Stripes themselves vary greatly and throughout the eras, revolutionized many themes we associate them with still today. From the classic nautical navy-and-white stripes many of us so commonly turn to every summer, all the way to the retro mod look with black-and-white vertical stripes, they’ve stood the test of time.
Take a closer look at stripes’ historical background, learning why they’ve endured through the centuries, people having expressed their loyalty to the trend, and will continue to do so through wardrobes everywhere.
· The Nautical Stripe: As part of the French Navy’s
standards issued through the 1858 Act of France, the navy-and-white horizontal
striped shirt made its first appearance on sailors. (Apparently it made it
easier to spot any who had fallen overboard, yikes!) Since then, the professed
nautical stripe has maintained its place in representing all things by the sea.
It’s synonymous with yacht decks, suggesting high-status glamour (think summer spent
in the Hamptons watching sailboat races).
Over
the years, the nautical stripe has come to represent the sporty, All-American
look with a touch of class. A simple design, it proves efficiency, creating a
wonderful contrast to wearing more elegant pieces or bolder colors. The classic
look remains a timeless, fashion staple yet manages to stay modern, largely
thanks to designers who have brought their own touches and tweaks as seen on
the runways with the likes of Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, who did skinny
red-and-white stripes this past spring.
Today,
the nautical stripe works year-round, at sea or land. Find your perfect piece
with looks ranging from wide to narrow navy, black or red-and-white stripes,
found in crewneck shirts to cozy boatneck sweaters. Keeping in mind, narrow
stripes are easier to wear than wider ones. In addition, if going the
red-and-white route, avoid looking like a candy cane and choose sharp,
contrasting stripes, wearing khaki shorts to balance out the look. For me, I
love bringing out my navy-and-green striped mid-sleeved shirt every summer. Paired
with shorts or pants in summer whites or under a navy blazer for the ultimate
prep, the nautical stripe is one that’s anchors away from going out of
style.
Source:
http://global.ralphlauren.com/en-us/style/women/rlclassics/pages/nautical_stripe.aspx
· ‘60s Mod Stripe: Originating from London, England, a
subculture sparked as what we all know today as the Mod Movement. Peaking in
the early to mid-1960s, it was ultimately the first signs of the modernist (as
they liked to refer to themselves) from young adults. Emerging from within was a
new take on fashion.
It
began with tailored-made suits worn by men (think the Beatles), spilling over
in to women embracing short miniskirts, men’s trousers or shirts and flat
shoes. The look then went from a cool underground style to commercialized
fashion. With the likes of famous models such as Twiggy, exemplifying the
high-fashion mod look, made it trendy everywhere.
This
season, the retro look has gotten into full swing again with the notorious ‘60s-inspired
black-and-white vertical stripes. Being a simple color palette, it offers the
perfect base for bolder details like oversized buttons or bows as well as
statement accessories and bright hues. Complete with red lips, black liquid
eyeliner underneath white cat-eye sunglasses and a pair of optic-white
pointed-toe pumps, “retrograde” into history with a take from the fashion-era
that first embraced modernism.
Whether or not you
choose to sail away or go retro, stripes line up almost everywhere to make a
fashion statement this season.
*Check back
here on Friday and I’ll show all of you a few of my own personal finds and
takes on this ever-beloved stripy trend!*
love your blog!
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