Earned My Stripes

Headed out to dinner with family, the risk taker in me wanted to pair this wide striped skirt with a floral top. It works! We’ve seen it served recurrently on runways all over. The wider thicker ones as well as the thin ones.

Even though I loved the look, it was a little over the top cos the floral was very bold and didn’t feel right for a day to day and I wasn’t headed anywhere near a runway. The hue was also on the opposite end of the spectrum. I could have tweaked the look and made it work with a more subdued floral. Couldn’t get my hot little hands on any so instead I paired it with a solid pink peekaboo cropped lace blazer. Very trendy considering the influx of cropped tops into the fashion scene. The pink blazer packed a punch, complimented the stripes and added an overall edgy look.

To take that runway look to street, I suggest you down play one of the prints and you are well on your way to looking fab. And if you want to further play it safe then choose florals and stripes in the same hue. A solid color belt will add a break in the look and accentuate your waist.

Pair your stripe print top with high waisted striped floral shorts or vice versa for another twist on a trendy day look.

Put the ‘h’ in hot by wearing a print on print bikini for a day at the beach. Kick that up a notch with a solid wide rim hat tied with a printed ribbon. A pair of sunnies, and a glass of an exotic tropical drink (Mai Tai comes to mind, LOL) would complete the look.

A printed pair of pumps or wedges will lend so much style to a striped shirt worn under a solid blazer. Pair this with skinny jeans or wide leg pants. Make the look appear effortless by rolling up the sleeves of the blazer. Not buttoning the shirt all the way up will also give that chic but carefree appearance.

Be prepared to play with different pieces, throw in some, take off some, switch them around as your style evolves around this fashion trend.

I’m far from a stripes gal and always remember at the back of my mind the fashion advice from way back that said to stay away from horizontal stripes cos they make you look bigger. Is that still the case? If I went by that then wearing a horizontal striped skater skirt would be a double ouch right? Lol. Big time optical illusion if you ask me.

I won’t be going stripes overboard anytime soon but for a gal that hardly ever stripes, I think I’m definitely delving deep. The best part is that they reciprocate my love for them. Sweet! I have earned my stripes.

Do you stripe? How do you pull it off? Paired with solids? Floral? Do you feel brave and pair stripes in matching hues? Is your personal style ‘just do me’ and you love to defy expectations by clashing stripes in different colors? Such fun! Let’s talk...

MY CONDOLENCES TO THE RIVERS FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF THE FASHION ICON, BOISTEROUS COMEDIAN JOAN RIVERS. I'M SURE JOAN WILL STAY CLASSY EVEN IN THE AFTER LIFE. REST IN PEACE JR...