From the parasols littered along the coastline of the Côte d’Azur to the perennially chic Breton tops that serve as a cornerstone of a French woman’s wardrobe, stripes are synonymous with summer dressing for the most discerning tastemakers amongst us. (Think: Jackie Kennedy on a yacht moored in Martha’s Vineyard, Lee Radziwill along the Amalfi Coast, Brigitte Bardot on the set of Jean-Luc Godard’s French New Wave Contempt.)
Still, stripes haven’t been treated with the same reverence that polka dots have, often being regarded as a dated contemporary compared to this beloved print trend. However, it appears to be a palpable shift in the sartorial landscape, with stripes swiftly usurping spotty motifs as the style to relish this season. Be it balloon shorts or T-shirts, stripes are dominating across every category, elevating wardrobe basics with sleek horizontal lines and multi-coloured hues.
Though perhaps once maligned in mundane settings, the runways have heralded the return of stripes with a vengeance, with Matthieu Blazy devoting a core part of his debut collection at Chanel to striped tweed sets and Miu Miu reminding everyone how crucial a striped long-sleeve can be in adding contrast to a look.
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As for styling them, she suggests thinking about stripes as both the hero piece and the neutral layering element. “My favourite thing to do is also mix stripes with another pattern, such as leopard print or florals,” Hanna notes. This is something the brand’s co-founder, Cathie Burke, adds. “Don’t be afraid to pair stripes with different fabric textures either. Also, don’t feel that because you’re wearing stripes you need to tone it down.”
Stripes both steal the spotlight and fall under the radar, making them a truly versatile piece that any well-edited wardrobe would benefit from including. Ahead, I’ve compiled a list of the best stripe pieces currently available to shop across each category. From Posse’s drop-shoulder shirts to Réalisation Par’s iconic striped Cora dress, uncover the ways to wear them below.
Shop the Striped Fashion Trend:
1. Jeans
Style Notes: At first thought, I assumed that wearing striped jeans might make me feel like Paddington Bear when he’s behind bars in the beloved British franchise’s second film. However, after observing countless stylish women adopt this trend for themselves, including Paris-based fashion and fitness influencer Alice Pilate, my tune certainly changed. They combine a ‘60s, jet-set sensibility with the clean lines and editorial polish of the ‘90s—two decades that surely anyone can find solace in.
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