If you know anything about fashion, you know that stripes are always trendy – granted you know how and what with to wear them, of course. And though neutral tones and black-and-white stripe designs usually look good with almost any other clothing item, we often forget that even the tried and tested strip patterns can come across as awfully garish in certain outfit combinations. That’s why we have a list of some handy tips and hints right here to help you avoid distasteful design and color combos in public. So, let’s start with some go-to tips from fashion editors, shall we?
Balance is the key: Mix bold stripes with plain fabric outfit
Bold stripe designs can sometimes come across as intimidating, especially if mixed with outlandish prints and bright colors. If you really want to push your luck with daring stripes, then it would perhaps be best to go with some unpretentious fabrics and neutral shades in the rest of your outfit. For example, you can pair a shirt with horizontal stripes with some denim, faded jeans or khakis, or – if the traditional look doesn’t quite do it for you – you can match your striped sweater with some classic prints and colors like unassuming florals or polka dots.
Vertical vs horizontal: What and how to wear stripe-wise
Unless you want to appear in the public looking like a circus tent, you should pay some attention to the way you wear your stripes. Any keen fashionista will tell you that vertical stripes look your figure appear slimmer and horizontal strips can sometimes add an inch or two to your waistline. Though the way you wear and feel about your stripes matters most, women with slightly more generous waists will definitely benefit from vertical stripes, or at least horizontal lines that are in proportion with their anatomy. Likewise, females who want to make their bust or hips look visually larger will find wide horizontal stripes in bold colors better-suited to their skinnier physical build.
Show your true colors: The impact of tone on striped designs
When going out in a striped outfit, it’s not enough just to pick coordinated print designs: you should also pay some attention to the colors of your getup. Monochromatic stripes can help make your body look slimmer, so take this piece of advice in consideration when shopping for new swimwear online next time. Also, bright garbs like red pants and orange jackets will work well when paired with some wide stripes in neutral shades, for as long as you don’t overdo it color-wise. Pick a couple of colors and match them up with daring striped bits of your wardrobe, just remember that the best color combo is some white or black and a dash of other more vivid hues. Wearing more than four or five different colors can potentially be overly tacky unless you have the attitude to make up for small fashion shortcomings.
Though the world may never actually be just black and white, your stripes can work out just fine if you pair them with some wardrobe pieces in adequate fabrics and unpretentious designs. To stay on the safe side, mix up to three colors in your outfit – or, if you’re a daring one, you can work up the attitude and add a dash of polka dots and bright tones to achieve a deep first impression through your clothes of preference.
