RebDolls #OOTD crop top that I snagged at the Stylish Curves Pop Up Shop

For the longest time, the term graphic tee gave me cringe-inducing flashbacks of the “sassy” slogan tees so popular in the early aughts – not a sartorial high point by any means.  But lately, I’ve seen some lighthearted, tongue in cheek slogan tees (in the same vein as this one from Moschino) that work even if you are not a rebellious teen.  For me, the key is to avoid random adjectives (“Beautiful,” “Perfect,” etc., can come off pretty juvenile) and cliched sayings (i.e. “Young, Wild, and Free”).  Instead, find something fun and fashion focused – a tee shirt shouldn’t take itself too seriously, after all.

My favorite is this cheeky twist on the LBD – a black tee dress that technically fits the description, but is way more lighthearted than the classic wardrobe staple.  I’d wear this with tights, chelsea boots, and an oversized pastel coat now.  In the summer, it would look amazing with sporty flatforms, or a serious statement heel for a night out.

This #Celfie tee from Boohoo is another fashion reference, evoking the Céline tee that brought graphic prints back into fashion’s zeitgeist.   I love how it was styled at the Boohoo pop up store in Soho (only here until November 14th!), but it would also look fantastic with a sharp blazer, oxblood skinny jeans, and pointed toe d’orsay flats.

This sweatshirt from blogger Tanesha Awasthi‘s Girl With Curves features another Céline wordplay, this one with a more targeted audience.  Perfect for a comfy day with a printed jersey midi skirt and slip ons.

Do you have any slogan tees?  How do you style them?  Tell me in the comments!