How do I style rock T-shirts?

The T-shirt of the moment is one with prints inspired by rock and heavy metal bands such as The Rolling Stones and Metallica.

While you may not be a fan of these bands, wearing a rock-inspired T-shirt is likely to score you more cool points than one emblazoned with a cute slogan. After all, fashion is about attitude.

It used to be that one would have to buy these T-shirts at concerts or certain stores at Peninsula Shopping Centre or Far East Plaza, but the style has gone so mainstream that they can be easily picked up at most fast-fashion brands.

Styling a rock T-shirt with black jeans and a black leather jacket has also become predictable and boring. Mr N.A. Muhaimin, designer at local online retail site Bang3, suggests cutting off the T-shirt's sleeves to add personality and edginess to the outfit. Then pair it with ripped denim.

He says: "Women can pair it with cut-off denim shorts, boots and a wide-brimmed hat. Men can wear it with ripped skinny jeans and a pair of desert boots."

For a punk-rock look, Mr Muhaimin suggests wearing it with a pair of Dickies shorts, high socks and a pair of Vans sneakers.

Here are some outfit suggestions:

FOR WOMEN:

• Women's The Rolling Stones dark grey cropped top (photo 1), $29.90, from Zara; bleached denim shorts (photo 2), $45.90, from Mango; soft leather bag (photo 3), $225, from Cos; and brown heeled boots in calf suede and faux leather (photo 4), $129.90, from Charles & Keith

Wearing T-shirts and shorts might look too casual, so up the glam factor with heeled boots.

• Women's The Rolling Stones dark grey cropped top (photo 1), $29.90, from Zara; midi lace skirt (photo 5), $35.90, from Zara; burnished gold-plated brass Cross My Heart hoop earrings (photo 6), $79, from www.arissa-X.com; black quilted Lousana bag with pins and gold chain strap (photo 7), $129, from Aldo; and 2754 dark bordeaux canvas sneakers (photo 8), $76.90, from Superga

Make a feminine lace skirt look edgy and cool with a rock T-shirt. Dress it up with heels or go casual with high-top sneakers.

FOR MEN:

• Foals cotton T-shirt (photo 1), $45, from www.gig-merch.com; men's slim-fit damaged jeans (photo 2), $59.90, from Uniqlo; and red Gazelle shoes (photo 3), $139, from Adidas

Break up the monotony of dark colours with bright-coloured sneakers.

• Foals cotton T-shirt (photo 1), $45, from www.gig-merch.com; olive chino pants (photo 4), $99.90, from Benjamin Barker; and Sk8-Hi sneakers (photo 5), $119, from Vans from www.zalora.sg Add a hint of colour with dark green pants.

For that punk-rock touch, wear long socks and show them off by rolling them up the hem of the pants.