Stripes are a great way to make your outfit stand out. But it’s important to choose the patterns based on your figure and skin tone to achieve the most flattering look. There is no “bad” body type and there are no stripes that anybody can’t wear. However, some patterns work better with some fabrics and work better when paired with specific patterns.
How do stripes work
Stripes contain parallel lines of different widths and colours. Some lines can be plain while others contain patterns. Because of how versatile they are, they have remained a fashion staple since they were first added to clothes. There are some basic rules when it comes to stripes:
- Horizontal stripes cause a widening effect.
- Vertical stripes elongate the body.
- Diagonal stripes make the outfit look multi-dimensional.
- Chevrons, V-shaped stripes, create a dynamic effect.
How to pick the right stripes
1. Consider your undertone
Your clothes should compliment your skin tone. There are three skin tones, warm, cool, and neutral. For warm skin tones should choose stripes with earthy tones like mustard yellow, warm reds, brown, or jungle green. Cool skin tones would look great with pastel stripes, blue, and bright green. Neutral skin tones can choose either but matte colours can also flatter your outfit.
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2. Mix and match
For instance, if you’re wearing a fitted blouse with vertical black and white stripes, don’t match it with slacks or a skirt with similar black and white stripes. To give dimension to the outfit, you can pair it with a monochromatic skirt. Black and white go with any colour. You can also wear a skirt with blocked horizontal stripes to break the monotony of vertical stripes.
When mixing the items of clothing, try to figure out which clothes create a perfect blend. You can choose to be bold by going for standout colours. For instance, you can wear a purple pinstripe blazer with a piano key top and a skirt that matches any of the colours from your top outfit.
3. What’s the occasion?
Casual events call for more adventure when choosing stripes. You can wear wavy lines, mixed stripes on one fabric, multicolour stripes and pair them with equally technicolour outfits. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can wear stripes of different fabrics. For an outdoor event or a club look, you can wear a skin-tight sheer top or dress with vertical stripes. Each alternate stripe can be made of lace and the other silk. You can then pair it with nude or neon underwear to make a statement. Fashion: 7 Great Ways To Style The Naked Dress
For a more official look, muted colours and simple, clean lines are a better option. Pin-striped suits are a great option. A bold colour should be paired with something understated to avoid having a loud, distracting look. You can also go for an outfit with similar coloured stripes of different hues.
4. Patterns with stripes
Choose patterns that work well with the stripes you’re wearing. For instance, if you’re wearing big polka dots, the striped item should have slim stripes with a colour that works with the colours of the dots. Floral patterns work well with slim vertical stripes.
Plaid is a pattern that contains multiple stripes. If you’re wearing a plaid suit, you can pair it with a vest that has pinstripes with a colour similar to any of the colours in the plaid. Vertical plaid is easier to partner with other looks. If you’re wearing diagonal or horizontal plaid, pair it with a block colour that matches the plaid.
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Choosing the best stripes for your body type
1. Which patterns compliment your figure?
If you have an hour-glass figure, choose a design that flatters your cinched waist, wide bodice, and wide hips. Vertical chevrons, and slim horizontal lines can make you look amazing. One great pairing is a block-coloured loose top that has two giant stripes and tucking it into a pinstripe high-waist pencil skirt. Fashion: 6 Tips To Dress An Hourglass Figure
An apple shape is a wider torso with long legs. The best way to wear stripes for such a figure is to wear vertically striped fitted pants with a fitted or loose top. A-line dresses with vertical stripes can work well. You can also wear a skirt with slim horizontal stripes and a block-coloured fitted top.
A pear shape, where the hips are wider but the torso smaller, is perfect for horizontally striped tops and vertically striped bottoms. You can also pair bold stripes on top with a dark-coloured bottom for a balanced look.
If you’re very slender, horizontal stripes with bold patterns are best. Slightly loose chevron tops can also work great when paired with flared pants or a fitted skirt.
2. Mistakes to avoid
If you’re slim or small-figured, wearing big stripes can make you lose yourself in the look. If you’re petite or short, go for more medium or narrow stripes.
Mismatching colours can be done artfully but some colours don’t work well together. Colour blocking needs to be done that compliment or contrast each other. If you want to make a risky choice, try blending colours that work well together. For instance, you can pair a top with gold and orange stripes with a muted brown skirt or trousers.
You also need to ensure that when you pair patterns, you don’t overwhelm your look. Aim for a balanced look, like wearing stripes with a dark and bright colour, and pair with another item with slimmer stripes of a similar colour pattern. Having a top with wild stripes like chevrons or wavy stripes can be paired with pinstripes or very narrow vertical stripes with muted colours.
Monochromatic looks don’t need to be one shade from head to toe. You can have monochromatic shirts paired with a similar skirt or slacks with a similar pattern but a different colour. Consider your skin tone before choosing the colour. Don’t wear all pastels if you’re pale with a warm undertone. It can make you look washed out.
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