Striped Blouses

Striped Blouses

What Are Striped Tops Called?

Striped tops have several names, each describing a particular stripe. A Breton top has horizontal navy stripes on white, originally worn by French sailors, and it remains the most famous striped top of all. Pinstripes are very fine lines, often on a dark ground, borrowed from men's suiting; they look crisp and professional.

Candy stripes are narrow, evenly spaced stripes in a bright color, such as red or pink, alternating with white. Bengal stripes are wider, even stripes of color and white, usually on cotton shirting. Awning stripes are wider still, like the canvas over a shop window or a beach cabin.

Pencil stripes are slightly thicker than pinstripes, and ticking stripes are narrow woven stripes, traditionally navy or black on cream. Multicolor or rainbow stripes use several colors and feel playful.

Seersucker stripes are woven with puckered and flat bands side by side, giving a cool, crinkled texture that is especially comfortable in summer.

Wide or Thin Stripes?

Neither is always more flattering; the best stripe depends on your frame and the look you want. As a guide, stripe width works best in proportion to the body. Petite women often look balanced in narrow stripes, while taller or fuller figures can carry wider ones without the pattern overwhelming them.

Contrast matters as much as width. High-contrast stripes, such as navy on white, catch the eye, while low-contrast ones, such as light blue on white or gray on cream, read softer and can look slimming because the pattern is less noticeable. Evenly spaced stripes look orderly; uneven ones feel more relaxed.

Direction can change within one blouse too. Stripes cut on the bias run diagonally, and chevron stripes meeting at the center front form a V that draws the eye inward. Sleeves with stripes running the other way add interest without extra width.

Placement matters too. A stripe that stops at the hip, with a plain band below, is easier to wear than one running the full length, and wide stripes across the shoulders balance a narrower lower half.

What Patterns Go Well With Stripes?

Stripes are one of the easiest patterns to mix. Pairing a stripe on top with a floral skirt below is a classic combination, since straight lines balance soft, rounded flowers. Prints that share a color work best, such as a navy stripe with a navy-and-white floral, and our floral blouses show many palettes.

Leopard and stripes are a popular modern pairing, as the animal print's warmth plays against crisp lines; a striped blouse with a leopard scarf or shoes is an easy start, and leopard print blouses offer the reverse. Polka dots work too, especially in the same color family, as polka dot blouses show.

Scale still applies: mix a fine stripe with a larger print, or a wide stripe with a small one. When unsure, let one pattern lead and keep the other to an accessory. Plaid is the trickiest partner, since both patterns are made of lines; if you try it, keep the colors very close.

Striped Button-Ups and Collars

Stripes and a shirt collar are a natural match. A striped button-up in cotton looks crisp and classic, the kind of shirt that works under a blazer on weekdays and open over a tank on weekends. Vertical stripes along the placket draw a long line from collar to hem.

Blue and white stripes are the most versatile, and more of them appear among our blue blouses. Pink, green and yellow stripes feel fresh in summer. A curved hem makes a striped shirt easy to wear untucked, and a half or 3/4 sleeve suits warmer months.

Plain versions of the same shape sit among our button up blouses, useful for rotating with stripes through the week. A striped shirt also layers neatly under a crew-neck sweater, with the collar and cuffs showing.