Stripes
Start with the trousers you already wear.
Start with the trousers you wear most. Add a striped top, keep your usual shoes, and look at the outfit from a few steps back. That is a useful starting point for how to wear stripes: decide how much pattern you enjoy in a familiar outfit before changing everything around it. A fine blue-and-white shirt, a broad black-and-white knit and a multicoloured striped dress ask for different decisions. Look at the width of the lines, the space between them and how strongly the colours stand apart.
Then consider the shape. Check where the shoulder sits, how the fabric falls over your waistband and where the hem finishes. Compare striped tops from Mela Purdie and Joseph Ribkoff, or look at Foil for striped shirts and dresses. Choose the combination of print and cut you enjoy wearing, then use pieces already in your wardrobe to build around it. Leave room to move comfortably.
Compare contrast, then check the fit
For a quieter starting point, try a fine stripe in two close colours. For more definition, compare it with a clear light-and-dark stripe. Stand back from the mirror, then look closely at the neckline, sleeve and hem. Decide which version gives you the amount of pattern you want.
Move in the garment. If a shirt pulls across the buttons or a knit catches on your waistband, try another size or cut. Judge the whole garment while sitting and standing, as well as looking at the lines on the hanger.
Build an outfit around one striped piece
- With denim: start with a striped shirt or tee and jeans. Try the hem loose, then a small front tuck if the fabric allows. Compare both with the shoes you plan to wear.
- For a working day: pair a striped shirt with plain trousers and a loafer. Keep any jacket plain while you decide how much detail you want.
- With a striped dress: choose one colour from the print for your bag or shoes. Try a simple sandal first, then compare it with a dressier shoe for dinner.
If you are replacing a plain tee, browse tops with the neckline and sleeve length you already find useful.
Try one colour before a second print
Pick out a colour in the stripe and repeat it once elsewhere: navy trousers with a blue stripe, for example, or a warm pink bag with a multicoloured dress. You can also try an accent colour that you already enjoy wearing.
For print mixing, begin with a small area, such as a scarf. Try a floral and stripe with one shared colour and noticeably different pattern sizes. Add the second print, take it away, and choose the combination you prefer.
Your stripes questions
How do I choose between horizontal and vertical stripes?
Try both in a shape you like, keeping the trousers and shoes the same. Compare the spacing, colour contrast and where the garment finishes. Check the fit through the shoulders and bust, then sit down in it. Choose the version whose overall line and feel you prefer.
What should I wear with a striped shirt?
Start with plain trousers, jeans or a skirt in one of the shirt’s colours. Try it untucked first, then compare a partial tuck if the hem and fabric allow. Choose the shoe for your day: a sandal for a relaxed lunch, or a loafer with tailored trousers.
Can I wear stripes with floral prints?
Try a shared colour and two different pattern sizes, then judge them together in a full-length mirror. Begin with one larger piece and one smaller area of print, such as a shirt and scarf. Keep the bag and shoes plain while you decide whether you enjoy the combination.
What should I check when choosing a striped dress?
Check the neckline, sleeve, waist position and hem length as well as the stripe. Walk and sit in the dress, and try it with the shoes you expect to wear. If it has a belt, compare it tied and untied where the design allows, then choose your preferred shape.
How do I choose striped knitwear for layering?
Try the knit over the layer you expect to wear underneath, then add your jacket or coat. Check the armhole, sleeve bulk and where the hem sits. Read the individual composition and care instructions before buying; a striped appearance alone does not tell you the fibre content or washing method.
Compare colours, shapes and patterns in our printed clothing range.
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