Earn your stripes

Right up there along with your crisp white shirt, faithful leather jacket and skinny jeans is another undisputed winner – the striped shirt. Incidentally, with this one, you cannot possibly exhaust all your options. If you think you have though, we bring you an edit to help you get out of the style rut. You’re welcome!

Striped crop top + high waist shorts + block heels
This is a classic choice for everyone from Taylor Swift and Olivia Palermo, for whom this has become something short of a summer uniform. Not a block heels person? Replace them with sneaker, the in-trend lace-up flats or dangerously high heels to be on point.

Striped crop top + culottes + strappy sandals
Switch up your usual pants for a pair of cotton culottes that are perfect for the season. “A striped crop top can be worn with cotton culottes in a bright, contrasting colour like blue or red. Style them with strappy sandals. Remember to keep your accessories to a minimum with a chunky bracelet or a silver watch and simple earrings. Pair it with aviators if you’re setting out in the sun,” suggests Mansi Bhatia of Style-Psychic.

Striped shirt + pencil skirt + pointed pumps
Take notes from Deepika Padukone if you will. The local leggy lass is known to turn it up with pencil skirts, be it leather or sequin! Just tuck in your collared shirt, pop the top most button and you’re good to go.

Striped shirt + striped skirt + closed heels
Speaking about how to nail this patterned look, city-based blogger Akriti Chauhan says, “For a dinner date, tag your horizontal striped top with vertical striped skirt. Accessorise it well with a black sling bag and nude stilettos (which gives illusion of height).” Confused about vertical and horizontal stripes? Here are some pointers: “If you are petite, then swear by horizontal stripes. Vertical ones work well for short or women on the heavier side.” Simple. You can also go crazy mixing stripes with polka or leopard print. They are known to be best friends.

Striped blouse + solid blazer + ankle length trousers
Take a page from Pranita Mehta’s book. “Power dressing is the way to go,” she tells us. The Bengaluru blogger from Bindigasm dishes out some inspiration for free – “A crisp, bold striped blouse under a solid blazer will work well with a pair of ankle length trousers coordinated with red lips and a sleek ponytail. Perfect way to keep my focus on this weather!” she says. 

Striped round neck tee + statement jacket + kicks
All of us have the one power player – the striped round neck tee. “It can be paired with a black pencil skirt, a black midi, white or navy blue denims. My personal favourite is Anushka Sharma’s airport style,” says Bengaluru-based fashion stylist, Nishka Guleria Naidu. “It’s perfect for a casual date, travelling or just hanging out with the girls. Based on the bottoms, you can throw on a white or grey duster jacket. Pair them with ballet flats or pumps to match your bottoms. Try to keep your look monochromatic to look effortlessly stylish,” says the Stylemaata, on how to take your outfit from easy to edgy.