One fashion rule that we’ve been told over and over is to never wear horizontal stripes; you run the risk of looking wider than you are. However, rules are meant to be broken, it’s only human nature. There are ways to work the stripe trend that won’t make you look like a circus tent. Experiment with proportion and colour. Contrasting bold stripes with exaggerated silhouettes can balance out your look. Pair horizontal striped tops with wide-leg pants or voluminous A-line skirts. Another thing to consider is the width of the stripe. It plays an important role in creating the illusion of length. Thicker stripes have more of a widening effect; where as thinner stripes tend to be more elongating. Look for pieces that have varying stripe widths, this will draw the eye from top to bottom rather than left to right.
Gail Sorronda, whom I spotted outside her flagship store in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, sports one of her horizontal striped pieces with confidence. The fullness of her mesh skater skirt balances out her frill striped, crop-top. Together with her cat-eye sunglasses and platform sandals, she’s a self-assured young woman who commands attention and oozes personality.
Get this look:
a. Top with Extreme Ruffle Neckline, $55.45, asos.com
b. Box Top With Silver, $250, Nicola Finetti, jasu.com
c. Stripe Cut Out Shoulder T-Shirt, $79.95, countryroad.com.au
d. Beach House Skirt, $195, gailsorronda.com
e. Leather Pony Effect Pencil Skirt, £220, Boutique, topshop.com
f. Black Tulle Mini Skirt, £22, topshop.com
g. Wedge, $315, Rachel Zoe, yoox.com
h. Ribbed Platform Sandal, $895, Giuseppe Zanotti, barneys.com
i. Erin Canvas Wedge, $149, countryroad.com
j. Chelsea, $169, House of Harlow, theiconic.com.au
k. Siouxsie Sunglasses (172546), $255, Karen Walker, matchesfashion.com
l. Siouxsie Sunglasses (172548), $255, Karen Walker, matchesfashion.com
Note: Prices correct at time of posting
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