Stylish tops to wear with jeans: the best selection on the high street for the perfect warm-weather outfits

Finding stylish tops to wear with jeans is a warm-weather must. The idea of jeans and a nice top has become something of a wardrobe staple and can make even your most well-loved denim feel fresh for the season ahead.

This season, it's all about lightweight layers and easy silhouettes. Think linen shirts, comfy t-shirts, and floaty floral blouses. We've made shopping for the most stylish tops to wear with jeans easy, so that after you've found the best jeans for your body type, you can breeze through styling them.

Something to consider is that the cut of your denim also plays a key role in choosing what tops work with your jeans. The best wide leg jeans look great with tucked-in shirts and t-shirts to help highlight your waist and show off your shape.

However, if you’re a devoted skinny jean-er, you can go oversized with your top half with an oversized shirt or slouchy tee to offset the slim-fitting bottom half and vice-versa. When it comes to baggy jeans, keep your top half more fitted to balance the proportions.

Stylish tops to wear with jeans as chosen by a fashion editor 

With heaps of designs out there, plus an array of different cuts of jeans, we’re seriously spoilt for choice. Whether you’re looking to invest in new jeans and top outfit ideas or looking to experiment with new spring/summer fashion trends 2025, I’ve scoured the cyber shelves for the most stylish tops to wear with jeans for the easiest weekend looks.

1. Stylish tops to wear with straight jeans

Characterised by their fitted waist and leg shape that drops straight from hip to ankle, straight leg jeans are ideal for those who want a streamlined silhouette without the overly fitted style of skinny jeans.

When it comes to how to style straight leg jeans, the options are pretty much endless.

While you'll want some element of fit on your top half, whether that's at the waist or baring your arms, to help balance your proportions, you can afford to be playful, as the slimmer leg shape will stop you from looking overwhelmed by fabric.

2. Stylish tops to wear with skinny jeans

When it comes to styling tops with skinny jeans, you can afford to play with volume here, as the skinny leg helps to show off your shape and stops you from looking overwhelmed with fabric. You can even wear tunic-style tops with skinny jeans, taking advantage of their slender fit. Alternatively, go big and bold and experiment with oversized shirts, blouses, or blazers.

The best skinny jeans are a wardrobe hero and can be a great switch out for straight jeans or even leggings. And skinny jeans are a timeless, classic cut that is also super flattering, making them some of the best jeans for women over 50.

Characterised by their bodycon fit, there are, of course, levels of skinny jeans, with some more figure-hugging than others. The most rigid pairs will be made from 100% cotton, with no elastane, although if you're looking for skinny jeans to also be the best slimming jeans, elasticated pairs often feature lifting and shaping technology to help sculpt your frame.

3. Stylish tops to wear with bootcut jeans

Because of the slightly more voluminous leg shape around the lower calf, when it comes to stylish tops to wear with jeans with a bootcut, you want to keep your waistline fitted. This can be as simple as tucking or half-tucking tops in to narrow yourself in the middle and balance the leg shape. You can still, however, opt for puff or statement shoulders, as the volume around your collar area will help to balance the fuller leg shape.

Bootcut jean styles go in and out of fashion, but this easy, everyday style can be extremely flattering. Plus, they are great for dressing up for an evening out or a special occasion with the right stylish top and heels.

4. Stylish tops to wear with high-waisted jeans

The best high-waisted jeans are some of our favourites and can come in any leg shape, so as a general rule, your choice of tops to wear with your high-waisted jeans will be dictated by the leg silhouette you choose.

Having said that, high-waisted jeans are great for sculpting your middle, and many high-waisted jeans offer built-in technology to do this to maximum effect. With high-waisted jeans, you can wear any top, but you'll often want to tuck these styles in to avoid the bulk of your jeans showing underneath your top. You can also try a half-tuck if you'd like a little more fabric coverage around your middle.

5. Stylish tops to wear with flared jeans

Flared jeans are a flattering shape on all body types, and the level of flare you opt for is on a sliding scale, so don't feel you need to go full '70s. When it comes to how to style flared jeans, the extra fabric at the bottom of your jeans will need to be balanced out by your stylish top.

This generally means keeping your top half fitted and contoured to your frame so that the eye is drawn down and along your body, elongating your silhouette in the process. For taller silhouettes, you can add a little volume to your top half through sleeve or shoulder detail, providing you tuck in your top at the waist to create definition.

6. Stylish tops to wear with baggy jeans

Laid-back baggy jeans can be intimidating, as the oversized leg and slouchy leg can feel overwhelming, and can conceal your natural contour. This is where stylish tops come in.

Although your bottom half will have more fabric and be fuller thanks to the baggy leg shape, there are levels of bagginess. A Girlfriend or Boyfriend jean is ideal for those who want less volume than a full-on '90s-inspired pair of baggy jeans but still want a more relaxed silhouette.

Keep your top half fitted and tuck in the waist of your top to help bring shape back to your silhouette and avoid drowning in fabric. As the baggy jean is pretty casual, you can opt for t-shirt styles to reflect this mood.

7. Stylish tops to wear with barrel jeans

Barrel jeans are one of the newest kids on the denim trend block and are notable by their slightly fuller leg shape coupled with a tapered hem, giving, as the name suggests, an almost barrel-like appearance. Because of this, it's really important to balance out the fullness of the shape to help define your proportions, and when it comes to stylish tops to wear with jeans, you'll want to make sure your waist is somehow defined. This could be as simple as tucking in or half-tucking a top, ensuring that your top sits around your middle, rather than a tunic-length hem. A V-neckline will also elongate your frame, drawing the eye along and down your frame.

8. Stylish tops to wear with kick flare jeans

Kick flare jeans are a modern shape that is often given a cropped silhouette making them ideal for petites. With a mini flared shape, the hem of the jeans kicks out - hence the name- and is usually ankle-skimming, ensuring they work with everything from the best white trainers to a pair of loafers.

Due to their relatively slimline footprint, the kick flare can be treated similarly to a straight pair of jeans, so when it comes to stylish tops to wear with jeans with a kick flare, you can go for fitted or slightly more relaxed styles. For the most waist definition, tuck your top in, or use a half tuck to give a glimpse of your curves. You can also choose a more statement shoulder to balance out the kick flare hem.

FAQS

How to wear jeans and look classy?

Our woman&home Digital Fashion Eccomerce Editor Caroline Parr advises, "When looking to elevate jeans, collared shirts will always make denim feel sharper, or a one-shoulder shape adds just the right amount of sophistication for evening. Try balancing out proportions - for example, if you're wearing baggy barrel leg jeans, try a fitted top, or with skinny jeans, opt for a looser silhouette.

Later, saying "It's always fun to choose a print or a pop of colour to make jeans a bit more joyful too. Go for a chic enough top, and you can play it safe and comfy with shoes, whether that's trainers, ballet flats, or heels if you want".

What tops to wear with jeans?

The beauty of jeans is that they are incredibly versatile because they work with just about anything, and are an excellent vehicle for trend-led tops too. The key to figuring out which jeans and a nice top outfits will work for you is to experiment, but do also consider the cut of the jeans you wear most.

Play with proportions; for example, pair straight leg or skinny jeans with a relaxed, loose top, including button-up poplin shirts or a ruffled blouse. And with wider, more relaxed styles, pair them with something more fitted on the top, or tuck in blouses, t-shirts, or tops to balance your silhouette.