VERTICAL STRIPES

Stripes, in terms of menswear, always seem to be there – a blue button-up with fine white lines, a tee sporting nautical vibes, or a Wall Street-type suit with light pinstripes.

None of this is especially trendy nor dated. It’s just simply there.

Vertical stripes never fail to outstrip other patterns around men’s wardrobe left to right, or should we say up to down? Striking a welcome note of warning nostalgia, Vertical stripes are re-emerging across many of the brands from Dolce Gabbana to Dior calling it in for the next upcoming trend.

Stripes gain appeal by being universally understood, making then a relatively easy win. Offering many benefits, causing the eye to naturally scan up and down, therefore giving a lengthening effect, makes it ideal for men to look tall and lean. Calling them an event round rotation would not be wrong as two things vertical stripes symbolize strongly are power suiting and casual summer.Here is how you can pull these styles off:

FORMAL

If you work in a relaxed office environment, an all-over striped shirt worn with an open collar, flat-front trousers offers a contemporary take on business casual semi-formal. Opt for a traditional six-inch rise on the trouser and an iron a crease down the middle to ensure you stay on the right side of professional. Personally when it comes to timeless smart style, pairing of a vertically striped shirt and white dress pants is the ultimate style. Dark brown loafers can effortlessly class up this outfit.

CASUAL

An collar open striped vertical shirt, ideally in linen or lightweight cotton, is ideal for creating smart-casual looks in hotter climes, both home and abroad.

Also vertically striped shirt and chinos worn together bring out the perfect outfit for those dressers who prefer casual combinations. Give a more sophisticated twist to your ensemble by slipping into black leather low top sneakers. Laid-back pairing of a vertically striped shirt and black chinos is very easy to pull together without a second thought, helping you look awesome and ready for anything without spending too much time going through your closet.

MIX AND MATCH

Stripes can be fun. Gone are those style rules warning against juxtaposing vertical. A moderate amount of differentiating color and pattern can draw out your playful side. Subtlety is key here. If you’re not confident color mixing then try teaming a vertical stripe shirt with a neutral cord jacket for a flattering aesthetic where neither piece competes for attention. Anything two-toned and blocky, assuming you’re not doing black and white, is easy enough. But, why be basic? Now’s the time to try a multi-colored, uneven combination, or something resembling candy stripes. Assuming it matches everything else, the print’s just an upgrade from your usual casual fare. To pull it off, avoid bright shades – nothing red, pink, or orange, especially when paired with white. Instead, play one or more cool tones, like blue, tan, or even green, off something neutral, like black or white.

It's time to bring out your favorite stripped garment and style it in your mix and match from formal to casual.