Stripes are the way to score high points in fashion, only if you know how. Sapna Sarfare helps you understand the way to don the stripes.
There are many who prefer going down the straight line and some who prefer crooked path. And there is the third kind – the one who wear stripes in an unusual manner. Fashion, these days, is all about wearing your stripes in an interesting fashion. Literally!
Stripes are known to add quite a something to the way you look. Whether you are thin or spread horizontally, stripes have a way to keep you looking amazing. As not all are fashion horses, we prefer asking around and people who matter have answered to our stripped queries.
Young designer Sakshee Pradhan has a simple reasoning on how the presence of stripes can change an outfit and your whole look. She adds, “The presence of stripes, their placement, width and type create an illusion of elongation, width, breadth, etc, depending on what kind of stripes is one wearing.” Renowned designer Nachiket Barve too supports his colleague and adds, “Make sit graphic, modern and striking. It also moulds the illusion of the body and its perception.”
At the moment, the world is full of different kinds of dreams to don and you just have to choose amongst it. Sakshee is quick in giving her pointers. “At present, there are innumerable stripe trends that are ongoing in the world, be it the bold fluorescent stripes of Tokyo or Classic navy/black European stripes. It is not necessary that stripes have to be incorporated in your dressing through clothes only. You can even pump up your style quotient by incorporating stripes in the form of accessories. For instance, a striped tie for men or striped loafers can be included with ease
For women, a striped belt, pumps or jewellery pieces looks amazing. These are ways in which you can play safe with stripes, if you find it difficult to balance striped as per your body type, but still want to follow the trend. The thumb rule with stripes is that if you want to incorporate it in your clothing, it is that the thinner and vertical the stripes, the more elongated (read tall) you look; while the thicker and horizontal the stripes, the more broader it’ll make you appear.”
Nachiket feels that multi-colour and monochrome stripes are very much the IN thing and so are mixes of stripe within an outfit. In this regard, you can play well with textures, colours, size and placement. It is literally a fun fashion parade.
It is human to make mistakes. And when it comes to fashion, mistakes are a habit. Sakshee is bang on when she states that the most common mistake we fashion ignorant people make while wearing stripes is to wear the kind of stripes which is absolutely not perfect for your body type. “For instance, petite and small body frame people should always opt for thicker and horizontal stripes, whereas large body framed people should always stick to vertical stripes.”
Nachiket too has the same worry regarding wearing proportion which is not perfect for you. He feels that too bold stripes or horizontal stripes are imperfect for large people. “A very wide contrast doesn’t work for petite people.” Now that you are wearing the right stripes and are looking gorgeous, you can step a little on wearing the right kind of accessories to your attire. Voila, you are looking perfect to rock any situation with your fashion perfect self.
Nachiket has fantastic pointers to end the story. “Add an element of Baroque embroidery or a contrast pop of colour. Also team the stripes with a solid or a clashing print.” Sakshee adds, “If you’re wearing striped attire, steer clear of prints. Stripes are best paired with color blocks, be it any color-blue, black, red, green or yellow! Also neon accessories work amazingly well with stripes.”
Here are some pointers when wearing stripes:
Stripes and pleats are one of the latest stripe variations to be seen on ramp and also off it. Floral and stripes go well together. Though the designers have pointed that prints don’t go well with stripes, prints like floral can be paired correctly. Stripes go well with stripes too but keep in mind that in a combo outfit like a shirt and skirt, only one stripe should be bold or dominate the other. Keep the other striped pairing in something lighter. You can try pairing it with bold colour but know how to balance it.
One of the trends seen on the ramps is of wearing tuxedo with tailored striped trousers which are athletic in nature. One of the unusual ways to wear it is to have the stripes in the inseam.
Try pairing any striped item with something plain or neutral to allow your striped speciality to stand out. For example, wear a striped shirt with a plain skirt/pant in plain neutral shade like white or any colour which works well with the colour of the strip. If you are wearing a stripped jacket, go for a plain shirt or vest, according the type of jacket and vice-versa.
