Some women have a really big love for stripes. Others however, know just enough to pull off the print without looking like a fashion faux pas. But if you´re one of those wondering how to wear stripes and look good in it, then read on. This ultimate style guide for women covers everything you need to know on wearing stripes.
Stripe print has been around for ages. Dating way back to who-knows-when early fashionistas, until today, stripe print continues to be a timeless trend that always comes back every spring. Stripes, in fact, is a staple to many fashionable women.
Stay with me as I explore the various and many ways to look good in stripes.
Table of Contents
How to Wear Stripes with Bold Colors
Stripes are a great way to complement the bold color trend for this spring and summer. Go with bold and neon colors to accomplish the severe look stripes are known for. This can be done with colored jeans, a bright-colored blouse, or bold accessories. Have fun with pairing stripes with all of your different favorite colors!
How to Wear Stripes with Other Prints
If mixing prints scares you a little, pairing prints with stripes is a great way to start. Stripes are a great way to show off other fabulous prints and enhances the print by adding another dimension to it. Whether polka dots,paisley, tribal, or global, stripes will make the outfit look chic and fashion forward.
There are three tested rules in print clashing that´s proven to work—work with tonal prints, team up big prints with small fine prints, mix black print with colored print, or partner small print with other small prints. For all of these, one thing is always true, there´s at least one same color from the prints.
1. Stripes and Collage Combo
Mixing striped easy top with collage print skirt is a trend for Spring 2012. It vibrates girliness, easy and relaxed mood. Notice how the patterns and prints work in harmony? The top, while stripes, is in black which doesn´t clash with the collage print of the skirt. Add modern jewelries such as arrow earrings, braided bracelets and cuff, and net suede wedge sandals.
2. blue/white striped culottes
One un-dying trend that keeps on repeating every season, yet especially in spring, is mix-print pairing. We´ve tried clashing bold prints with bold, or mono prints with monos, and there´s one thing we´ve learned from these experiments, that playing up with prints and mixing them in a single ensemble requires a bit of science.
Today, this post on how to mix stripes with other eye-catching prints is inspired by a look from Alice + Olivia´s SS15 fashion show. The model is wearing blue/white striped culottes, a lavender crop top, a printed crop jacket, and white sandals.
3. Striped Sleeveless Dress with Floral Cardigan Tonal
This outfit features two prints—the stripe dress and the floral cardigan—but has a tonal look. The theme color is wine tempered with nude in the background. Although playful and intriguing, the result is not heavy to the eye.
4. Floral Short Jacket with Striped Print Organza Dress
This midi length organza dress has a subtle stripe pattern so it´s easy to accent it with a striking floral jacket. The good thing is that, both pieces have the same pink motif.
5. Floral Print Coat with Zig Zag Print Dress
I could almost say that this white and floral dress coat and the white and yellow zigzag print dress are made for each other. The combination is perfect to wear in early spring when you can bare your arms indoor but not outdoor. Nude accessories are best to polish the look.
6. Wall Paper Print Jacket and Stripe Floral Full Skirt
At first look you´d think that the jacket and skirt are one set. But in fact, the jacket has a wall paper print and the skirt has a tiny floral print designed for an illusion of stripe pattern, both in the same shade of blue with black edging feature. Wearing them with a simple white tee and black accessories, the result is fabulous.
7. Mixed Print Fit and Flare Dress
If identifying which prints and colors work well together isn´t your forte, don´t be dismay. There are lots of dresses out there that already feature lovely mix prints. I like the beauty of this sleeveless fit and flare dress with black stripe top and dark floral skirt. Wearing black pumps to match the top, carrying a wine clutch to accent the skirt, + some fab black sunglasses, is my favorite way of styling it.
8. Stripe Blazer with Printed Dress
Although many fashionistas wonder if you can throw a stripe jacket over a printed dress and still look right, you can actually do this by applying the right clashing of prints technique. Make sure your blazer has vertical stripes to create a clear contrast between the prints. For fall, layer a striped jacket or coat over a printed, colorblocked sheath dress, add some black tights and black shoes. While this is a work of black and white mix, it embodies sophistication and at the same time, as it sufficiently absorbs the heat, keeps you warm.
How to Wear Jackets with Maxi Dress
But for sunny days, put your hands on more upbeat prints such as a floral print dress. Make sure however, that your print is not of shocking, oversized florals. You´ll never go wrong if you choose dark floral print or bright florals with black details in the dress, they´re perfect to complement a black/white striped coverup. Finish off with a pair of gorgeous sandals.
How to Wear Stripes with Stripes
What I love about spring stripes is that while they look very fresh for spring, they can also be easily transitioned for summer. From sailor stripes to rainbow stripe prints and up to clashing bright stripes, we´ve seen plenty of inspirations from the runway. Here are some ways to wear stripes with stripes.
1. Diagonal stripes dress with vertical stripes jacket
The first in my list is this contemporary and ladylike Black Fleece’s striped silk-voile dress with gorgeous diagonal pattern giving an optical illusion because of it´s vertical underlay. Cinching the waist with a slim contrast belt or something in nude will give you more shape.
I love the effect of layering over it a sailor striped (with much bigger stripes) blazer but you can also take a step further by adding a bold monochrome jacket.
How to Wear Stripes with Floral Print
Who said stripes can´t go with florals? Teaming two or more different prints in a single outfit has evolved into a norm for a while now. I see it as revolutionary, a somewhat rebellion to the old style adage that a print should only go with a solid.
And yet, after many years of seeing mixed print on print/s on the runway and in the magazines, many women are still not braving it, or not mastering the right way of doing it. Can you blame them? I say NOT. You can easily go wrong in doing it, honestly, + there are no fixed rules, it´s more of a science with your gut working as the compass.
To add a dose of fun and surprises to your warm-weather wardrobe; try mixing stripe with floral separates. Here are some ideas you can steal.
1. stripe tank top + floral skirt
Why it works? The stripe tank top is in black and white monochrome which tones down, if not highlights, the lively bold print of the skirt.
Additional Tips: Use your accessories for more toning. Black flat sandals and a neutral handbag will soften the print on print mix.
2. stripe halter neck top + floral pencil skirt
Why it works? Both the top and the skirt have a clear vertical line which elongates your silhouette. Also, the colors in the striped top are also present in the floral skirt.
Additional Tips: choose the colors of your accessories from the prints. For example, the light pink bag and the black high heels matched the floral print.
3. stripe tee + floral wide leg pants
Why it works? The slim, flared floral pants elongate your legs especially if worn with high heeled sandals. The horizontal stripes of your tee will create a lovely contrast + the stripes don´t overwhelm the floral print.
Additional Tips: stick with neutral colored accessories to allow the prints to do the talking.
4. floral top + stripe skirt
Why it works? There are two elements in this mix – the harmony of colors and the clash of vertical (top) and horizontal (skirt) lines. The dominant color in this mix is green, which is soothing to the eyes.
Additional Tips: pick the tiniest colors from your prints for your accessories such as the black, brown and yellow green.
How to wear stripes and polka dots
If you want to try pattern clash but not sure of how to do it right, start with a black and white print to partner with a bright one. As seen here on Burberry´s runway look, black/white stripe midi skirt looks stunning with red dot on white shirt.
How to wear stripes for your body type
1. Stripes for Pear Shaped
As a Pear, you goal is to create balance between your narrow shoulder, small bust, and your wider hips and bigger backside. There are several ways you can achieve this:
- Thicker horizontal stripes for your top and slimmer horizontal stripes for your bottom.
- Slim vertical stripes for your top (Because according to studies started by Hermann von Helmholtz and followed up by Peter Thompson, horizontal stripes makes the wearer appear thinner than the vertical stripes) and slim horizontal stripes for your bottom.
- Bright horizontal stripes for your top, dark horizontal stripes for your bottom.
- Bright stripes for your top, and dark solid color for your bottom.
- Bright full bloom print for your top, and slim horizontal stripes for your bottom.
2. Stripes for Muscular Build
Having a muscular build, your goal in wearing stripes is to create an illusion of having wider hips and slimmer waist. To chieve this, you need to create width around your hips and your thighs by making wearing wide horizontal stripes or vertical stripes for your bottom. Here are some suggestions:
- Dark slim horizontal stripes for your top, bright horizontal stripes for your bottom.
- Horizontal stripes for your top (Because horizontal stripes makes you look thinner and vertical stripes wider), and vertical stripes for your bottom.
- Slim horizontal stripes for your top, and wide/big horizontal stripes for your bottom.
- Dark solid top, and bright stripes for your bottom.
3. Stripes for Hourglass Shaped
Because you have a well-balance figure, your goal in wearing stripes is really to just enhance your already balanced shaped. So whether you´re opting for vertical or horizontal stripes, stick to stripes in the same direction.
- Horizontal stripes for your top, and horizontal stripes for your bottom. Both top and bottom should have exactly the same size of stripes.
- Vertical stripes for top, and vertical stripes for bottom. Same size stripes, and same direction.
- If you are volumptious, stick to slim horizontal stripes.
- If you are a slim hourglass, you can have fun with vertical striped dresses and wide horizontal stripes.
- Pull everything together with a slim belt.
How to Wear Stripes with Stripes
How do you show your love for stripes? By wearing your favorite striped item with more stripes! Stripes with other stripes add a creative touch and can look very fabulous. When mixing stripes, be sure to have the different items complement each other instead of fight each other. When pairing a striped shirt with striped pants or shorts, choose stripes that are in different directions.
For example, if the stripes on the pants are vertical, the stripes on the shirt should be horizontal. Also, another way to pair stripes with the striped accessories like shoes and scarves. Get creative with your love of stripes!
Are you planning to wear stripes this spring and summer? What are your favorite ways to style the trend?
How to wear stripes in summer
Although black and white monochrome is one of the timeless trends we´ve seen ever, and thus black and white stripes are also timeless, bright stripes are in fact just as good and gorgeous as the black and white. We should have fun wearing the brighter stripes just as much as we have fun with the monos. So if you´re wondering how to wear stripes in summer, here are six style inspiration featuring cute bright stripes.
1. Breezy Stripes Summer Dress
This look see on Janine is how to wear stripes if you want to show your funky and quirky side—by combining two bold prints and a pop of color. She added a slim leopard print belt on a breezy sleeveless striped mini dress, and then complete the look with some strapped wedged sandals.
2. Nautical Stripes Dress
An electric striped dress is very chic and relaxed outfit perfect for a shiny spring or summer day. Wear it with a metallic wedge sandal and add a gold cuff for an edgy appeal. Don´t forget your sunglasses and grab a white satchel.
3. Bright Stripes Sweater Dress
In choosing for a striped sweater dress, look for one with striking color combination such as blue, black, and white. This sweater dress from Torn embodies a little bit of flirty, eye-catching contrast stripes, and of-the-moment trend. You only need a great black bag and a pair of sexy black shoes to complete it.
4. Bright Stripes Maxi Dress
Orange is a very interesting color to wear in summer. But more than just the color, this maxi dress also features a daring plunging V-neck, diagonal stripes, and billowing long skirt. It´s definitely a dress perfect to jumpstart you spring or for a summer-ready look. Try it out with wedge sandals, a single bracelet, and a black bag.
5. Modern Striped T-shirt
If you can find a great top with bright stripes, whether it´s a tee or a blouse, feel free to team it with a body-hugging skirt in a matching color or in white. I found a blue stripes tee to wear with a neon blue striped con skirt. I added a DÓrsay pump to make your legs look really long, and a black bag. If you can´t find a perfect skirt to match with your top, go for a white skirt instead. Bright colors always float out in white.
6. Bright Stripes Trousers
Looking for a new way to wear cropped pants? Go for vertical bright stripes cropped pants. White others say that capris shorten your length because they´re cut off around the thickest part of your legs, the vertical lines of your striped pants will offset it. So you need not worry about looking shorter in these pants. You simply have to add platform pumps, a white tee worn tucked in, and a black bag for a casual-smart ensemble.
7. Bright Stripes Cashmere Mix Sweater
Here´s a very fabulous look to wear in spring – bright stripes sweater with orange shorts. Notice that the orange color is also present in the sweater. Be warned though, this seat is made of lil´ prices items. They´re designers but as you know, you get what you pay for. Black peep-toe boots and a black bag are your perfect additional.
In case you want to do the reverse, you want to wear bright stripes shorts instead of the top. Here´s a great alternative – striped pajama shorts. You can wear it with a white top or you can choose a color from the print for your top.
8. Bright Stripes Lace Sleeveless Dress
When it´s time to go girly for parties, formal events or even to prom, this sleeveless striped lace dress is a to-go to piece. It features two of the season´s trends – stripes and modern lace. Try it out with peep-toe stilettos and a white leather envelope clutch.
9. Classic Multistripe Sweater with White Shorts
Go back to your classic multistripe pattern but pick up one in a refreshing Turquoise and white combo. But this sweater is also available in dark blue, soft peach, coral red, and amaranth pink. So just pick your own fave color. For me though, I love any light shades of blue. Wearing the sweater with white shorts and white fashion sneakers gives a truly fresh to eyes, very neat get-go.
10. stripes cross body bag
Here´s a feminine layering of bright solids, bright stripes + white. I actually started this outfit with the bag. I´m a fan of this posy green cross body bag and I love how the neutral brown straps and accents flattered the color.
Then I cross matched the bag with a pink plain t-shirt and a pair of neon pumps. Then I added white jeans to soften the colors. And lastly, to make you fall-ready, I layered a soft, blossom print cape that complements the colors in your combination.
11. stripe t-shirt + frilling skater skirt
In this outfit, you´ll see the blending of casual sports with feminine dressy elements. I picked a wide stripes V-neck t-shirt in Persian Green and white, and teamed it with a frilling soft beige skater skirt. You can wear this outfit in late summer or early fall. I polished up the look with some wedge sandals and a neutral travel tote.
Let me know what you think of bright stripes. How do wear this pattern?
How to Wear Stripes with Jeans
1. Classic Striped Outfit for Casual Friday at the Office
For this casual Friday office look, Janine styled stripes in a classic way with a nautical and preppy feel. She chose a striped top with three-quarter sleeves and wore it with a pair of wide-legged jeans and a pair of simple sandals. But to recycle the stripes top, she´s planning to add even more striped items to her wardrobe including some color striped tops, a flowy striped skirt and some striped accessories.
2. Striped Sweater with White Bootcut Jeans
A dark navy, knitted striped sweater looks perfect with a pair of white bootcut jeans. In order to keep your line long, slip into a really high-heeled sandal. Team with a cobalt mix satchel that´s not only beautiful but very high quality. Wear with high heels to stroll ´round the city or with flats if you´re on bikes.
3. Elongate Your Legs with Striped Jeans
The number one aim of every lady when it comes to dressing up is to lengthen her vertical line. In other words, outfits that make you look taller. This Striped high-rise flared jeans from Alice + Olivia definitely help you to achieve that. You can either pair with it a neutral colored sweater or a bold monochromatic top.
4. Stripe Blazer with White Pants
A black and white blazer looks great with white, whether it´s a pair of white pants or a white skirt. Add another striking print to the look through your shoes, the leopard print pumps really floats out when paired with white. To have some touch of color, layer under your jacket a bright mono top. This outfit is perfect for spring.
How to Wear Stripes to Work
1. Stripes for the Office
I combined stripes with a bold color, but kept everything else simple to be appropriate for the office. A simple black and white striped top layered over with a bold red blazer, teamed with cropped slacks (a nice hint of summer), and finished off with some pee-toe nude high heels.
2. Stripes sweater Dress
Stripes is a hot trend this summer and you can easily incorporate it to your office looks. Take a respectable-looking stripe dress in cotton and dress it up with slim belt, black sandals and white satchel, or go for a stripe top to layer under a summer jacket and team with soft black cotton pants.
3. Blue Stripes with Bright Red
Royal blue stripes are really taken out of their elements if partnered with a bright red solid. For a transitional outfit, whether it´s transtioning to fall or to summer, try mixing a red pullover with a nautical striped ponte skirt polished with two-toned ballerina flats for a relax office attire.
4. Mixed Stripe Skirt
Have you ever thought of wearing stripe skirt to work? How about styling it elegantly for parties? Whether it´s for work or play, a perfect stripe skirt will always dress you up, in any way you want.
Black and white stripes is a statement, and yet if the pattern features mixed stripes, vertical and horizontal, all the more that it is a stunner. Wear a black and white pencil skirt to work teamed with a black blazer and black pumps. But if you´re to style it for play, go for black leather jacket and sexy wedges.
5. Stripe Front Panel Pencil Skirt
Remember optical illusion dresses? This stripe panel pencil skirt embodies tha same sexiness. It makes you look more curvy than you are and slimmer. This skirt is too sexy for work, unless your field has a more creative environment. Wear with a cap sleeve black top, fitted and cropped, then finish with colorblock sandal.
How to Wear Stripes in Fall
1. Stripe Jacket with Black Leather Skirt
Ever wonder how to wear leather skirt in winter? Team it with striped jacket or coat and layer with black tights. Temper the darkness of this look with a nude top, it softens everything. To keep things edgy, opt for a pair of black ankle boots.
How to wear stripes
Take a good look of the stripes pattern you have in your closet, how many of those are black and white, and how are many are brights? Most stripes are monochrome, or navy blue and white. However, I hope that this style guide has inspired you to get creative with your stripes and have fun.
