Why Stripes Are Everywhere Right Now and How to Wear Them
Stripes for SS26 offer an easy way to add structure and subtle impact to your styling
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From uniform to everyday code
Stripes are having a noticeable shift in menswear for Spring/Summer 2026. Long embedded in the history of dress, the pattern has traditionally signaled order and identity, from naval uniforms to athletic kits.
Over time, it filtered into everyday style through Breton shirts and pop culture moments, but it rarely disrupted the balance of an outfit. This season, people are changing that dynamic.
One reason for their renewed relevance is versatility. Stripes can be introduced without significantly altering the structure of a wardrobe. A striped polo or knit offers an alternative to solid basics while maintaining a similar level of formality.
The new silhouette
In tailoring, the effect is more pronounced. Vertical stripes can elongate the frame and bring a sense of sleekness, while wider patterns create a more expressive look. The pattern is also no longer confined to shirts. It appears across trousers, outerwear, accessories, and seasonal staples.
Dolce&Gabbana’s emphasis on striped pyjama dressing marks a move toward relaxed luxury. The collection presents matching sets in lightweight fabrics with subtle vertical lines, styled for both daytime and evening wear.
In daylight, the look reads as casual and composed, often paired with soft knitwear or worn slightly undone. By night, the same pieces are elevated through embellishment, introducing a more formal edge without losing ease.
How to wear stripes now
For practical styling, the approach remains relatively straightforward. Stripes can be introduced gradually through individual pieces such as shirts or knitwear, then expanded into trousers or coordinated sets. The key is to allow the pattern to define the look without overcomplicating it. Simpler pairings tend to emphasize the clarity that stripes provide.
Stripes are trending because designers are reworking them as a more expressive and versatile pattern rather than a purely traditional one. For SS26, they appear in bolder scales and across more garments, making them a key visual element instead of a background detail.
The simplest approach is to let stripes be the focus of your outfit and keep everything else minimal. Pair a striped piece, such as a shirt or trouser, with solid basics to maintain balance and clarity.
Yes, stripes can still feel formal, especially in fine or pinstripe variations used in tailoring. However, this season also shows them in relaxed silhouettes, which makes them adaptable across both formal and casual looks.
Striped trousers or suits work best with plain shirts or knits to avoid visual overload. Keeping accessories simple allows the stripe to define the silhouette and add structure.
Yes, stripes are especially effective in casual wear through polos, knits, and even pyjama-inspired sets. They add interest to simple outfits without requiring much effort or styling complexity.
As seen in the pages of VMAN SEA 05: now available for purchase!
Chief of Editorial Content Patrick Ty
Photography Jharwin Castañeda
Art direction Summer Untalan
Fashion Corven Uy
Grooming Angel Oh (Nix Institute of Beauty)
Model Wayner Ruiz (Mercator)
Photography assistants Aljon Celis and Joshua Navato
Fashion assistant Elijah Uy
