Fresh ways to wear your stripes
Mum uniform reinvented
I've mentioned before how motherhood changed my stance on stripes. Whereas before having kids I felt super classic and chic in a Breton top, afterwards they made me feel too … ‘mum’. You know?
Like they were something I was supposed to wear. Or expected to wear (just add denim dungarees and a mum bun!). Stripes felt too stereotypical. Which was such a turn off.
So I cleared most of mine out just after I had my second child and haven't really gone near them since.
BUT THEN I got this mailer from Everlane and it made me reconsider.
Stripes! But different. Cooler. Fresher. Yet still timeless.
It’s all about the layering of scales and directions (horizontal jumper + vertical shirt) which looks considered but not try-hard. And it’s such an easy styling note to recreate. You probably have both a striped jumper and shirt already in your wardrobe.
It's a good time to get into stripes again as they’re a key look this season. Which they sort of always are in spring, but still – it's nice to be current.
The main takeaways from the catwalks is that bold stripes - as in wide/thick stripes - are a goer. There's certainly a nautical mood around, but more holiday in the Hamptons less on-the-nose sailor. I particularly loved Proenza Schouler’s take on it which included an oversized striped shirt styled with a striped tote. Throw jeans/shorts underneath and that could absolutely work for real life.
Also, Schiaparelli did a long striped dress with a striped sarong tied around the waist. Make the latter a striped shirt and that’s your summer playground look sorted.
And! If you needed reason to pull on your big stripey jumper, Prada is it.
Inspired by the above, I played around in my wardrobe to come up with three updated and easy ways to wear them.
Here we go…
A Breton with double denim
A striped top and blue jeans has long been my go-to - but maybe isn’t the most original formula. So to move it on, add a denim shirt (double denim is also a vibe rn) with a brown overshirt that leans into the western look, but not too much. Having a bit of striped and denim cuff showing pulls everything together and makes the outfit look more styled.
My Breton is ancient Petite Bateau but this is good | Again, the denim shirt is over a decade old and from GAP, I love this | Overshirt | Jeans (less pricey version here) | Boots
A striped shirt layered under a striped jumper
My version of the Everlane look but with pieces I already own. As mentioned above, the trick to layering stripes is to mix wide with thin, vertical with horizontal. It's probably easier to stick to one colour of stripe (both of mine are blue) but it's definitely worth having a play.
A great blue striped shirt | Jumper | Wearing the cords I mentioned a couple of weeks ago | OMG these trainers! | Bag that goes in the washing machine - but this for when you don’t need a tonne of stuff
A very unbuttoned striped shirt
Striped shirts are the other big mood this season. Pin-stripe, pyjama, graphic - whatever you have works.
The updated styling note is to have it unbutton into a deep V. The catwalks showed them with bikini tops underneath - or nothing at all, toot toot! - but for real life, layer a T-shirt. Or if you're breastfeeding a tank top would give you easy access.
Shirt | White tee | My Haikure jeans are sold out but these look so nice | Don’t spend loads of money on a basket
4 truly gorgeous Mother's Day gift idea for you
… in case ‘the kids’ need inspiration.
Tilly Seevas heart pendant, £95
The sweetest little pendant to make your everyday T-shirts and jeans feel a bit special. I adore Tilly’s pieces - this T-bar is lovely, too.
If Only If nightie, £145
The happiest yellow nightie that’s going to be a real treat to slip into after the bath/bed routine – and will make you feel a whole lot nicer when you haven’t made it out of pjs that day. Also! It will go over a bump. Also, also! J’adorable mini version.
Conversations On Love by Natasha Lunn, £10.99
I know I've featured it before but THIS BOOK! I’m not someone who underlines passages when I read (English A-level PTSD) but I could have highlighted something on every page of this. It's so thoughtful and insightful and relatable and eye-opening. It's love! It's humans! It's life!
Nike trainers, £63
The combination of light blue and chocolate brown is so satisfying. And the retro shape feels very right at the moment. What a delightful spring touch.
Two more things…
The Times has lifted its paywall this weekend, so you can read my essay on doing a house renovation with kids. Just in case you’re thinking of doing one yourself. Or are doing one and need a hard relate. IT’S ABSOLUTELY FERAL.
I read this extract from Becky Barnicoat’s new graphic memoir Cry When The Baby Cries in the Guardian and it really made me laugh. And groan. And recall the trauma:
A brilliant reminder that this kid stuff isn't so easy. And you're doing great. YOU'RE DOING GREAT. Frankie x
In case you missed it:
The chic-ification of mum jewellery
I was on a photo shoot this week where the twenty-something model and production assistant both complimented me on my necklace. I was thrilled about it because a) approval of the youth! And b) the necklace is one of my favourite things, as it’s strung with little gold initials of my husband and kids. (Actually, kid. I haven't got round to getting a ‘W’ …
I love how you styled these stripes! I’m a huge fan of stripes too, and I totally agree, once I became a mom, I started looking for versions that felt a little less fussy. I mix a lot of Everlane into my wardrobe as well. I’m definitely going to try the unbuttoned striped shirt over a tee. It looks so cool and unexpected. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the look with the Me & Em cords 🙌🏻