Earn your stripes: Why menswear’s classic print has taken a trip to the seaside

Seafaring verticals look set to dominate your wardrobe this summer

Sarah Jones
Saturday 22 July 2017 18:03 BST
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Forget the symmetrical look, this season is about playing with stripe effects
Forget the symmetrical look, this season is about playing with stripe effects (Getty)

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It’s hard to remember a time when stripes weren’t in fashion favour. They’re just one of those prints that will never fade out into the night and have become a menswear mainstay.

But, while you won’t find a Fashion Week without it, this season, the popular motif forwent the typical Breton boy style in favour of stripes in variegated colours and size.

Fendi Spring Summer 2017 (AFP/Getty)
Fendi Spring Summer 2017 (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

A look we’d be inclined to label as “deckchair stripes”, seafaring verticals dominated several collections – with contrasting widths proving a popular theme. As such, it’s high time you docked tradition in favour of lines that pack a little more punch.

If you’re looking for inspiration, Fendi’s spring/summer 2017 pool party is a great place to start. Here, you’ll find a number of striped designs, including a blue and yellow deckchair trucker jacket, a khaki pair of pinstripe trousers and a stripy trimmed collar on a white Cuban shirt.

Swimsuit with vertical stripes, £19.99, Zara
Swimsuit with vertical stripes, £19.99, Zara

Similarly, Tiger of Sweden bore playful olive and ivory tiger print on hooded tops, alternating stripes on MA jackets and even on wide-leg trousers. While at Lou Dalton, broad strips covering knee-length shorts came in a combination of masculine pastel blues, lemon-beige and orange.

Stripes are a classic print that can be worn by anyone regardless of age or style. They work across the board, but this trend is all about investing in narrow and thick combinations.

Navy stripe relaxed fit overshirt, £35, Topman
Navy stripe relaxed fit overshirt, £35, Topman

Invest in a pair of classic pinstripe trousers and pair with a contrasting tee or, our favourite, team an old-school striped Cuban shirt over the top of a plain white tee for a relaxed, yet seriously stylish feel.

Studio sweater, £49.99, Zara
Studio sweater, £49.99, Zara
Assorted colour stripe socks, £12, Topman
Assorted colour stripe socks, £12, Topman

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