Striped clothes are a perennial staple that have happily been pervading our wardrobes for centuries, so much so that even the most print-shy of sartorial tastes will have dabbled in them at one point or another. Simple yet striking, stripes have had a long and storied past - from the uniform of sailors and gondoliers to the cliched attire of Parisians (accompanied by an obligatory baguette and basket bag). The print’s ubiquitous nature is at once a blessing and a curse; we’re so familiar with it that it’s easy to think we’ve exhausted all the ways we could possibly style the pattern when actually there’s still plenty of potential in this classic print still yet to be discovered to revive your 2023 wardrobe.

THE HIGH LOW

The classic Breton is an old-school favourite born in Brittany, France. It’s simple, straightforward, and familiar and at least one iteration will have already found a home in your wardrobe. 

We might normally look to denim or dark neutral shades to style these classic striped tops, but for 2023, approach the print from a different angle. This year, turn to washed-down khaki and chalky hues carried through cargo and combat trousers to ground the bold pattern and frame it with smart tailoring for a striking high-low balance.

STRIPES + DENIM CULOTTES

Yes, we know, combining denim with stripes is a bit “been there, done that”, but hear us out; there’s still life in this tried-and-true pairing. The key lies in choosing denim cuts that steer away from the straight and skinny silhouettes of previous years. We’re building a contemporary-yet-classic ensemble around our Worn In Culotte Jean that falls to a dramatic wide-leg silhouette paired with our Boxy Breton.

LAYERED BOYFRIEND SHIRT

Borrowed-from-the-boys (or the boyfriend) silhouettes are gaining favour in our post-pandemic wardrobes, finding the balance between the time comfort reigned supreme and the one when we’re seeking a more polished aesthetic. Swap your striped tops and tees for an oversized striped Oxford shirt to instantly breathe new life into the familiar pattern. Our Bold Stripe Relaxed Boyfriend Shirt heroes two versions of the same striped print - one working its way vertically over the soft cotton, and the other outlining the cuffs - to add intrigue to the freshly pressed staple. 


At the weekend

Casual yet considered, it’s an elusive balance that appears effortlessly easy to achieve but was notoriously tricky to master before the introduction of this easy-going silhouette to your arsenal. Left open over a grey tee or buttoned to the top and slipped on under a knitted vest decorated with gold-toned buttons, it instantly channels an easy-going aesthetic with a polished finish. 

… And at work

Your suited separates are revived and uplifted by the bold pattern and granted a more casual edge with our aforementioned shirt. Layer it over a white tee or cami pulled on under a tailored blazer and leave a few buttons undone at the top. 

PAIR KNITTED STRIPES WITH LEATHER

Two covetable textures brought together in head-to-toe looks combines soft knitwear with by-product leather. 

Take your pick from our edit of pure-cotton knits each celebrating a different striped pattern. Elevated by gold-toned buttons, our take on the classic striped cardigan finds a balance between knitwear and outerwear and joins a wide-leg trouser crafted from soft leather for a look that is equally at home behind a desk as it is at candlelit dinners.

Putting an athleisure spin on things, a leather bomber jacket emphasises the off-duty ease of our striped jumpers. It complements our Textured Cotton Boxy Breton Hoody and finds a masculine-feminine balance with our Cotton Crochet Bracelet Sleeve Breton Jumper inflected with sunshine yellow hues. 

SUITED STRIPES

Stripes and suiting are familiar partners, but today we’re not talking about pinstripe tailoring. 

Our Italian Stripe Tailoring Feminine Blazer reimagines a traditional striped blazer to grant it more office-to-off-duty appeal thanks to tailoring in a denim-look finish accompanied by a classic single-button fastening at the front and gathered details through the shoulder. The style is complemented by matching high-rise striped trousers and introduces a casual-considered finish to everyday basics and smart shirting. Wear the suited set together for a head-to-toe look that embraces the print or break up the pattern with a navy blazer or dark trousers. 

CROPPED STRIPED SHIRT

Satisfying fashion’s penchant for cropped cuts the moment temperatures start to rise while retaining a universally flattering finish, our Cropped Boxy Stripe Shirt is joined by a tucked-in white vest to democratise the silhouette. Instantly breathing new life into a tailored staple, it can be buttoned to the top or left open to create a more relaxed finish and teamed with trousers or skirts to make the most of the cropped cut specifically engineered to complement high waistlines for a cohesive, undisrupted look.

LAYERED BRETON DRESS

All the versatility of a classic Breton top translated to a knee-skimming shift silhouette ensures this striped dress is the definitive trans-seasonal essential. 

Add dimension to the piece by styling it alongside a layering top detailed with a neat collar and leave the cuffs to peek out from the ends of the long sleeves. For a city-ready edge, turn to a leather bomber jacket or, for a more casual, holiday finish, look to a denim jacket. The beauty of this piece is that it’s almost laughably easy to dress up or down teamed with leather loafers or low-top canvas trainers.

BRIGHT STRIPES AND GROUNDING NEUTRALS

Stripes aren’t only interested in black, blue and white, they dabble in all manner of bright, bold and saturated shades. For proof, just look to our Cotton Smocked Crew Neck Knit Top covered in a series of eye-catching stripes rendered in bright pink and deep purple - without even a hint of a sailor’s favoured colour palette.

Lighten the bold colours with denim in a faded wash and pull your look together with our Military Cropped Jacket detailed with lapels that can be secured as a double-breasted front or turned back to create an open front.