Brian Maynor October 3, 2013

By Brian Maynor
October 3, 2013

 

Black is slimming.  Prints make great camouflage.  Short people shouldn’t wear long skirts.

We have all heard and blindly followed blanket statements about fashion and clothes that may not be completely true. A big trend at the moment, but also one of the most hated and avoided esthetics is the horizontal stripe.  People cling to the blanket statement “horizontal stripes make you look bigger,” but is it true and something to avoid?  

As a general rule the statement is true, but there are some situations where making something look bigger is a good thing and ways to incorporate horizontal stripes strategically.  Here are some great pieces that use horizontal stripes and few things to know or consider when wearing them:

1.    Subtle stripes.  Not all stripes have to be bold, clearly defined and in-your-face.  If you are working into the idea of horizontal stripes or just want to be on trend without the commitment two great options are texture and patterns.  The cardigan and vest use variegated colors and patterns to provide the illusion of horizontal stripes in a much more forgiving format.

2.    Color blocked stripes.  Another great alternative to actual horizontal stripes that is very flattering and forgiving is color blocking.  This technique gives you the option of camouflaging larger areas with one solid color while using smaller blocks to provide accents and movement.  With the pencil skirt, the largest block is around the hips helping camouflage that area while the color comes in below them as the skirt naturally narrows.  The blazer on the other hand has four very distinct areas breaking up the torso and pulling focus to the middle and lower half.  This would not be ideal if you have a smaller chest you want to broaden or larger stomach you want to deemphasize.

3.    Various sized stripes.  The fitted dress and sweaters incorporate true horizontal stripes in various sizes and colors.  The varied sizes and groupings are great for keeping visual interest and vertical movement, but they can reinforce the negative stigma of horizontal stripes.  They are very clear bands encircling your body.  That is not forgiving or flattering if you have a large chest, stomach, hips or butt.  With the ladies garments they are at least fitted giving some separation between the arms and torso.  The men’s sweater is just boxy and wide.

4.    Contrast Stripes.  These are the perfect attention grabbers.  A contrast stipe stands out even against other horizontal stripes, which can be a great tool for highlighting or making an area appear larger.  Guys use this technique to make their shoulders and chest look broader, like with the polo shirt, while ladies use them if they are trying to magnify minimal curves, like the lighter band on the dress.

Horizontal stripes may have a bad wrap, but highlighting, magnifying and increasing the perceived size of something is not inherently a bad thing.  It can be a very useful and effective tool to creating a balanced proportional shape.  You just need to know where to place them.