The Right Stripe For Your Body Type

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.

bad horizontal stripes man
horizontal stripes on her look great, on him not so much. I'm sure the wardrobe person hates this guy.
Fat Guy in horizontal stripe
Stripes are not helping him. Either he won a prize or she lost a bet.
Mike Jordan in stripes
Tall but broad men can pull off the vertical stripes well.

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

How do you feel about stripes?

Comments

9 responses to “The Right Stripe For Your Body Type”

  1. Mark H Jeffress Avatar
    Mark H Jeffress

    I’m very tall but not broad. Should I stay away from vertical stripes? 

    1. Maurilio Amorim Avatar

       I would be careful with them. IF you don’t want to look taller, than horizontal stripes might work best.

  2. Angela Arsenault Avatar

     Not much on the stripes.  Never have been.  I like solid colors.

    1. Maurilio Amorim Avatar

      You can’t go wrong with solids.

  3. mohan37 Avatar

    I think I’m better about this now that I dress in business atire for work, but there are some terrible pictures from high school that will haunt my dreams forever 🙂

    1. Maurilio Amorim Avatar

       I have tried to search and destroy pictures from high school. I’m afraid now that Brazilians are finding their way into Facebook.

  4. Bill Avatar
    Bill

     Clarification: How do vertical stripes make you look like a learner? 🙂

    1. Maurilio Amorim Avatar

       @92c88c0015fce15e2bda3b43e8892c31:disqus stripes make you look smarter. 🙂 Sorry about the typo. Fixed now.

  5. Christian Avatar
    Christian

     Something else that can help create the illusion of being “streamlined”: exercise.

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