Stripes are undoubtedly an all-season pattern, but for me they really shine during spring and summer. Classic, effortless, and easy to live in, stripes are so much more than just a pattern, they’re a state of mind. I’ll wear stripes occasionally during fall and winter, but when it’s warm out stripes are basically the equivalent to the infamous plain white tee.
In an effort to avoid excess and streamline my wardrobe I’m generally careful about not buying pieces that are similar to something I already have. However, where stripes are concerned this rule need not apply. I honestly wear striped t-shirts at least three days out of the week during the spring and summer and at least once during the fall and winter, so it makes sense to stock up. I do draw the line at re-buying stripes in the same color scheme. If you buy multiples of the same color scheme you’ll end up only wearing your favorite and the rest are left to the land of the forgotten and unworn.
While I love a classic stripe, over the past couple of years I’ve found a few multi-colored bretons that I really love. I’m partial to two-toned stripes in two shades of the same color, but there are so many different combinations that can be very eye catching. Something about the two-tone pattern can add a bit of pizzaz to the classic pattern and is a colorful way to add some variety to your striped collection.
As I can only assume is true for all breton enthusiasts, my affinity for stripes reaches beyond my beloved t-shirts. Enter the Breton dress. The medium weight soft cotton of this dress hugs in all the right places while maintaining a boxy-ish shape making it flattering and sophisticated. In extension of the striped top, a breton dress is a classic wardrobe staple that can be worn for lazy weekends, with a blazer at work, or thrown over a bathing suit at the beach.
Because of its versatility a cotton breton dress is a great piece to include in your suitcase. I got this dress right before a trip to London last August and it was an incredibly comfortable and chic piece to have for walking the city, grabbing drinks at a pub, or exploring museums. This dress can be warn solo, but also works with leggings and a chunky knit layered overtop for colder temps.
I have been so eager to pull out all of my summer stripes, but seeing as the weather may (and likely will) still take a few more turns before spring settles in, adding light layers to stripes is the perfect way to get back into the swing (or stripe) of things again. I haven’t been needing a jacket as regularly this past month, so chunky sweaters or light layers have been my go-to for this transitional weather. All winter I have been using button up shirts as a base layer for my knits, so it was an obvious choice for adding a bit of warmth to this spring dress. Light blue and red happens to be one of my favorite color pairings, so I’m always trying to find new ways to recreate that color scheme.
I often turn to these over the knee boots when it’s not quite warm enough to go bare legged, and also until I’m certain my legs won’t blind innocent bystanders. All in all, tall boots do wonders for winterizing spring/summer dresses. Riding boots work as well, but the more height the warmer your legs will be. These boots are quite fitted so they can be difficult to wear with most pants, but work exceptionally well with skirts and dresses because they add warmth without the bulk of a fuller boot.