I think it's time now to talk abt striped shirts, especially as they're coming back in diagonal striped shape

Discuss.

(Semi-)broad (semi-)multi-coloured stripes = good. I may even move into 'em myself soon (I have my eye(s) on one).

Also, checks seem to be making a foray onto the scene as well.

I'm not sure I have the nerve to wear a diagonally-striped shirt.

And somehow in the 80's it ironically meant "I am an investment banker and I want you to know I have lots of money".

Not sure what it means now - I think they may just be trendy again under the 20 year rule. Of course being a product of the 80's I can't stand them.

The next thing is "physical violence required."

lil' kim rocking the diagonal striped belt... are we done for?

lil' kim rocking the diagonal striped belt... are we done for?

is ILE going retro all over?

i wonder *who* could be responsible?

I don't like striped shirts, I think when people wear them out it looks like they bought it thinking "this will be great to wear out". I am getting sick of shirts, they are too tight.

Martin, you can def. have a copy! I will availablize it.

Size shoe:10.

i will start saving my cents.

I think my position on diagonal stripes is as follows

asymmetrical (diagonals going one way: indifferent to good
symmetrical (like where the diagonals meet in the middle like a herringbone, even when perfectly matched): yuck

As you can probably tell by my name, I do like my stripey shirts. I have dozens of them, and have worn stripes since I was a little kid. I'm sort of a collector of stripes -- but since there are so many out there, I've learned to be choosey (trends be damned!). Here's my cheat sheet :

1) horizontal stripes on jersey knit --
these are my favorites, but only in a stripe-height of say, 2 cms or less, and only in colors that actually go together. The classiest versions usually have tone-to-tone matching (tan and brown, say) -- but the most cheerful are always bright white w/primaries or pastels. Now about size : if the stripes are any larger than 2cm I avoid them -- I look like a convict! However, if these stripes are seperated by smaller stripes (a la Brady boys or vintage surf-wear), that's fine coz it breaks up the "prison bars" effect. On those types of shirts, I think the more colors the better.

2) vertical stripes on "dress" fabrics --
in general, these look better on proper button-down shirts than on casual shirts. And I think the stripes should be small, small, small ("pin stripes", no larger) unless you want to look like a Juventus fan! Which is fine if you actually ARE a Juventus fan, mind. I avoid vertical stripes on knits because they look painted on, and they get distorted whenever I move, which makes me look distorted too, and gives other people headaches if they have to look at me for a while.

3) diagonal stripes --
these are probably best left to op-art galleries, gas stations and psych rock bands, but when I get them, I keep the stripes small and I try to be sure that they don't "point" to anything that I don't want to draw attention to.[The way haute couture deals with the diagonal stripe issue is to put only one part of a shirt(the patch pocket, say) in diagonal stripes, and then to put the rest in a similar-color solid. This is great because it is both interesting and restful on the eyes -- but I leave that look on the catwalk, coz all the knock-off versions make me look like a court jester!]

misc tidbits --
oddly enough, I find that the less fitted the shirt is, the better it will look (this is because fitting distorts the lines, making the body look distorted, too). So all during the ultra-tight "baby-t-shirt" phase of the 90s, I bought my stripes in the men's section instead of the women's section -- because the cut was less fitted for men, and therefore less distorted. (Stripes is one of the few truely unisex patterns out there, so feel free to range all over the department store in persuit of a good one). I wear my stripes with solids. Stripes with stripes is overkill. And yes, I have to agree, printed-on stripes just aren't as nice as yarn-dyed stripes (How can you tell the difference? Turn your shirt inside out. If the stripes are as dark on the inside as they are on the outside, it's yarn-dyed. If you can't see the stripes at all on the inside, it's printed-on.)

Anyways, that's my stripey philosophy in a nutshell. Well, maybe it's a bit big for a nutshell ... ;)

Yesterday I saw a man walking up Madison Ave. wearing a button-down shirt with pink, navy and white stripes going diagonally from upper left to bottom right, including the placket. It seemed like the kind of shirt about which someone might say, "That shirt looks so nice-- every time you wear it!"

Today I am wearing my pink, green and white striped button-down from 1986 again. Mmm . . . extra-heavy starch.

Argh, I meant vertical stripes! Someone who mixes up vertical with horizontal shouldn't be allowed an opinion on shirts to begin with.