The Summer Stripe

It’s summer time! Or so I believe. And trust me, the next person to mention anything about snow, hail or rain, or any other weather condition not associated with summer, is going to get chinned.

I’m not entirely sure what ‘getting chinned’ means, but it sounds violent enough to convey how menacing I’d like to feel in this  situation. You have been warned.

Anyway, like it or not, I say it’s summer – at least in terms of my wardrobe. Yep, I’ve been firmly in the summer camp for the last month or so, and it’s such a treat to finally sport bare legs without goosebumps and a terrible up-skirt chill. Sunshine! Warmth! Hallelujah!

Something about this summer has been screaming blue stripes to me. Moreso than usual, I mean; summer is always an excuse for me to buy a brand new Breton stripe and prance around feeling slightly nautical, but I seem to have gone overboard already this year. Stripe after stripe after stripe.

And so I thought – with my wardrobe currently resembling Dennis the Menace’s – who better qualified than to delve into the world of stripes as the sun is starting to peek its head round our corner? That’s right! Me!

Here are my picks for the best summer stripes of 2016…

This year my Breton is a classic from Joules (top left) – pleasingly weighty, just the way I like it – and with sleeves slightly longer than elbow-length. A snip at £24.95. Next up is this light shirt from OASIS (£35), somewhere I rarely shop, but I had to snap this up when I came across it at the Westfield branch. It’ll be perfect to sling over a bikini at the beach, and smartens up with a big pair of earrings and dark cropped jeans for work meetings.

Next is another classic from OASIS (£38), with vertical stripes this time, and a slightly more formal feel – I love the double pockets. Collarless makes an appearance (£59.95), again from Joules, and in a shade of light blue I just can’t get enough of. I’d wear this with colour pop trousers (I have some fab ones in pink that I’m waiting to debut from Topshop) and a pair of hoop earrings.

This dress might need to wait until my belly wobble is a bit more under control, but HOW cute would it be for an evening on holiday? I’d wear it with some Boden pom pom flats (COVETING – £69.50) and a tan. For those SUPER warm days I adore this bikini from Boden’s new mix and match range (£54) – the concept is brilliant – and I’d consider throwing this coverup (Topshop, £32) over the top. It’s not just for the beach though, I have visions of the cape being indisposable over a relaxed Madelwell tee for slightly chillier evenings drinking Pimms in the garden.

Wishful thinking, eh?

“And how do you style your stripes, Alice?” I hear you say.

I’m glad you asked.

Because I am a sartorial newborn, emerging from the fashion womb like a baby, I’ve only just discovered the magic of clashing prints. I think stripes are a great place to start here (next step: florals!) so I’ve enjoyed combining them with a comfy pair of jeans (MOM jeans, £40, Topshop), a solid pair of earrings (also Topshop, £4.50), the old faithful Breton from Joules as above, and a clashing Primark jacket. I also love these mules from office which, if you ask me, are the perfect way to dip a toe into the ugly shoe trend this summer.

What stripes will you be sporting this summer?