Star in stripes

we are warned about them, told to avoid them, informed that they can be extremely difficult to wear.

But stripes are actually one of fashion’s most loyal and amiable friends.

That is, as long as you know how to treat them.

This season, stripes are everywhere, and not just as part of the annual nautical theme, of which they form such a stylish lynchpin.

In fact, I don’t recall a spring when stripes have been shown off to such great advantage, used across the seasonal themes to pay full tribute to the versatile design device they really are.

The most striking way in which stripes are used this season is as part of a graphic look, with lines bold and broad, in wide bands of black and white or navy and white, usually horizontally worn, as in the Jaeger London maxi dress shown here. Now, really, this is not as unflattering as it might at first appear, so it’s worth a try. Height is needed though if you decide to go for a maxi version of horizontal stripes, so avoid if on the short and wide side as you could well look like one of those blue and white Cornishware jugs.

Pear shapes should stick to wide horizontal stripes on their top half only, teamed with a dark bottom half. But a maxi dress like this one can be used to shave horizontal inches off a figure if a long cardigan or coat is worn open over it, creating a slim central column down the front of the body – very slimming and also very chic, and a look you often catch on the red carpet.

For busty and top-heavy types, the opposite applies, so make sure you wear your horizontal stripes on your bottom half to balance yourself out.

On now to vertical stripes, which are far easier to wear. These are great for petites and anyone who wants to create the illusion of a slimmer figure, as they elongate the body.

For those who enjoy wearing boho style trends, look out for multi-colour striped looks, which might have a seer-sucker style, hazy, slightly crinkly look. These might comes in jewel bright blues, greens, reds, pinks and purples for evening, sometimes in satin and silk, or in cotton candy stripes for lovely daywear and holiday looks.

Look out too for striped palazzo pants and shorts, also great for holidays.

There are plenty of accessories that make use of stripes this season, and this is a good way to add a touch of the stripes, if you don’t want to wear them top to toe.

Check out the striped peep-toe platform wedges, above, from New Look for a great way to dip into the trend and add a touch of fun to an outfit.

So bold and graphic or candy cute and hippy-dippy, there’s a striped look to suit all comers this spring, even if you just add a colourfully striped belt to your black or nude outfit. You’ll be bang up-to-date in a stripe.