Stripes have been a staple in men’s wear for decades. We wear them in suits, shirts, pants, shorts and even undergarments. But not all stripes are created equal. You should know what type of stripe works best for you and why. I see a lot of guys wearing vertical stripes when they should be wearing horizontal. Yes, there is a difference. Here’s a simple guide for guys, it works for gals as well, on how to wear stripes:

Horizontal: if you are thin, or tall and want to look wider, horizontal stripes are your friend. Slender, tall frames usually look their best with a wide horizontal stripped shirts. If you are heavy or have short legs, horizontal stripes usually make you look bigger and stubbier. Big or broad guys with short legs should stay away from them.

Vertical: If you are short and/or heavy, vertical stripes are good for you. They create an illusion of height and help you look more “streamlined” or slimmer. If you’re very tall but broad, you can pull vertical stripes well, however.

horizontal stripes on her look great, on him not so much. I'm sure the wardrobe person hates this guy.

Stripes are not helping him. Either he won a prize or she lost a bet.

Tall but broad men can pull off the vertical stripes well.

A big man should stick with vertical stripes. They make you look leaner and taller.

How do you feel about stripes?