The Power of Stripes: Why I am Obsessed
If you know me, or my Instagram, you know I love stripes.
Stripes are sort of my thing. Like Patti Mayonnaise and her polka dots, Seth Rogen and his plaid, Alabama fans and their houndstooth, stripes have become a signature. Part of my personal brand. I have so many navy-and-white striped tops that every time I bring a new one home, my husband says, “Don’t you have that shirt already?” Yes, yes I do, and I’ll get more, thank you.
My go-to look for a perfect balance of casual and put-together is a navy and white striped top with solid-color pants and a pop of color in the form of a bright cardigan, scarf or jewelry (like the amazing necklace from J. Crew in my headshot). I love my stripes. Sometimes I like mixing stripes. Even my bridesmaids wore striped skirts. And they looked AWESOME. The funny thing is, I never set out to be known as the girl who loves stripes. It just sort of happened organically.
I love a cafe awning, a lighthouse — that nautical aesthetic takes me back to simpler times and family trips to the beach. If I get really introspective about it, it’s probably the sense of order that keeps me hanging with the stripes. Stripes are clean, deliberate, they’re trustworthy. There’s a reason IBM went with stripes (they call them bars) not curvy, unpredictable lines, or wild illustrations.
But not all stripes send the same message. Clean, even stripes remind me of the American flag and patriotism. Barcode-style stripes can be used to signal shopping and consumerism. Hand-drawn stripes are organic and human feeling. Vertical pinstripes are all business, while horizontal stripes are more relaxed, and diagonal stripes are active.
Logos or designs that use striped elements feel retro in a way that’s classic but not horribly dated. There’s a sense of age met with fun and relevance. Look, for instance, at the red and white stripes of a popcorn box or a classic circus tent.
Personally, I prefer patterns like awning stripes or candy stripes — everything the same width, two colors — one of which is typically white, and a marriage of orderly and bold, fun and functional. For clothing, horizontal stripes are more my speed, but for graphics I’ll gladly play with vertical or even — hold on to your hats — diagonal.
Color matters, of course. A pattern of hot pink and red stripes are more youthful, playful and feminine than black and white, which will read as more formal and buttoned up. But you have to think about things like width and direction as well. Imagine something with me, if you will:
Picture three men in black and white suits. The first suit is seersucker. You’re probably imagining it’s hot. Maybe the South. Is the man older? Maybe wearing a bowtie? The second suit is chalk stripe. Who do you see wearing it? I see someone tall and slender, clean cut, corporate but not conservative — he’s in his mid-40s, he’s a partner in a law firm. Alternatively, he’s a 1940s gangster. Now the third suit. It’s bold black and white awning stripes. The man is… Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice).
See what I mean? The seemingly simple stripe can say so much.
CHANGE MAKER OF THE MONTH
With Halloween on the way, I’m spotlighting and donating to Vision Maker Media, an indigenous horror film collective. I recently learned about them in the Anti-Racism Daily newsletter about advocating for indigenous representation in horror.