, I almost don't believe their denim. They're made from recycled materials and are under $20. I'm wearing size 8.

I finished the look with my casual white sandals. I feel like they made the outfit a little too light on the bottom, but I didn't like my brown or gold sandals and I didn't feel like wearing anything with a heel. These slides have become my go-to casual shoe. They've got a slightly cushioned footbed so they're comfortable to walk in. The buckles are silver so they're easy to match with jewelry. The only thing I'm regretting about them is the white bottoms. I cannot keep it from looking dingy! Otherwise, I recommend these if you're looking for a cheap alternative.


This is an example of a not-so-basic t-shirt. It may be a solid color, but the buttons and tie waist give it just enough detail to make it interesting on its own. This shirt is really soft, but I felt it ran a tad small so I sized up to a medium. I've been wearing it with patterned bottoms, but for this rainy day I paired it with my new favorite denim shorts (also from Walmart). These feel like I've been wearing them all my life. I like the lighter wash, slight distressing, and rolled cuffs. I'm wearing size 8. I added a white belt to break up the blue tones and my white sandals to match.

Below are four other ways I've been wearing shorts and a tee/tank, with links to their original posts embedded in the pictures.