Summertime Flex: How to Rock a Bold Print Shirt (For Less Than $20)

Throughout my teen years, I was utterly mesmerized by Harry Styles from One Direction. This was before he became a rock-star solo artist with a proclivity for floral suits and ruffles, before he became an ambassador to Gucci and co-chair of the Met Gala. His style was slowly evolving, and one of the looks that became a staple for him was the bold print shirt.

Aside from his obvious talent and his always perfect hair, there was something so attractive about his style: the risk inherent in those shirts.

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The loud print shirt is exactly that — it’s a risk. Imagine showing up to a BBQ rocking the shirt Harry’s got on in the photo above while all the other dudes are wearing shitty old t-shirts and boring navy blue polos. It’ll make for some awkward conversations around the grill. But to all the women observing from afar? We see that you made an effort and that you are justifiably exuding confidence — which is always attractive.

Harry usually paired his shirts with black skinny jeans and a belt, but there are many ways (and places) to wear the print shirt. Throw it over an undershirt and wear it with shorts to that BBQ, or unbuttoned with swim trunks at the beach, or tucked into a pair of dress pants for an elegant night out at a rooftop bar.

But if you’re new to the bold style, or worried about everyday wear and tear, you might be hesitant to spend a bunch of money on a loud print — which is why we recommend stocking up on some of H&M’s newly released resort shirts. At less than twenty bucks, they come in a variety of patterns, from classic florals to flashy animal prints. And if you really want to make a statement, you could invest in a matching swim short. Huge props if you do.