Listen up ladies, it’s time to swipe right on stripes. SS17 paraded verticals and horizontals in every way imaginable: we saw the monochrome, the graphic and the colourful come down the catwalks, and now it’s time for you, too, to get in line.
An unwavering fashion favourite, stripes have a rich and varied history – they can conjure up the image of a convict or a gangster, a sailor or a businessman. Bayadère stripes, horizontal and brilliantly coloured, were made famous by the dancers in Marius Petipa’s 1877 ballet of the same name about an Indian temple dancer who wore clothes with stripes of varying thickness in a multitude of colours. The pinstripe, meanwhile, came about in the 19th century via the suits of bank workers, as a kind of city uniform, each bank identifying itself with a different stripe.
Stripes have, of course, always been synonymous with the French, starting with the uniforms of the revolutionaries of 1789. We associate the design with dreamy holidays on the Côte d'Azur, with Saint James, the brand that has been manufacturing its famous Breton T-shirts since 1889, and with Coco Chanel, who included it in her 1917 Nautical Collection. Since then, everyone from Jean Seberg to Brigitte Bardot has been photographed in stripes, while French designer Jean Paul Gaultier is well known for his marinière aesthetic.
So with such a long history, how were stripes imagined for SS17? Miu Miu presented us with a '70s-striped retro swimmer girl, complete with shower cap and flip flops, Givenchy ’s electric stripes spread across ruffles and sheer fabrics, and Fendi and Proenza Schouler served us bold graphic stripes in clashing colours. Mary Katrantzou’s psychedelic stripes tricked the eye, while Balenciaga's Demna Gvasalia reworked the classic striped shirt in a flurry of pussy bows and cinched-in waists, pairing it with a skintight pinstripe trouser.
This classic design never goes out of style but if you're in need of some inspiration, click through to see how your Instagram favourites are earning their stripes.
The Man Repeller's Leandra wears her racing stripes in the form of track trousers. We love the super-bright yellow, green and red offset by the navy. Of course she teams them with a black-tie embellished jacket – high-low dressing at its finest.
Here's Paloma showing us exactly how to make a stripe sexy: metallic eyelids, graphic OTT earrings, and a whole lotta thigh. This is in fact Balenciaga's Hoody Robe Coat, but your favourite shirtdress will do nicely.
Multitalented artist Chloe Wise in triple-threat Fendi. Brown and cream-striped sock boots? Tick. Striped mini bag with appliqué flowers? Tick. A ruffles-galore stripy sheer-mix dress? Tick. This is how you clash stripes.
Is this the cutest #ootd ever? Stephanie Broek proves that, yes, you can wear your PJs outside. Smarten up this silk Topshop set with a faux-fur bag (Stephanie's is Loeil) and some point-toe slip-ons.
We've long called bullshit on the notion that big-boobed women can't wear stripes. Case in point: Lulu Bonfils, plus-size model from Connecticut. We're diggin' her camo trousers, too.
Camille Charrière matches her legs to the zebra crossing in these nautical Dolce & Gabbana trousers.
ASOS Insider Debbie goes Beetlejuice on us in Style Nanda. Is this picture making you want a holiday as much as it is us?
Off-duty doesn't mean sacrificing style – just take note from Loulou De Saison. An oversized slogan jumper, courtesy of Sonia Rykiel, paired with relaxed striped trousers is the ultimate day-off look.
Fanny Ekstrand just created your go-to summer evening look. Silk floral printed Ganni trousers, your favourite sandals for strolling the streets, and a cute woven Chene basket are topped off with an oversized men's shirt. The trick is to tie the front just below the waistband of your bottom half. Très chic.
Thought the Breton stripe was out-dated? Think again. Francesca Cristini gives it a 2017 update with some fresh Converse and paper-bag trousers with a tie waist.
Eleonora Carisi's pinstriped button-up skirt is a great base for layering a shaggy coat, shirt and tiny bag. The skirt's handkerchief hem makes it the centrepiece.
A striped corset over a striped shirt? We're totally down for this. Maria Bernad's dark trousers and pulled-back hair make the look sleek rather than busy.
How joyful is Kate Foley's outfit!? Her Minki London burnt-orange striped shirtdress is a great way to tackle transitional dressing. Super-brights and vertical stripes layered over your best pair of jeans is how it's done. Spy her cute Attico palm-embellished bag, too.
Lucy Williams is queen of the holiday backdrop (and the outfits to match). These Faithfull The Brand stripy Tomas Pants are light, airy and ideal for browsing Sunday markets in the sun.
Roberta Benteler's Céline cut-out top is a lesson in mixing up the classics. Red accents and statement earrings thoroughly modernise the classic striped top.
Striped accessories make just as big an impact – Tiffany Hsu's rainbow Loewe baby steals the show.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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