What Goes with Black Shorts for Female and Male

Last Updated on 7 months by Susan Mayrich

Black shorts are a versatile piece for your summer wardrobe. They can take you from everyday errands to a night out if you pair it with the right top. You can wear them with almost anything, whether it’s a shirt or tank top, or even your favorite graphic T-shirt.

What goes with black shorts? You can pair black shorts with two different types of shirts. A t-shirt is the simplest and most casual look, and it’s great for weekend wear or a trip to the gym. A more professional option is a collared, button-down shirt that’s suitable for work but still keeps you cool. For a pop outfit, try wearing a white shirt with black shorts.

If you want to dress up your shorts, the best way to do it is with a shirt and a jacket. Here are some guidelines for figuring out what goes with black shorts:

What Goes with Black Shorts for Female

Black shorts are a versatile wardrobe staple. The best part about black shorts? They pair perfectly with many other colors and patterns.

A graphic tee

A graphic tee is a great option when you want to look casual but stylish. Graphic tees typically feature funny sayings or images that are sure to get some laughs from friends. 

Pair a graphic tee with a necklace or scarf if you want to dress it up a bit. 

Wear black shorts with a button-up shirt

A casual look that you can wear on warm summer days is a pair of black shorts and a button-up shirt. The shirt can be plain or patterned and made from cotton or linen. For example, try wearing a pair of black twill shorts with a white linen shirt and brown leather sandals. 

Or go for a preppy look by pairing black cargo shorts with a striped cotton polo shirt, which has buttons but is more casual than a dressy button-up.

Multicolored Striped Tank

This outfit is perfect for a day in the sun — whether it’s at the beach or just an afternoon picnic.

The multicolored stripes will give life and a fun pop of color to your outfit while keeping it casual and comfortable.

Off-the-Shoulder Floral Tunic

This outfit is perfect for brunch with friends. This shows off some skin without being too revealing, while the floral pattern gives it a fun and feminine feel. 

Sheer Chiffon Button-Up Shirt

Sheer chiffon button-up shirt. This is a fun way to wear something that’s normally reserved for the office or more formal occasions. Try rolling up the sleeves and leaving a few buttons undone at the top.

White Blouse

A white blouse can be worn for casual or dressy occasions. A white button-down blouse can be paired with black shorts for a business casual look. A white blouse can also be worn for a date night, paired with either red or black shorts. 

A loose-fitting, white V-necked blouse can be worn during the day with black shorts and flip-flops while running errands around town.

Black Shortalls

Black shortfalls are one of the most versatile pieces of clothing in a woman’s wardrobe because they can be worn at any time of year and in any setting without looking out of place. 

They can be worn in the summer when paired with sandals and a tank top, or they can be worn in the winter when paired with boots.

A black silk wrap blouse

If you want to elevate your outfit without putting in too much effort, try pairing your black denim shorts with a silk wrap blouse and some strappy heels for a night out.

A light blue denim jacket

When the weather gets cold but you still want to wear your favorite black denim shorts, try topping them off with some thick tights and a light blue denim jacket for an effortlessly cool look.

An oversized sweatshirt

On those days when you want to be comfy yet stylish, put on an oversized black crew neck sweatshirt over your favorite pair of high-waisted black denim shorts. Add some sneakers and enjoy your day.

What to Wear with Black Shorts for Guys

We’ve all been in that situation where we are walking down the street and see a great guy wearing black shorts and we think to ourselves, “I wish I could pull that off.” Well, you can. It just takes a little bit of creativity and confidence.

Here are some ideas of what to wear with black shorts:

Black Shorts + White Shirt

Exhibit A: This is the most obvious pairing for black shorts. It’s also the easiest to pull off. The standard by which all other looks are judged, this combo should be in every man’s summer wardrobe.

Black Shorts + Denim Shirt

Everyone owns at least one denim shirt, which means you probably own at least one denim shirt.

Don’t let it simply sit in your closet waiting for cooler weather; use it to dress down your black shorts and add a dash of blue to your outfit.

Black Shorts + Chambray Shirt

Chambray is essentially denim’s more sophisticated older brother. It has a different weave than denim, making it softer and more breathable — perfect for summer temperatures.

Black shorts and a chambray shirt are an easy way to move from the beach.

A black graphic crew-neck T-shirt

A black graphic crew-neck T-shirt and black shorts are a savvy combination to add to your casual arsenal.

For something more on the dressier end to finish off this outfit, complement your outfit with sneakers.

Grey Print Crew-Neck T-Shirt and Black Shorts

This is a great choice for a casual look. Because it’s grey, it doesn’t have the same wash-out effect that white does on darker clothing like black shorts. You can also go with a darker grey if you want something that has more of a neutral vibe to it.

Navy Crew-Neck T-Shirt and Black Shorts

Navy is one of the most versatile colors out there and it pairs well with just about any other color.

This is why it works so well with black shorts — because they can fit right into any outfit with minimal effort on your part.

Mint Floral Short Sleeve Shirt and Black Shorts

A mint floral short sleeve shirt can be paired with a pair of black shorts as shown in the picture above. This outfit will look great on a warm summer day. The mint floral short sleeve shirt will add style to the outfit and look great when paired with the black shorts.

Beige Long Sleeve Shirt With Black Shorts

A beige long sleeve shirt can be worn with a pair of black shorts. Beige is considered to be a neutral color that can go well with a variety of different colors including black.

Men should wear this outfit when it is colder outside and they need to have something on their arms to keep them warm. Adding a jacket over top of this outfit will make it look even better and allow men to stay warm during the winter months.

Light blue shirts

If you want to match your shorts without having too much contrast between them and your shirt, then light blue is a good choice. Light blue has a cool temperature that contrasts well against the warm temperature of black.

Plaid shirts 

For those who want to stand out from the crowd, wearing a plaid shirt with black shorts can create an eye-catching outfit that looks great in most casual settings. 

Black Shorts with a Tan Shirt

Tan shirts are great to wear during the summer months because they compliment most skin tones and work well with the warmer temperatures.

Final Words

So there you have it, many options for pairing black shorts with your favorite t-shirts and sweaters. I hope that you found this guide useful and that you were able to choose one or two new outfit options to try out.