So when does a trend become a style staple? A staple is something that’s essential or important – and well, we reckon you know all about style. But it starts off as a trend, a movement, or a fashion, and then it just kind of sticks around, and that’s precisely what’s happened with stripes.
It was no staple to medieval fashionistas, though, being considered evil back in the day, but for the last 150 years or so stripes have been having a moment, thanks to devotees from Queen Victoria to Jean-Paul Gaultier, by way of Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy and the 1960s.
Style staples need regular reassessment if they are to retain their status, so how should you work it for 2015? Coco Chanel knew a thing or two about trends, and thanks to her, the Breton fisherman’s jersey became a style staple for men and women alike, and it’s still with us today. Customise yours with vintage print cut-outs, and throw on a denim jacket or navy blazer. Team with pleats, a faux-leather mini or wide-leg trousers, or wear with dungarees. Reverse the order in striped overalls over a plain crop.
Flaunt the pattern on a button-front skirt, or wear a double-breasted version, and add a roll-neck sweater and sliders. Mix or clash stripes on stripes with opposing lines on two items, or go for variety of width and colour. Introduce spots for a black and white geometric take, or dot with floral patches or animal prints. Stun by using all of them!
Top ripped jeans and heels with a hooped sweater, or a slouchy striped shirt. Pair black and white lines with bright colours like scarlet, orange or hot pink, or cool it with a white cross-body bag. Contrast red and white stripes with a nude clutch.
Throw a pale jacket over a navy striped dress, carry an oversized bag in a primary shade, and dangle large gold hooped earrings. Team a pinstripe turtle-neck with a black leather bomber jacket, or pair the latter with gorgeous two-tone pleats. Choose a stripey blazer over a plain frock. Accessorise denim with a yellow and white mini bag or go for red stripes with a navy outfit, and offset with clunky jewellery in gold or bright colours.
All things considered, then, it looks as if this particular style staple knows its stuff, and so do we when it comes to fresh outfit ideas, it seems. Adopt stripes for your summer wardrobe and who knows, you might make it a trend, too.
Striped Outfits: The featured photo is of Julie Sarinana wearing a black and white striped T-shirt from Anine Bing
Amy Spencer pairs her cute striped number with a patterned skirt and some simple heels.
Skirt: Topshop, Top: Urban Outfitters.
This green jacket just completes a striped dress. Via Chriselle Lim
Dress: Everly Clothing, Jacket: Mother Denim
Dungarees go perfectly with a high necked striped tank top! Via Sazan Barzani
Top: Charlotte Russe, Dungarees: Madewell, Shoes: Adidas
Look stylish in stripes like Lisa RVD in this off the shoulder shirt paired with a classic black skirt!
Shirt: Zara, Skirt: ASOS, Heels: ASOS
Combine a striped tee with flared jeans for a cute outfit! Via Annabelle Fleur
Jeans: Udson, Top: ASOS, Sandals: Gucci
This striped off the shoulder maxi dress… Want it.Via Kayla Seah
Dress: Edited By Maja
Wendy Nguyen is looking very Parisian chic in this white skirt paired with a stripy vest!
Top: J Crew, Bottom: Vivian Chan, Shoes: Henri Lepore Dezert
Get ahead of the latest style with this striped dress with heels and a black bag! Via Caroline Louis
Dress: Loreak Mendian, Shoes: Sante Shoes
Why not try mixing it up with this oversized dress-shirt paired with brown sandals! Via Alexandra Pereira
Dress: H&M, Shoes: Zara
These black and white stripes are the best for summer days! Via Sazan Barzani
Dress: H&M, Shoes: Target
Stripes will never go out of fashion! Just pair a long sleeved tee with dark denim jeans! Via Anine Bing
Boots: Anine Bing, Shorts: Anine Bing, Tee: Vintage
This striped Courtina dress and those Espadrilles… Via Kat Tanita
Dress: Joie, Denim Jacket: J. Crew, Bag: Yves Saint Laurent, Espadrilles: Chanel. Striped Dress Outfit, 2015.
Amy Spencer shows us how to perfectly style a striped top with a black and white polo neck from Urban Outfitters
Black and white striped T-shirt dress, lace up sandals and a statement bag. Yeah, we approve. Via Sendi Skopljak
T-shirt Dress: Sheinside, Bag: YSL, Shoes: Mango, Sunglasses: Chanel. Striped Dress Outfit
Janni Deler is in a black and white striped maxi dress ready for spring
Dress: Lindex
Black & White Striped Outfits: Anine Bing is wearing a striped sweatshirt from Anine Bing
Striped Outfits 2015: Natalia Cabezas is wearing a navy Asos striped shirt
Adriana Gastélum is wearing black and white vertically striped trousers from Sheinside
Striped Outfit Ideas: Kryz Uy outfit consists of a Romwe turtleneck top with a body con mid length Gu Japan skirt
Julie Sarinana is wearing a Paige long sleeved striped top
Kat Tanita is wearing a striped skirt outfit, top from Otte, skirt from Piperlime and red shoes from Stuart Weitzman
Rebecca Laurey is wearing a navy and red striped top from Topshop
Black And White Pinstripe Dresses: Chriselle Lim is wearing a Joie mid length pinstripe dress
Striped Crop Top And Skirt: Kenza Zouiten is wearing a pinstripe white and navy Topshop cropped top
Carmen Hamilton is wearing a creme and navy Bassike pinstripe outfit
Styling A Striped Skirt: Sara Escudero is wearing a baby blue and white pinstripe Asos skirt
Striped Outfits & Ideas: Christine Andrew is wearing a black and white pinstripe Old Navy tee
Classic street style outfit photography by Victoria Tornegren, striped top, jeans and black Converse
How To Wear A Striped Top: Christine Andrew is wearing a black and white Old Navy striped tee
Natalia Cabezas is wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt from Zara
Annabelle Fleur is wearing a grey T-shirt with white stripes from Joe’s Jeans
Blair Eadie is wearing a blue and white striped dress from Tibi
Striped Outfit: Elsa Ekman is wearing a Lindex white and navy shirt
How To Wear A Striped Top: Arielle Nachami is wearing a red and white Revolve Clothing striped top with a white J Brand blazer
Striped Outfits & Ideas: Stella Wants To Die is wearing a creme Zara trench coat with a striped Stradivarius blue shirt
The Pinstripe Trend 2015: Sara Escudero is wearing a cropped pinstripe Zara sweater
Style A Striped Dress: Jessie Chanes is wearing a navy and white Dresslux striped knee length dress
Pinstripe Outfit 2015: Adriana Gastélum is wearing a Choies white and navy long sleeved pinstriped top with a brown leather H&M mini skirt 
Striped Outfit Ideas: Megan Anderson is wearing a long sleeved pinstripe Urban Outfitters dress
Striped Outfits And Ideas: Mary is wearing a white Finders Keepers pinstripe turtleneck with a pair of Topshop skinny jeans 
The pinstripe trend is shown off brilliantly via an unknown blogger
Nicoletta Reggio is wearing a black and white striped long sleeved top from Mango
