Think of pinstripes, and like us, your mind probably turns first to business and workwear. You’re not wrong – after all, it’s just the smartest thing ever – but it’s so much more than that, and autumn 2014 will show you how, for sure.
Take shirts, for example. You can opt for white on a dark background or vice versa, choosing close stripes or wide. You could stun with a pale cuffed button-down style in blue, paired with white jeans, or continue down the menswear route in a pinstripe vest. Co-ordinate with scarves of a similar pattern, and perhaps some cute stripey footwear.
Stella McCartney dominated the catwalk with this trend for A/W 2013/14, and her boxy long coats are still rocking this season, offset by trousers with contrasting stripes. Take inspiration from the outfit that she wore to her show: wide-pinstripe pants, roll-neck jumper and patent heels. Dior’s take on it all was a shirtdress with cutaway shoulders, while for fall/winter 2014, Armani featured androgynous palazzos in a fabric with a slight stretch.
Sienna Miller went for monochromatic lines for hers, enhanced by a large floppy hat. Team yours with a leather jacket or a black t-shirt and heels, or for a different outline, try a more tailored fit, figure-hugging skinnies, leather, or ski-pant leggings. Throw on a long cardigan, or mix up patterns with a plaid shirt, and pull on some white sneakers.
Then there is, of course, that work ensemble. The message comes across loud and clear: was anything ever more right for power dressing? Whether your pinstripe suit has a skirt or trousers, you’re not to be messed with. Stick to grey, black, brown or navy, adding statement jewellery to a silk blouse or turtle-neck, with patent shoes and bag to complete the look. Turn it into a three-piece with a waistcoat, get back to school in a striped blazer, or copy Gwyneth Paltrow’s shorts and jacket set for dress-down days in the office.
Fit into a pencil skirt with the signature print, and top with a plain tee. Go the way of cotton for casual wear, or be a sophisticate in a classy wool blend. Mix stripe sizes and colours, or add a faux fur collar to a jacket. It’s definitely time to develop your ideas for pinstripe outfits right now, and we just know they’ll be cool!
The featured photo is of Danielle Bernstein from We Wore What wearing a pinstripe outfit mix, (coat and trousers). Photographed by the amazing Vanessa Jackman at New York Fashion Week
Pinstripe Trousers With A Denim Jacket: Silvia Garcia is wearing a pair of black pinstripe pants from Zara
Negin Mirsalehi is wearing a white pinstripe Vanilia Classic jacket
Chiara Ferragni is wearing a grey pinstripe blazer from MSGM
Pinstripe Jacket With Jeans: Melissa Araujo is wearing a pinstripe jacket from Mango and the jeans are from Get Plenty
Audrey Leighton Rogers is wearing a pinstripe suit from Boohoo
Megan Jedlinski is wearing a pinstripe coat from J. Crew
Julie Sarinana shows how to wear a woman’s pinstripe blazer
Angelica Blick is wearing a pinstripe coat from Baum & Pferdgarten
Pinstripe Outfits: Kayla Seah is wearing Alistair pinstripe trousers from Free People
Carla Estévez Marcos is wearing a pinstripe coat from Mango and the burgundy bag is from Uterque
Pinstripe Autumn Fashion Trend, 2014: Zina Charkoplia is wearing a pinstripe coat from Zara
Jacey Duprie is wearing pinstriped pants from Each x Other
Silvia Zamora is wearing pinstriped trousers from Zara and a long cardigan
Pinstripe Outfit Details: Doina Ciobanu in her pinstriped trousers from Mango, yellow top from Zara, bag from Givenchy and shoes from Christian Loboutin
Adenorah is wearing a pinstriped coat from Zara
Jacey Duprie is wearing a pinstriped coat from Zara, plaid sweater from ALC, white silk shirt from Maje, clutch from Clare Vivier, trousers from Helmut Lang, loafers from J. Crew and the scar is from Cos
Celine Aagaard is wearing a pinstriped suit from Gestuz, shoes from Adidas, sunglasses from Celine and the turtleneck is from Arnie Says
Pinstripe Detail: Celine Aagaard is wearing a pinstriped jacket from Baum und Pferdgarten