How to Wear a Vertical Striped Shirt

Co-authored by Paul Julch, MA

Last Updated: November 18, 2021 References

Stripes have become a popular staple in many wardrobes over the past several years, and for a good reason! A striped top is easy to dress up or down, and it adds a little flair to any outfit. If you’re looking for a variation on the classic horizontal stripe and wonder how to style a vertically-striped top, you’re not alone. There are dozens of ways you can mix and match this style to work for many different scenarios, from a day at the office to an evening out with friends or a casual morning running errands.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Bottoms

1
Wear a vertically-striped top with a pair of jeans for a casual-chic outfit. For a more professional look, tuck your shirt into your pants. For a stylized, put-together look, tuck in just the front of your shirt and let the rest hang loose. Or, you could leave your shirt entirely untucked for a more casual vibe.^{[1]
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- When it comes to picking a shade of denim, think opposites. A light-colored top will look nice contrasted against darker denim. A darker top will pop against light-washed jeans.
- For a dressier outfit, wear a pair of heels or Oxfords.
- For a sportier look, wear a pair of white sneakers.
2
Pair a brightly-colored striped top with neutrally-toned pants. This pairing is smart if you’re concerned about your outfit being too busy. Stick with black, gray, tan, navy blue, or white pants.^{[2]
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- For example, a shirt with bright red and yellow vertical stripes would look great with dark brown or navy blue pants.
- Keep your shoes more neutrally-toned, too. Tan, brown, or black shoes will look the best because they won’t add more visual stimulation to your outfit.
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3
Create a stunning outfit with a striped top and brightly-colored pants. If you want to stand out, mixing stripes and colors is a great way to do it! Pick a striped top and add a pair of bright pants, leggings, or a skirt. Royal blue, emerald green, red, or even pink would look fetching.^{[3]
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- For example, a classic white and blue pinstriped shirt would look great with a pair of tailored emerald green pants. Finish the look with classic white sneakers for a preppy, put-together vibe.
- Or, consider going even brighter by wearing something like a rainbow-striped shirt with eggplant-purple pants.
- Just be sure to stick to a solid color—matching stripes and prints can be a little tricky.^{[4]
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  Paul Julch, MA
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  Expert Interview. 16 November 2021.}
4
Match a color from your shirt to your pants for a cohesive outfit. Pick a color from your striped top and wear a pair of pants or a skirt that is the same hue. This style works with both neutrally-toned shirts as well as with brighter ones.^{[5]
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- A white and tan striped top paired with tan pants would look sophisticated and neat.
- A mustard yellow and navy blue striped top would look nice with navy blue pants or a skirt.
5
Tuck your striped shirt into a pencil skirt for a classy, professional outfit. This is a great way to wear a vertically-striped shirt to the office, a networking event, or even a fun night out with friends. With a more neutrally-toned top, consider wearing a brighter skirt, like red or blue. With a more vivid top, tone things down a little with a neutrally-toned skirt.^{[6]
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- Finish your outfit with flats for a more conservative look or heels for a dressier feel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Layers

1
Wear a striped shirt unbuttoned over a solid-colored tee for a casual look. Look for a shirt with broader vertical stripes for a preppy look. Or for a more eclectic style, wear a top with multi-sized stripes. A white or black tee would look classic and simple, or have some fun with a light pink, yellow, baby blue, or differently-colored undershirt.^{[7]
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- This look works the best for a casual day out running errands or hanging out with friends. It’s a little too relaxed to work in an office setting.
- For a put-together vibe, match your tee's color to the color of the stripes on your shirt.
- To avoid clashing, aim to keep your tee in the same color family as your striped top. For example, a white and navy blue striped shirt would look nice overtop of a blue-gray tee. Or a pink tee would nicely complement a red and brown striped top.
- In warmer weather, pair this look with shorts. In colder weather, black pants or even a pair of jeans would look great.
2
Add a warm layer by putting a sweater over a striped button-up. This works best with a collared top. Choose either a classic sweater or one with a half-zip if you want to leave it undone a little to let more of the shirt underneath show. Tuck the shirt into your pants for a neater, more professional look.^{[8]
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- For example, a black and white vertically-striped top would look fantastic under a mustard yellow sweater. Wear black pants and a pair of white sneakers to complete the outfit.
- A cardigan is also an excellent option that will let just a little more of that striped style peek through than another style of sweater would.
- If you’re looking for a more feminine vibe, pair your sweater and shirt combo with black leggings and leave the shirt untucked.
3
Don a solid-colored blazer or suit jacket for an office-appropriate outfit. This particular style works with both button-up striped shirts as well as striped blouses or T-shirts. Just make sure whichever option you choose is acceptable for your specific work environment.^{[9]
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- Since the jacket will cover most of your shirt, feel free to go a bit brighter and bolder with the coloring of your vertically-striped top. This can be a great way to add some color to your outfit without it becoming overwhelming.
- For example, a red and pink striped top would look lovely with a pair of tailored black trousers and black blazer.
4
Create a casual yet still fashionable outfit with a denim jacket. This look works best with jeans, leggings, or black pants. For a more stylized look, tuck your vertically-striped shirt into your pants. For a laid-back vibe, leave your top untucked. Feel free to wear a top that’s brightly colored or more neutral—both styles work well with a jean jacket.^{[10]
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- A denim jacket generally won’t look right if you pair it with tailored slacks. The dressiness of the pants tends to clash with the casualness of the jacket.
- If you pair denim with denim, make sure your jeans are a different shade than your jacket. For example, indigo jeans with a light-washed jacket would work well, or lighter jeans with a dark denim jacket would also pair nicely.^{[11]
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- The great thing about this style is that you can pair it with almost any shoe. Keep things feeling casual and comfy with a pair of athletic sneakers or strappy sandals. Wear ballet flats for a more conservative look. Add a pair of high heels or shiny Oxfords to dress things up a bit.
5
Slip a vest over your top for effortless style. Between the vest and your striped top, make sure one of those elements is more neutrally-colored to prevent clashing. Adding a vest to your outfit is a great way to add instant flair to what might otherwise be a more casual or basic outfit.^{[12]
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- A minimalistic vest in a neutral or earth tone would look smart with a more brightly-colored striped top.
- Consider pairing a hunter green vest with a black and white striped top for a classic pairing.
- A puffer vest can add both style and warmth in the colder months.
- Try out a denim vest for a retro look.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Picking Patterns

1
Wear pinstripes for a more subtle style. If you’re new to the vertically-striped world, you might feel a little nervous about going big and bold, and that’s okay! Instead, look for a thin striped pattern, one that almost disappears when you see the shirt from a distance. This is a flattering, slimming style that will ease you into the world of vertically-striped clothing.^{[13]
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- For the most conservative, unobtrusive look, wear a pair of jeans or neutrally-colored pants. You could dress things up more with a skirt or a pair of trousers.
2
Vary your style by wearing a top that has multi-sized stripes. Not all stripes have to be the same width! There are some cool shirts out there with stripes that vary in size from one to the other, creating a fashionable, trendy look.^{[14]
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- With a top with wider or varied stripes, create a stunning outfit by pairing it with pinstriped trousers. The key here is to pair a bold vertical stripe with a minimal one. Don’t go big-on-big—that would be too overwhelming. If stripes-on-stripes isn’t for you, stick with solid-colored bottoms.
- Because the top tends to be much busier, keep the rest of your outfit simple. White, black, or tan shoes and minimal jewelry will keep your outfit from becoming visually overwhelming.
3
Mix vertical stripes with a fun print for a bold vibe. If you love mixing and matching patterns, pairing a vertically-striped top with bottoms or an accessory that clashes a little bit can create a stunning outfit. Think about animal prints, florals, polka-dots, houndstooth, checked patterns, or even camouflage.^{[15]
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- Feel free to play around with the size of the stripes on your top! You might find that a thin stripe creates a lovely subtle effect, or you might prefer a large or multi-sized stripe for a bolder style.
- For example, pair a purple and white striped top with a cheetah-print skirt for a daring and striking outfit.
- For a slightly more subtle mix of prints, use your shoes, a purse, or a scarf to add a contrasting pattern to your outfit.
4
Mix horizontally-striped shirts and vertically-striped ones for flair. For the best results, focus on shirts with neutral or pastel colors and make sure one of the shirts buttons up the front. A button-up shirt ensures that the other shirt is visible, and the neutral hues will blend the look rather than being overwhelming.^{[16]
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- For example, a horizontally-striped white and tan shirt underneath a vertically-striped blue and white shirt would work well.
- Or, consider pairing a vertically-striped light yellow and tan shirt under a horizontally-striped navy and brown one.
- Remember with this style that the stripes on the two shirts need to go the opposite directions. Don’t pair vertical stripes with vertical stripes.

Expert Q&A

Question

Are vertical stripes bad?

Paul Julch, MA
Personal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker
Paul Julch is a Personal Wardrobe Stylist, Speaker, and the founder of Urbanite | Suburbanite, a wardrobe styling business in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years in the fashion industry, Paul works with clients to make getting dressed easier, less time consuming, and more enjoyable. Paul has years of experience in retail visual merchandising - styling windows, displays, and floor sets for Banana Republic, Gap, and Express. He also has experience styling fashion photo shoots and corporate videos. Paul holds a BS Degree in Management from State University of New York at Binghamton, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. He also studied Interior Design at the University of California, Berkeley.

Paul Julch, MA

Personal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker

Expert Answer

Not at all! Vertical stripes do not make a piece of clothing more or less wearable.