The striped top, or alternatively, the marinière, is a classic and timeless garment that every woman now has in her wardrobe.
We love it because it can be worn for many occasions from morning to night and by all ages, and depending on your mood and taste, a striped top can be worn with a sporty aesthetic or even in a business look at the office!
The striped top is always in fashion and you're wondering how to combine it? We have styling suggestions for you with a foolproof result!
Whatever style you prefer, you are sure to find your favorite striped top or striped knitwear at Parabita! Visit Parabita's new collection Stripes Attack - Women's striped clothes and see all the new stripe trends.
Combine your striped top based on colors
Marinière and neutral colors
Dressing in neutral colors offers a balanced and timelessly stylish look. Neutral colors include white, black, grey, and beige.
Key wardrobe staples that you likely already own are a black and a beige or white pair of trousers, a classic beige trench coat, and at least one striped top!
So, whatever style of striped top you have, whether in blue, red, or black and white, you can combine it with black trousers and add a beige trench coat and loafers or heels to achieve a stylish outfit with color balance.
Marinière with vibrant colors or pastels
Vibrant colors bring color contrast and vibrancy to any marinière look, while pastel shades create freshness and sweetness!
Combine your marinière with red - in trousers or a skirt - or with accessories, and you'll have the perfect combination! Pair your striped top with any vibrant blue, green, or yellow, and by adding accessories in equally vibrant colors, you'll achieve an outfit that certainly won't go unnoticed.
Other ideas for striped clothes as we enter spring more and more are to combine stripes with pastel shades, the so-called gelato colors, giving a nostalgic retro aesthetic. An ideal look for the sunniest winter days and a top choice for the whole spring.
Color trends 2024 and stripesSeasonal trends always play a role in our dressing. Likewise, for 2024, in addition to neutral colors that are always fashion colors, the color of the year according to Pantone is "Peach Fuzz", essentially peach.
The color palette dominating the runways, according to whowhatwear, moves in shades of orange that perfectly match peach, very pale beige - almost yellow, sea blue and pistachio green, steel grey, red, and sweet chocolate brown. An extra addition is metallic fabrics that add extra shine!
Adjust the color palette for your striped top outfits according to the seasonal color trends of 2024. To achieve this, you can follow the styling tips for combinations we mentioned above!
Whether it's a spring or winter outfit, go for color-based combinations and you can't go wrong!
Combine your striped top according to the occasion
Casual Day Out with a Marinière
Your jeans love stripes, and stripes love your jeans!
The ultimate casual styling combination is jeans and stripes! You can confidently combine a striped top or a striped sweater with any of the jeans you have in your wardrobe! And if you want to update your wardrobe with new denim designs, discover all the latest in Parabita's new Denim collection with women's denim clothes with the best fit ever! Add casual shoes, your favorite outerwear, jacket or coat, and you're ready.
For a more elevated style that refers to smart casual fashion, combine your striped top with jeans, a blazer and loafers or ballet flats. Add a belt and a bag and you are ready for a stroll, coffee or shopping with friends! Surely the casual chic attitude will not go unnoticed.
For you who are looking for comfort and relaxed elegance above all else in your everyday outfits, the combination is a marinière with sweatpants or clothes with a sporty aesthetic. This look is also ideal for relaxing Sunday strolls!
Choose a pair of sweatpants or comfortable, sporty peg-leg trousers and simply add your marinière, a casual jacket, and your favorite athletic shoes.
In terms of color, you can "play" by combining different colors you love, or for a more minimalist aesthetic, opt for monochrome or two-tone. Casual elegance is purely a matter of taste!
Stripes for the office
Synonymous with elegance, black and white attire can be casual in nature but also perfectly suitable for office fashion.
So if you want to invest in a striped piece suitable for work, it's a black and white striped top in a classic cut. The versatility of such a top is undeniable!
One way is to wear it with jeans and a blazer over it, tying a scarf around your neck and loafers or ballet flats, you achieve a business casual look that exudes French finesse. Another way, especially when office attire calls for more strictness, is to combine it with a suit or a tailored suit. It will give a breath of freshness without detracting from the required professional style.
If you want to update your wardrobe with office clothes, check out Parabita's suggestions in the Office Wear collection.
Marinière at evening events
There are many times when you have to go straight out after work or you happen to be out all day and need to continue to an evening event. That's when you want to achieve a dressy casual look.
What do you do in such a case? Of course, you won't carry evening wear with you, but you can achieve a sophisticated style inspired by casual chic outfits by combining your striped top with sophisticated skirts or crepe trousers that are inherently considered more evening wear. If you want a more formal look with stripes, add heels and elegant accessories such as a small chain bag, statement earrings or necklace, and an overcoat – preferably a coat or blazer – which will give a formal touch to your ensemble.
Stripes in spring
Stripes in spring are a must-have! The marinière is the most basic piece in the wardrobe for the spring-summer season and we see it in all street-style looks!
All you need to consider is the style of marinière you will choose. Whether it's spring stripes on a shirt or a V-neck sweater, with a polo collar or the classic round neckline, or even a top with a décolletage or a high neck, it is always considered a timeless investment.
For a comfortable styling, combine your striped tops with jeans (as we said, they're THE perfect match!) or with high-waisted wide-leg trousers. For stylish appearances, add a biker jacket and loafers or ankle boots, while for more casual looks, a pair of athletic shoes and your favorite sleeveless jacket.
Marinière at the beach
Hello Sailor! It would be sacrilege if you didn't wear a marinière to the beach at least once!
Although marinières predominantly feature in our spring clothing, you shouldn't let them go unutilized in summer! Summer fashion differs in the use of stripes, which, in addition to tops, shirts, and shorts, are found in beachwear and many accessories.
In summer stripes, white and blue shades dominate, reminiscent of the colors of the Mediterranean, giving a maritime breeze to your outfit without restricting you to a specific dressing style.
So for you who are looking for a cool styling for the beach, add your striped top and striped items to a comfortable, beach-friendly outfit – preferably with Bermuda shorts or shorts.
For a more classy look, wear your long striped shirt over your swimsuit and, if you prefer, add a thin belt to create a dress effect. Combine it with a straw bag and your favorite sandals or espadrilles. You can wear this outfit from morning to night!
Layering with stripes for colder months
But what about winter? How can I have both an elegant winter style and cozy outfits with winter layering, you might ask.
The answer lies in proper layering and the accessories you use, such as warm scarves, beanies, or hats. Fashion for cold weather doesn't take effort, it takes skill!
Striped tops in winter are perfect for layering with a white shirt, but they also go very well with cozy cardigans to achieve the snug look you want. Complete the outfit with a warm jacket or coat and add gloves and a scarf, while for even colder days, don't forget a hat or beanie for chic winter appearances.
Combine your striped top with the right accessories
Striped top and jewelry
The must-have accessories for striped tops are fashion jewelry, such as necklaces or earrings, as well as elaborate headbands or hair accessories. Choosing the right type of jewelry and the scale of accessorizing plays a significant role in complementing the stripes harmoniously.
Choose to combine your Breton top with statement pieces, preferably monochrome, which will either be in the same tone as the stripes you're wearing for a "calmer" result, or in a contrasting shade to add emphasis.
Be careful with how you combine jewellery so you don't overdo it! If you choose a statement necklace, you can add subtle earrings or a headband, but avoid wearing all accessories at once!
Striped top and belt
Belts are among the fashion accessories that highlight the waist and add an extra style element to our outfit.
So, when you want to use a belt with a striped top for a style upgrade, you should pay attention to the stripe size matching the belt size. If the top has thin stripes, it's better for the belt to also be thin to achieve an elegant result.
Care will be needed when combining belts. If you want to add a double belt, choose thinner ones that will highlight the stripes. And don't forget the rule we mentioned earlier!
Striped top with a scarf or stole
Let's look at some creative ways to combine scarves with striped tops and add extra colour and texture!
As difficult as it may sound, striped tops are suitable for scarves. Styling a Breton top with a scarf doesn't require special rules. If the stripes on your top are sparse and two-toned, consider it a plain top and don't be afraid of colour in the scarf. So you can easily combine printed or coloured scarves, even floral ones! Just follow the general rule for colours that we discussed above so you don't overdo it.
With a small satin scarf intricately tied around the neck, you add texture and colour, as well as a hint of refined style. With a larger scarf or stole draped around the neck, you'll give your outfit a more casual feel.
Other ways to use more colour and a scarf in your look are to tie it in your hair or on your bag!
Choosing the right bag for a striped outfit
For morning outfits or office looks, prefer larger bags or a shopper bag. For your sporty looks, a backpack or a crossbody bag is perfect. For smart casual outfits, generally prefer handbags, shoulder bags or smaller crossbody bags that will add a refined touch. Of course, for more evening ensembles, opt for smaller, elegant bags such as clutch bags, chain shoulder bags or a handheld bag. For summer, your stripes go perfectly with straw bags!
And don't hesitate to be daring! One of the most successful combinations with a Breton top is an animal print bag! Yes, exactly that!
Combining a Breton top with the right shoe
Honestly, I find it difficult to think of a shoe style that doesn't go with a striped top!
For casual looks with a Breton top, opt for sneakers like white tennis shoes, or your fashionable athletic shoes, but you can also definitely wear your favourite striped top or striped jumper with ankle boots or wellington boots!
For an office look, prefer more elegant footwear. Choose ballet flats, loafers or elegant ankle boots – and if you wish, match the stripe colour with the shoe to upgrade the outfit. Of course, if you're continuing to an outing after work, a Breton top also goes with a pair of heels!
For summer, both espadrilles and your favourite sandals go with striped tops!
Bring Out Your Best Self!
What matters most is that when you wear an outfit, you feel authentic, beautiful, happy, and you bring out your best self!
Wear whatever makes you happy, add your brightest smile, and you're ready!
Do it like Cleopatra, Konstantina, and Maria!
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