Striped pants outfit reviewed here
How to style striped pants
It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a striped top–stripes just make everything cuter! Did you know that can apply to pants too? Striped pants are something I like to gravitate toward year round (stripes are always in style and in season!) but I think they particularly shine in summer.
They’re one of my favorite ways to make a statement (or just add some subtle interest!) with my outfit and are always versatile and easy to mix and match. You can find a style of striped pant to suit your own personal style, favorite silhouettes, and fabrics–you can definitely get your money’s worth out of just one pair.
You really can’t go wrong with striped pants as long as you have a few styling tricks, so below, I’m sharing a few of my own ideas. Here’s what to wear with striped pants:
What to wear with black and white striped pants
Black and white stripes are a timeless and classic color combination. They’re naturally a bit corporate and more refined, so they work really well in an office setting! To style, you either want to play up that elevated feel OR contrast it for a balanced and surprising outfit. (Remember my juxtaposition tip! It’s my go-to style trick.)
Take these everlane drape pants, for example. You could wear them with white sneakers and a white tee for a more casual look, or you could dress them up with black heels and a blazer for work! And, if you wanted to take it on a date, black heels with the striped pants can make a dramatic moment.
If you like the workwear black and white striped pants idea, try these tapered Everlane pants and pair them with loafers for a biz casual outfit or with cap-toe pumps for something business professional. All these looks are balanced and effortless, and the key to each one is the shoe choice! Whatever anchors your black and white pants often sets the tone for the rest of the ensemble.
What to wear with blue and white striped pants
White and blue stripes have a whole different feel. Instead of being naturally buttoned-up (I guess both literally and figuratively), blue and white striped pants can have a casual, vacation vibe. Often, these pants are gauzy, breezy, and drawstringed, which makes them coastal chic and perfect for summer!
When styling them, try balancing textures. Like, with some gauzy striped pants, you could layer up lots of textures using a cotton fisherman sweater and your favorite comfy summer sandals. (Or, even some cute white sneakers.) This is an outfit that’s great for everything from the beach to a Europe trip!
How to style slim vs loose or flowy striped pants
You can find slim-fitting and loose-fitting striped pants. With both options, try creating different dimensions of shape with your outfit, so it’s not all slim or all loose and flowy. You’ll want to play around with shape and proportions. Truly, you don’t have to style them much differently, but there are some helpful tips to keep in mind.
With the loose-fitting striped pants, you can wear them with a tucked in gauze white top, but without tucking in, it might be giving a little TOO much coastal granny, if you know what I mean? You get a flowy top and bottom, but the tucked in waist makes the outfit a little more refined and defines the waist so you don’t feel like you’re wearing a garbage bag. You can balance the shape and look further by adding t-strap sandals for a minimalist look!
For a slimmer-fitting pair, you can play around without tucking in a top since the leg of your pants is slim and provides more contrast to a looser-fitting top! Something cropped would also look cute, or even a longer boyfriend-length button-down. Then, try an oversized denim jacket or blazer to see if you like how it frames the whole look. (Even experiment with a leather jacket!) Sandals, sneakers, or heels would all work for the shoes.
Style vertical stripes vs horizontal stripes
Vertical striped pants are easy and what you’ll find the majority of the time. They make your legs look long and create a chic column of movement and pattern for a lot of added interest. You just pair that with solid shades and contrasting shapes!
Horizontal stripes are less popular (I don’t see a lot of horizontal striped pants) but that’s not to say they aren’t great too! I would honestly style them just as I would vertical striped pants–they look cute with everything from tight fitting tank tops and long-sleeved shirts. You can show some skin with a crop top or cover up with a tunic on top. Pair them with heels or sandals to balance out the outfit.
As you can see, striped pants are easy to wear and definitely have a place in your closet! Here are some outfits to inspire your next striped-pants shopping spree:
8 Striped pants outfit ideas
1 (similar here as well) / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
STRIPED WIDE LEG PANTS AND FISHERMAN CREW SWEATER
I wear a variation of this outfit ALL the time. Perfect “coastal grandma chic” attire. Relaxed wide leg pants are super comfortable and the perfect thing to wear when you want to stay cool but want some extra coverage. I like to wear these to the beach, paired with a tank and a fisherman sweater tied around my shoulders. I love Birks or a classic white sneaker with this outfit that is perfect for everything from a casual porch hang to vacation to errands to soccer practice–wherever!
STRIPE DRAPE PANTS AND WHITE TEE
With a white sneakers and a plain white tee, your outfit can go in a lot of directions. It’s the perfect base to let your bold striped pants do the talking! Then, all you have left to do is accessorize. Try a hair or neck scarf, gold earrings, and your favorite shade of lipstick. (Here’s how to tie a hair scarf and how to tie a neck scarf if you need tutorials!)
STRIPED DRAPE PANTS AND WHITE BUTTON UP
This look uses those same striped drape pants as above, but makes it date-night OR office ready using a white button-up (unbutton a few buttons for a date–you could also wear a black bralette underneath!) and block heels. (If you want higher heels or a different style of heel, go for it!) Earrings and a bold lip shade can add a little color and glamor to your date night look. Want to make it professional? Simply button a few buttons, swap for pumps, and you’re ready for the office.
STRIPED DRAPE PANTS AND SQUARE NECK KNIT TOP
For this similar date night ensemble, I paired the drape pants with a black square neckline top. I like square necklines for a lot of reasons, but I particularly like it here, because the geometry of the neckline and tight-fitting top juxtapose the shapeless, loose pants well.
Then, just grab your fav black heels, gold earrings, and lipstick. Can you tell lipstick is my favorite item in my makeup bag? It’s the perfect way to add a pop of color to a look.
TAPERED STRIPED PANTS AND SILK SLEEVE BLOUSE
For this Parisian-inspired outfit, I paired the tapered striped pants with a silky button-up blouse. The textures work great together. Loafers also pair well with tapered pants, but you could also go with sandals or block heels if you like that more! Then, some simple gold jewelry can tie it all together for you.
TAPERED STRIPED PANTS AND LACY TOP
You shouldn’t be afraid to layer two bold pieces on top of each other. It can create a striking style moment! In this outfit, I paired the tapered pants with a 7/8th sleeve lace blouse. I love all the detail in the blouse, and pairing it with an equally dynamic bottom feels like it does the top justice. Of course, I’d keep accessories simple with cap-toe block heels and simple gold earrings.
STRIPED PAPERBAG PANTS AND CROPPED SWEATER TANK
Here’s a more casual look that’s perfect for lounging around the house, running errands, or taking the kiddos to the park. Wear comfy supportive sandals for day and then swap for some espadrilles to meet friends for drinks. The loose drawstring pants pair perfectly with a tight-fitting cropped top. Comfy, but effortless and chic!
STRIPED PAPERBAG PANTS AND CAMI WITH A BUTTON-UP
For one last casual look, try combining these blue paperbag pants with white striping and a simple white cami. Cute on its own, or for more layers, toss on an unbuttoned button-up over the top. OR–skip the tank altogether, and just wear the gauzy button up! Gold earrings and Freda sneakers are a great pairing for walking around town. Or minimalist t-strap sandals are perfect for a different look! I love that these dainty huggies pair easily with both footwear options.
I hope I’ve convinced you by now that striped pants are a versatile and chic wardrobe staple!
To find more outfit ideas like these, browse the style section of my blog. And, you can find more closet must-haves on my LTK page. I hope you found something in this post that inspired your next look!
