7 ways to wear your stripes

If you were to look me in the eye and say ‘I don’t have any stripes in my wardrobe’, I would be almost certain that you are in fact a barefaced liar. Because surely we all still love a good stripe. It doesn’t have to be your standard Breton striped T‑shirt – although my love for them will never die – but any kind of stripe. Big, thick, small, thin, vertical, horizontal. On shirts, skirts, trousers, jackets, socks, you name it – but maybe not all at the same time, as that might be a touch too much.

We’ve got a fair bit to get through today, as I found so many things I liked that work with this theme, so let’s get on with seven ways to wear your stripes…

STRIPED SHIRT

Can be ‘bizness’, can be casual, will never go out of style; your classic stripe button down shirt is a must. Wear with jeans, trousers, shorts or skirts. Oversized ones are great for a beach cover-up, cropped ones are a more modern twist on the classic. I found this one from French Connection as a great alternative to this very popular one from ME + EM that I featured a few weeks back.

STRIPED JUMPER

I imagine wearing this outfit and being at Martha’s Vineyard after a day at the beach, stopping off at the crab shack to get a lobster roll and a cold glass of Whispering Angel. That’s not going to happen any time soon, but I’d settle for a prawn sandwich meal deal and a nice sit-down under a tree in the sun in the meantime. In fact, just give me the sunshine, that would be enough right now.

STRIPE SUIT

If you’re looking for something suitable for the office in the summer months, but you don’t feel ready for a shorts suit, how about a linen striped waistcoat suit? I imagine Nina from ‘The Split’ wearing this to the law firm office. I have word that they are currently filming a new series, or at least a ‘special’, in Barcelona. If you’ve not seen the previous three series then I implore you to get on to BBC iPlayer right away and watch immediately, because it is so, so good.

STRIPE T SHIRT

The undisputed uniform of every busy modern woman when she doesn’t have time to think about what she’s going to wear: striped tee, jeans and trainers. Frankly, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. To bring it a little more up to date, pair with some nice wide-leg jeans and a great pair of sunglasses.

STRIPE TOP

You don’t have to go for the rugby style, but I’m kind of into this look. It’s my favourite of the week. Mainly because I already have this denim jacket, belt, bag and sandals in my own wardrobe so I can easily recreate something similar. I get messages every week from people who use this blog as inspiration to shop their own wardrobe, and I love that.

STRIPE DRESS

If the floral dress and trainers uniform for event spring and summer dressing is boring you – and I have to admit I’ve fallen out of love with it somewhat recently – then how about a striped dress and flats instead? Add a good handbag and a string of pearls to finish off the look. Pearls are definitely having a bit of a moment again now. I bought some in Guernsey when we were there the other week. I was inspired by the man who made us cocktails in a bar we visited. He was wearing a simple black T‑shirt and a single string of pearls. He looked so cool, I had to recreate. Plus there’s no VAT over there so my pearls were a bargain.

STRIPE TROUSERS

I have a soft spot for stripey trousers. I had a beloved pair of multicoloured striped ones back in the very early 90s, and I wore them with great pride to various raves. These days, I probably wouldn’t add the patchwork cap, bum bag, Travel Fox trainers and wild-eyed stare. Some things are best left in the past.

I am still thinking about working on that ‘what to wear to a festival’ blog, but I’m so boring when it comes to dressing for festivals. I go for practical and comfort rather than high fashion, plus I really don’t like sequins, so there will be no glittery catsuits featured.

K x

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