Stripes Everywhere
Take one look at the spring runways or the latest street-style fashions, and you’ll notice one particular pattern popping up everywhere: stripes, like those seen here on model Camila Alves McConaughey. And while they’re on-trend this season, stripes are a classic pattern that’s sure to stick around, says Charleston, S.C.-based style expert Lee Heyward. “It’s a trend that everybody can participate in and have the confidence that whatever they buy with stripes, they can wear for seasons to come,” she says.
Break the Rules
Whether it’s from your mother, your girlfriends or your favorite fashion mag, you’ve probably heard the style commandment: “Thou shall not wear horizontal stripes.” But it's a rule that’s made to be broken, Heyward says. Every woman can wear horizontal stripes, she says, as long as they choose a garment with a flattering cut, like the dress seen here on TV personality Louise Roe at a charity event in Los Angeles.
Wear Horizontal With Confidence
Though horizontal stripes are wardrobe-friendly, use a few tricks to make them work for your body shape. Because thick, bold stripes can create a widening effect, try wearing them on the smallest part of your body, as actress Olivia Wilde does here at a movie screening in Austin, Texas. It’s also key to stick with stiffer, tailored pieces, like a boxy blouse or blazer, because a stretchy fabric can make horizontal stripes look messy and wavy.
Find Stripes That Flatter
Still hesitant about pulling off horizontal stripes? Heyward suggests sticking with a small, uniform pattern, which looks chic on all body types and sizes. Vertical stripes can create a longer, leaner look, and Heyward says diagonal stripes—like those seen here on actress Janina Gavankar at an event in Hollywood, Calif.—can also flatter your figure because they draw the eye in and create a slimming effect.
Start Out Neutral
Whether you’re a sucker for the classics or just like to tone down patterned pieces, stripes in timeless colors like black and white—seen here on singer Sarah Harding at an event in London—are the simplest way to pull off the trend, says Alicia Ong, Singapore-based fashion designer for contemporary brand Al & Alicia. To ease into the pattern, try anchoring just one striped piece with a neutral look elsewhere.
Play With Patterns
Stripes come in every color combo possible and are a simple way to inject some fun and personality into basic outfits. For the style savvy, stripes can even be paired with florals, polka dots and graphic prints—like designer Nicky Hilton does here at an event in New York—as long as the patterns are in the same color family, Ong advises.
Channel a Casual Look
Take your striped look out on the town, whether it’s for a day of shopping and running errands or brunch with the girls. Ong suggests pairing a striped cardigan with a chic dress for an effortlessly cool day look. You can also pair a striped pant in a classic or bright color with a simple blouse or tank, as Spanish actress Goya Toledo does here at an event in Madrid.
Dress It Up
Stripes can—and should—make an appearance at the office and more formal events, too. Heyward suggests tucking a classic black-and-white striped blouse into a black or colored pencil skirt for a “sexy secretary look.” You can also opt for a chic striped sheath dress, like the one actress Carissa Walford wears here at a fashion show in Sydney.
Add On Striped Accessories
Shoes and handbags like to get in on the striped action, too, and can be a more manageable way to test the pattern, Heyward says. These pieces, like the heels actress Emma Stone wears here at an event in Madrid, can “wake up your tired black dress that you’ve been wearing the same way for a while,” she adds.
