Set sail for Summer in Stripes

                                                   Set sail for Summer in Stripes

Stripes are practically a summer fashion staple, and this year is no exception. There was an explosion of stripes on the summer runways, from designers like Moschino and Prada; clothing boutiques everywhere are brimming with striped clothing and accessories; and actress Olivia Wilde even sports a striped top on the June cover of Glamour magazine.

Stripes can be a bit intimidating for the pattern-shy, but this perennial favorite is surprisingly wearable. Vertical stripes are commonly held to be more slimming than horizontal stripes, but that doesn��t mean you have to ban the latter from your closet. Just stick to skinny stripes instead of bold bands. Alternatively, diagonal stripes tend to flatter any figure, since they don��t exaggerate curves the way straight horizontal or vertical lines tend to do.

The most classic nautical-inspired looks typically involve black, navy, or red with white, but you can find loads of color options out there, from the bold to the subtle. Try a tone-on-tone stripe, like navy with blue or two differing shades of any other color, if you��re shy about flat out black-and-white stripes.

Another way to dip a toe into the trend is to start with a small accessory, like a scarf, bag, or shoes. This is also a great way to add a little pizzazz to a plain outfit!

Slightly oversized striped tops look great paired with short-shorts and wedge sandals for summer, and keep the vibe casual. You could also tuck a striped top into a skirt to make it more work-appropriate.