Wide striped shirts are your key to being bold this summer
The long-sleeved formal button-down needs to change its stripes to stay stylish
Striped shirts have never really made it into fashion. They’ve hovered on the edges of style for years, but there’s always something holding them back. From the 1960s, when The Beach Boys were harmonising in pastel short-sleeved stripes, to the brash colourful 1980s, when Gordon Gekko was terrorising Wall Street wearing finely striped shirts with his braces, they’ve never quite made it to cool.
But that’s because we’re making one crucial mistake; our stripes aren’t big enough. So, men, it’s time to change your stripes, make them bigger and bolder, and bring the noise this summer.
One of the best thing about shirts is there versatility. From the bar to the boardroom, you can wear a button-down and be confident that you’re looking good. And, whilst it may take a little more confidence to do this in such a strikingly-striped shirt, the effect is the same. Wear one to work – perhaps paired with a block colour tie – and you’ll stand out from your colleagues, whilst staying smart.
Wear one out of the office and you’ll channel the loud, characterful look of a Saturday night ace – a man who loves a good time and knows how to have one. And the best thing about embracing such a distinct pattern is that you can’t really go too far. Those stripes are already shouting, so why not let them be bold in the brightest colours you can find?
As a rule of thumb, you should be looking for slim fit with striped shirts, and always tuck in – otherwise they’ll lengthen your body and make you look lanky. Pair with a plain pair of chinos or an understated suit, and simple shoes. And, once you’re in your new shirt, remember not to be brooding or reserved. That pattern sells you as a fun-loving, fashion-forward and animated man; so earn your stripes.
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