While they’re already hastily trying to figure out what will be worn next winter at the Fashion Weeks, we’d like to take a quick look back at what next season’s ‘it’ items will be. Vertical, horizontal, fat, thin and in every colour of the rainbow: they're all o.k. by us! Once again, stripes will be heading up our spring and summer collections.
It's all aboard, because the Breton stripes of the French sailor uniform guaranteed that stripes would end up a hit in the fashion world too. However, it’s mostly thanks to designers Coco Chanel and especially Jean-Paul Gaultier that this pattern was allowed to join the club haute couture. The iconic marinière pattern was especially the talk of the town around 2010 and 2011. Now, several years later, the stripes are back – this time in all kinds of different shapes and colours.
Stripe power
When 2016 rolled around, we’d already spotted stripes being sewn together at different angles to create a more dynamic effect. Designer Stella Jean also proved eager to use the print in combination with other graphic designs. It’s more or less etched in stone that stripes will be making a comeback in 2019 as well. For this comeback, we’re especially excited about the collections of, among others, Tory Burch and Escada, which feature striped blouse dresses.
Susan dress (pattern edition 3, February 2019)
A mix of narrow and wide stripes in a variety of colours looks fabulous on a long dress like the Susan. What’s more, vertical stripes have loads of advantages, one of which being that they create longitudinal lines that make you look taller. That stripes combined in different colours and on long dresses are winning over the street style is no coincidence. A head-to-toe outfit in stripes or even combined with other prints or even more stripes is totally a go. Another idea is to try a striped jumpsuit like the Riva, which is absolutely fantastic for making in a striped print. Are subtle stripes more your thing? Add a touch here or there in the finishing then, or make sure your accessories include a stripe or two.
The stripe’s annual comeback makes this trend one of theclassics of the fashion world. Not a year goes by when stripes don’t succeed in captivating our imaginations – always in different sizes and in every colour of the rainbow. Are you ready to ‘show your stripes’ this spring? Look below for more inspiration for your upcoming sewing projects. Don’t worry, there’s no need to stay within the lines.
