Stripes are either loved or hated by women of all sizes and ages. I personally love stripes and when I’m running late and just don’t have time to patiently choose the outfit of the day I turn to a striped blouse and jeans. What I love about stripes is that they freshen me up. If I choose a regular black blouse and some jeans, I think you’ll agree, the outfit looks pretty plain and boring.
Stripes make me look brighter. They make an outfit stand out and quirky, even though no effort goes into it. For instance, Alexa Chug, who we covered as a style inspiration, loves wearing stripes!
We also see Blake Lively in the picture on the right side looking very beautiful wearing a striped blouse in a black and peach combination. So even though the styles that I’ve made are in a black and white striped combination, you can wear stripes in any color you want.
Freshen up for school
STYLE INFO: Glasses, Pants, Blouse, Shoes, Waistcoat
The striped top makes the outfit more modern, fashionable and stylish and at the same time suitable for school. If you remove the striped top and put on a regular black or maybe purple top under the studded waistcoat, you’ll be ready for an evening out or a dinner date any day.
Lunch Date
STYLE INFO: Earrings, Shoes, Top, Skirt, Tights
For lunch we’re going with a little boho-ish inspired outfit. As you can see, tucking a striped shirt into a plain black tight skirt, makes for a great little outfit. Put on some flat shoes and the look becomes more edgy. Mixing different colors, materials and patterns is also a good way to personalize an outfit. Here, we are mixing flower-tights with stripes. Not the most conventional mixture, but it looks great together. It’s a mix of a sailor and a lady!
Don’t stripes make me look fat?
The thing is that the smear campaign against stripes has been going on for so long. Especially horizontal stripes have suffered through the years. Some claim that the stripes widen you – but do they really have to?
If you’re afraid of looking a bit large when you wear a striped blouse you should:
- Wear a striped blouse and look at yourself in the mirror – chances are that you have not recently even dared try on a striped blouse.
- Wear a carding or a blazer over your striped blouse, so that only parts of it, a bit of the front or sleeves f.ex., are showing. That way you’ll still get the same effect.
- Don’t wear vertical stripes just because you think they will slim you up – they are confusing and dated.
- There are different types of stripes – thick and thin. Thin stripes make you look wider than thick stripes do, because the thin ones make a shape, that you will focus on, and the thick ones make a pattern that confuses the eye.
What is your take on stripes? Love them, hate them?
I personally love stripes and exactly as I wrote in this post, I use them to freshen myself and my outfit up. I wear striped blouses to work too with a blazer over them. That way I get to look ‘business’ and keep the edginess.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I hadn’t looked at stripes like that in years. You are right — they should be worn.
Great! I’m glad you liked the post! And yes, they should be worn – I think I’m wearing stripes tomorrow ;)
I haven’t really worn anything striped now that I think about it, or at least it’s been years since I last did. And not because I thought it would make me look wider but it just never occurred to me. I will definitely look into some stripes on my next shopping spree. :)
Good! Stripes are great. It can be a blouse or a scarf and it’ll really change the outfit. Try it and tell me what you think :)
FirstI like to say that your blog is awsome:)
Than I tell you that you it is realy cool to see those outfits I like them so much,so the next thing to buy is something striped I would say cauese it looks good on everybody:)
It was a good idea to post it;) and I think I’m going to wear something striped tomorrow ;)
Thank so much, Josie! I’m glad you like it. :) If you need any advice, feel free to write and I’ll post about it! –Milana
I’ve rediscovered stripes for me too this past year! I used to binge on nautical and citrus stripes for their freshness(yeah :)) and their crispiness..but then subject them to a corner area in the closet.
Now, realize they look “edgy” and smart in basic cuts as well as styled kaftan’s.and great with jeans!
love ur post!