The "Jeans and a Top" Formula Is Still Going Strong—5 Outfits I'll Always Swear By

This pairing is anything but basic.

Bailey Burke#039;s avatar
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Published In Buying Guides
woman wearing jeans and sandals and a black tank top in nyc street style
(Image credit: Darrel Hunter for Marie Claire)
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All year long, fashion girls come back to a simple formula: jeans and a top. I know, I know—it doesn't sound groundbreaking, but there's a reason it's the universal language of getting dressed. A great pair of jeans and a crisp top is essentially a blank canvas—it gives your accessories room to stand out and allows you leeway to take risks with the rest of the outfit.

The key, of course, is quality. The formula only works if the foundation is right: clean lines, well-crafted fabric, great denim. Ahead, the five jeans-and-a-top outfits I'm constantly recreating.

A Button-Down, Light Denim, and Flip-Flops

woman wearing jeans and flip flops with a white button down

(Image credit: Getty)

Mixing Black and White Pieces

woman wearing white jeans and a black top scarf around her waist

(Image credit: Getty)

The Classic White Tee

woman wearing jeans and a tee shirt with a sweater around her shoulders

(Image credit: Getty)

An Easy Tank Top

woman wearing a white tank and jeans with a black bag street style

(Image credit: Getty)

A Clean All-White Look

woman wearing white button down with white denim and sandals

(Image credit: Getty)
Bailey Burke
Bailey Burke
Contributing Editor, Fashion

Bailey Burke is a New Yorkbased contributing fashion editor to Marie Claire and Who What Wear. By day, she works on the Creator Community team, overseeing influencer and branded content programs across both publications. It's a role that keeps her deeply plugged into the fashion and creator landscape—and has given her a keen eye for the dernier cri. Once (accurately) labeled a shopaholic, she now considers it market research.

A Chicago native who spent three years in Los Angeles before landing in New York City, Bailey's unique style is a direct product of everywhere she has lived. Outside of work, you'll find her planning her next trip, trying new restaurants, attending concerts, or convincing herself she needs just oneeee more thing in her cart. Follow her on Instagram at @baileyyburke.