6 Jeans-and–T-Shirt Formulas NY Girls Will Never Retire

Aside for the little black dress, we'd be hard-pressed to find an outfit more classic or more timeless than pairing jeans with a T-shirt. Since the '50s, it has been the pinnacle of all things cool and casual. For proof, just look to old-school style icons like Jane Birkin, Jean Seberg, and James Dean, three celebrities who wore the winning combination regularly and in endless variations.

Despite the fact that some seriously stylish A-listers support the jeans-and–T-shirt combination, there are still people who remain unconvinced. They associate the word "classic" with "boring." They think that just because the outfit has withstood the test of time, it's somehow unoriginal or uninventive… It's old news. We disagree. A classic is a classic for a reason. It's not unoriginal; it's universal. It's not uninventive; it's foolproof.

Keep scrolling to see the six best ways NY girls are styling their classic jeans-and–T-shirt outfits. These looks will convince you that the formula is as strong and as stylish as ever.

1. High-Waisted Jeans + Cropped Tee

Danielle Bernstein of @weworewhat pairs high-waisted skinny jeans with a white crop top, throwing a checked blazer over the top. It's a smart way to dress business-casual without looking, well, too casual. The denim's dark wash and tailored fit keeps it looking professional. Bernstein wears a pair of jeans from her collaboration with Joe's Jeans. They're the High Rise Vintage Straight Jeans ($198), and they're selling fast. If you can't get your hands (or your legs) on a pair before they sell out, wait for a restock. Or keep scrolling to see other pairs we love in similar styles…

2. '70s Flares + Fitted Tee

Bernstein posts so many good jeans-and–T-shirt photos that we couldn't choose just one. Here, she wears a pair of wide-legged light-wash jeans with a fitted white shirt. The pair in question is Tribe Kelley's Dream Weaver ($100) pair. Tribe Kelley is a clothing brand based in Los Angeles and operated by a husband-and-wife duo. 

Karen of @karenbritchick pairs her black flare jeans with a matching vintage denim jacket and a fitted turtleneck tee. It sounds like an oxymoron, but this outfit is so '70s-inspired that it's actually so 2019.

3. Culottes + Graphic Tee

We can always count on Man Repeller's Leandra Cohen to offer up some trendy jeans-and–T-shirt combinations. Here, she shows us how to pair denim culottes with a simple graphic tee. It's proof that stylish isn't synonymous with complicated.

4. Raw-Hem Jeans + Crew-Neck Tee

Olivia Jeanette wears raw-hem denim with a white crew-neck T-shirt. A raw hem gives off an effortlessly cool vibe, especially when it's paired with a traditional white tee. We like the way she elevated the look by styling the jeans-and–T-shirt combo with a lilac overcoat and laser-cut flats. 

5. Slouchy Jeans + Graphic Tee

This is how off-duty destructed denim is done. All you need is the right pair of slouchy jeans and an old tee (like Aleali's Oakland Raiders cutoff tee).

Model Alessandra Garcia Lorido is also a fan of this take on the traditional jeans-and–T-shirt combo. Here, she's pictured in a pair of light-wash "mom" jeans, and a rad Led Zeppelin T-shirt.

6. Kick-Flare Jeans + Breton Tee

Julia from @humidityistheenemy wears her ankle-grazing denim with a classic striped Breton tee, and we can't get enough of the look. Do as she does and add a denim jacket over the top if the weather is chilly. Once it warms up, do away with the jacket, and sport the tee and jeans alone.

Next up, the outfits that make one fashion editor want to wear color.