Product of the week: The striped shirt

What is it:

The striped shirt is a classic that returns season after season. The shirt used to be primarily intended for the workplace, but today it has become an important part of everyday wardrobe. From pinstripes to ‘pencil stripes’ – the variations of the pattern are versatile. However, in the SS24 collections, the wider block stripes were predominant, especially in shades of green and blue. A design feature that ran throughout the collections was the long sleeve, which was seen on both fitted and oversized silhouettes.

Why you should order it:

A wardrobe staple, the striped shirt has evolved beyond the boundaries of formal wear and workwear to become a piece for every occasion and season. For the spring/summer 2024 season, the designers focused on the roots of the shirt and brought the office look into play. Many of them stuck to the classic silhouettes and paired the look with two-piece suits and elegant tuxedos. There were also designers who deconstructed the look and showed more casual versions of the shirt that differentiated themselves from the formal models.

Where we saw it:

An example of the deconstructive approach was the Coperni collection. The label featured what appeared to be a classic striped shirt, but with exaggeratedly long sleeves that extended below the suit’s sleeves. Courrèges also played with the silhouette, presenting a striped shirt dress that played with layering and draping to create a modern look. Carven’s striped shirt, on the other hand, resembled a pajama top and reflected a casualness that contrasted with the traditional, tailored shape seen at, for example, Vivienne Westwood and Celine.

How to style it:

With the casualization of office wear in mind and the casual and deconstructed approach seen on the runways, there are a variety of ways to style the striped shirt. A standard shirt and blazer combo can easily be jazzed up with flared leather pants – as seen on the Celine runway. Another option is to combine it with a wrap skirt that hugs the ankles. In a long version, the shirt can be worn as a dress and is therefore a perfect addition to the summer wardrobe. The look can be worn with sneakers or strappy sandals and spiced up with a minimalist handbag and matching accessories.

The striped shirt is a classic piece of clothing that reappears every year in the summer season and can be worn both in the office and on the beach. As workwear has become more casual, brands and designers have played with the look, taking it out of the traditional style and spicing it up with modern details for a new group of customers.

This translated post previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk. Translation and editing: Pia Schulz