From classic 60s gent Steed in The Avengers sporting pinstripe suits to rock icon Sting getting his name from not being seen dead out of a stripy T-shirt, stripes have always been a great British style look for dashing gents. Impervious to the shifting sands of fashion trends, they're always guaranteed to make a dull outfit more youthful and snappy and even put you in a better mood when worn properly.
Feel the love for stripes
Stripes look great on zebras. Here's how to make them work for you...
- The science bit
- For ages women were enthralled by the apparent slimming qualities of stripes. But, erm, they were wrong...
Since time began, the received wisdom among the fairer sex has been that vertical stripes make you appear thinner, horizontal hoops make you seem fatter. The vertical stripes draw the eye up and down, creating a perception of a svelter you. Horizontal lines do the opposite, creating a visual illusion that the belly is even bigger than it is. Which isn't always ideal.
Unfortunately earlier this year Dr Peter Thompson, an expert in visual perception (yes, there is such a job) from the University of York found that this was actually rubbish. He asked people to compare over 200 pairs of pictures of women wearing horizontally and vertically striped dresses, then asked them to say which of the two they thought was fatter. Yep, you guessed it - it was the vertically-striped ones. In other words, the complete opposite to conventional wisdom.
It's all to do with the Helmholtz illusion where the same size square with horizontal stripes appears taller and thinner than an identical one with the vertical stripes. We tried sketching some squares at home and frankly we're none the wiser. So let's just stick with the fact that stripes are good. They make you look cool. Wear them!
- How do I wear them?
It's not as straightforward as you might think. We called up London-stylist guru Ian Black for his words of wisdom on this one. "Stripes should be in every stylish gent's wardrobe," he enthuses. "They should be sported from the boardroom to the beach. But don't presume the stripy look is easy to achieve. If done correctly it will appear effortless and uncontrived though in reality will probably have taken a considerable amount of time and thought."
The variety of size and shades of stripes on the market will vary every year as it is a classic perennial look, but Black's golden rule is simple: "Only one striped garment per look." Thus you avoid what is commonly known as the 'deckchair effect'. "Match, say, a stripy shirt with a plain jacket and vice versa. Keep the colours classic, whether it's a preppy look or something a little nautical, keep to blues, greys and beiges and you won't go far wrong. "A bold stripy tie is always a must and can make a drab suit appear jolly - the brighter the better. I live by stripy socks and boxer shorts at all times. And in those drab winter months nothing lifts the soul like a brightly striped scarf - cashmere, of course."
- When should I avoid them?
Stripes never go out of fashion, so they're always a wardrobe staple but must be approached with restraint. "They're a great classic British look," says Black. "Think Brideshead Revisited, Paul Smith, Blackpool rock and public school - all of these are part of the Englishman's love affair with stripes."
"But tread carefully - striped trousers may look lovely punting on the river in the 1940s but won't work now. Striped trousers are only okay if they are part of a formal suit. You should never have stripy legs and stripy top as this is only acceptable if you are under four years old."
In which case you should probably leave your Bob the Builder truck set at home as well. Still, stripes are an unbeatable cheerful all year round look - from summer shorts on the beach to striped winter woolies, there's rarely a time when they're not suitable.
