Help me move away from stripes

[PopGoesTheWeaz]

my wardrobe is all just variations on a theme and the theme is breton stripes. I've been doing it for years, way before it became a trend 10 years ago, but there is so much more of it around now that it's become out of hand.

I don't like dressing up and work in a fairy casual environment. I'm am a short 14/16 who is shaped like an apple on toothpicks so fashion has never been fun for me.

So I don't want anything on-trend, but I do feel like I'm in a bit of a rut and whenever I see something with a pattern on it think, oh, that's a bit showy, I'd never wear that!

Any ideas for brands with understated patterns to help me wean away from a wardrobe of purely stripes and solids?

Apple shape stripe lover here too

I've started moving onto blouses / shirts in an effort to escape the stripe trap. I wear them with black skinnies as I work in a smart causal office. I've attached a pic of the one I'm wearing today. It's from Zara. It's still a kind of stripe but hey

I have others from Topshop, H&M and Mango I think. You can find all sorts of colours, patterns and cuts across so many stores. They can be dressed up a bit with heels but still look cool with flats. I think they're a really versatile way to dress.

I love those stripes. Just the sort of thing I was looking for.

I do tend to shy away from blouses as in the old days I never liked how they say across my bust. But I wear better bras now, and that was yonks ago so will try again.

Ditto. I have found that a good bra make such a difference. Also, the fit and cut of blouses these days is leans much more towards the 'oversize' look. Definitely not fitted. Think loose and easy to wear. Which is why they look great on us apples as with the right trouser / jean / skirt they show off our legs. And it's also much kinder on the norks. No stretching or gaping.