Written by The Strategy

Sometimes a trend isn’t actually the most popular, yet somehow it’s still considered trendy. Trends like flatforms, asymmetrical hemlines, and stripes.

Horizontal stripes to be exact. The dreaded, feared, consistently avoided horizontal stripes.

Before everyone freaks out and starts running for the hills, as is a common reaction to horizontal stripes, let me explain why this widely detested pattern hasn’t been given a fair hand.

I firmly believe that horizontal stripes are the victim of ill-advised style “don’t’s” that are dished out in gossip magazines with a style section. They warn that stripes going across your body will make you look so wide that it will seem like you magically turned into a hippopotamus when you pulled that striped shirt over your head.

Which is false.

Horizontal stripes are a pattern like any other. There are many factors that affect how it looks on your body. Florals, vertical stripes, polka dots, and every other pattern face the same factors— like the size and colour of the print, to name a couple.

While they may not be universally flattering, horizontal stripes shouldn’t be completely written off everyone’s list of options. The Breton shirt, a classic and iconic piece that has survived decades in style, deserves a chance to be loved by all.

In summary: Horizontal stripes are not the enemy.

Written by Katrina Garofalo