So are stripes only for skinny minnies then?

[shelley72]

I was out shopping with a friend at the weekend, and saw a stripy top in hobbs which I liked the look of and said ' that's nice what do you think?'. Her reply ' I didn't think you should wear stripes if you're big'. I was a bit as I have been wearing stripes all summer completely oblivious to this rule.

So what size / shape do you need to be, and are there any stripes that are better than others? Dark, light, narrow, wide?

I think stripes can accentuate your waist, but depends on the style of stripes and your shape. I had a lovely jumper that was quite dark with lighter stripes round the bust and hip areas, and it had darker colours round the waist. It made me look like a real hourglass shape. Unfortunately it got old and tatty and I've never seen another one like it.

Horizontal stripes can be very flattering.

All depends on the direction, width and clinginess of stripes I think.

You don't want a wide stripe being stretched over a chubby bit, but stripes in a drapey or at least non-clingy fabric can be flattering. Narrower stripes are usually easier to wear too.

well i have been wearing a mix but all horizontal stripes - some tops have narrow breton stripes, some dark navy stripes on a white t but spaced quite far apart IYSWIM. usually mostly in navy/white combinations.

am 5'7 sz10 and go in a bit at the waist compared to shoulders and hips. so which type would work and which would be a no-no. am still smarting a bit from her comment as i didnt think i looked quite so hideous

You're 5'7", a size 10 and your friend says your big?!?!? Is she a supermodel? Ditch her and wear what the hell you want!!!!!

Not at all. I've bought a really nice stripy top from Matalan of all places and I'm big. The stripes are horizontal and quite thick and I wear it with dark blue cut off jeans.
It's this one:
www.matalan.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion-to-buy-online/Tops/Stripe-Neon-Nep-Tee/59927&resultsPerPage=100&attrList=Dept,brand

Yeah I think I'd get a new friend tbh. I'm a size 10 like you OP, and wear stripes all the time in a variety of widths and colours. I find them quite flattering as they seem to accentuate my smallish waist.

I'm big and live in stripes.

If you like stripes you can wear stripes!

FermezLaBouche i like that top, and the boatneck displayed on the right is the type that i have been wearing this summer.

trixymalixy no shes not at all! i am getting used to it, but its just the last in a long line of scathing comments about various things!!

I'm big and wear a lot of horizontal stripey tops, but always with a scoop neck.

*you're big. My grammar is getting worse with age!!

I'm a 14 and I wear stripes. Like others have said it depends on the individual item of clothing. I have a stripy jersey dress that accentuates my waist, but most stripy tops don't suit me.

Hmm, she doesn't sound like much of a friend!

FFS Size 10 is not big!

5'7 and size 10 OP, you can pretty much wear what you like.

I'm a size 12 and short. 5'2" and I live in zara stripy tops. I love them.
I think they can be flattering .

I'm a 22 and wear stripes because I like a pattern but am sick of flowery tops. Your friend would think I'm a whale then! A size 10 is NOT big. She is an arse!

It was scientifically proven recently, that in fact horizontal stripes can make you look thinner. Ergo: stripes making you look big = myth.
Bang your 'friend' over the head with that one.

Is your friend a bigger size? If so perhaps she thought you were suggesting it for her. Only way the conversation really makes sense!

She isn't much of a friend, but you knew that, please say you did.

Stripes do slim - partic chevrons. Vertical stripes add length too.

What can make the difference is the balance between dark and light in the garment - basikerly, you want less pale and more dark to look thin. So white Breton-thickness stripes on a navy top would be super flattering.

To be honest, it's the boxy cut of many striped tops that could add bulk where there is none.

ok thank you. so i can carry on with the stripes then, and its not just me. i really dont have a nice figure - i actually dont like the way i look at all - and im definitely on the 12 side of a 10, rather than an 8.

corygal well we have always been good friends, until recently and it now feels like hard work, well not so much hard work but i come away after meeting up feeling really low about myself and my life.

have been out and bought a pair of dark green coloured skinny jeans today thanks to another thread - i suppose that will be wrong too .