Tonal, neutral, quiet — that is the point of this stripe. It is not a Breton shouting.
The mistake is stacking stripes because they are 'soft'.
The rule is one striped piece against plain cloth.
The Quiet Stripe
The stripe began, like so many great things, as a uniform. The marinière — the Breton stripe — was created in 1858 for the French navy, its bold bands designed to make a sailor easy to spot against the sea. It might have stayed at sea forever had the great couture houses not seen its potential. Discovering the striped jersey of Breton fishermen on the coast of Normandy, the founders of French fashion folded it into their collections after the First World War, elevating a piece of humble workwear into the height of casual elegance — the same instinct that turned jersey, faux pearls and the little black dress into icons.
What is happening this summer is the next chapter of that idea: the stripe stripped of its nautical loudness and rendered in the softest, most wearable tones. Where the early couturiers made the stripe chic, the quiet-luxury houses have made it whisper. The result is a print you can build a whole summer wardrobe around — and never tire of.
Drawn in Neutral
The tonal stripe is everywhere the considered eye looks this season. At The Row, the stripe appears in the most luxurious materials imaginable — silk and fine cotton poplin, in soft neutral palettes that read as quietly as a solid. Loro Piana draws its lines in linen and silk, in off-whites and pale blues that belong on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Totême brings its Scandinavian precision to the voile shirt and the poplin shirt dress, while Max Mara tailors the stripe into cropped jackets and fluid trousers with that unmistakable Italian polish.
Elsewhere the stripe turns romantic — Zimmermann's sun-drenched resort dresses, Dries Van Noten's artful play of line and proportion, Brunello Cucinelli's impossibly soft cotton. What unites them is restraint: not one of these stripes shouts. They are summer's most elegant print, drawn in the gentlest possible hand.
The Striped Shirt
Where the tonal stripe is most at home — a crisp shirt, softened by a gentle line. The easiest, most elegant way into the trend.
Start where the stripe is most useful: the shirt. There is no quieter way to wear a pattern than buttoned into a beautifully cut poplin or silk, and no house does it better than The Row's Gavina striped silk shirt in soft neutrals — the platonic ideal of the quiet stripe, where the luxury is in the silk and the line barely announces itself. For something with more ease, The Row's Caster oversized cotton-poplin shirt brings the same restraint in a relaxed, throw-on cut.
Totême offers two of the most wearable in the edit: the airy striped voile shirt in white, sheer and summer-light, and the oversized striped silk shirt in neutrals, fluid enough to wear loose over trousers or knotted at the waist. For the linen lover, Loro Piana's Shay striped linen blouse is the height of terrace elegance, while Purdey's cotton and silk-blend shirt in white is quietly impeccable. And for a touch of warm-weather skin, Dries Van Noten's striped cotton halterneck top brings the line to a softer, more relaxed shape — the stripe at its most undone.
The Striped Shirt
The crisp shirt, softened by a gentle line — from The Row and Loro Piana to Toteme, Purdey and Dries Van Noten.
- The RowGavina striped silk shirt, neutrals
Gavina striped silk shirt, neutrals. The shirt is the outfit.
- The RowCaster oversized striped cotton-poplin shirt, neutrals
Caster oversized striped cotton-poplin shirt, neutrals. The shirt is the outfit.
- TotemeStriped voile shirt, white
Striped voile shirt, white. The shirt is the outfit.
- TotemeOversized striped silk shirt, neutrals
Oversized striped silk shirt, neutrals. The shirt is the outfit.
- Loro PianaShay striped linen blouse, white
Shay striped linen blouse, white. The shirt is the outfit.
- PurdeyStriped cotton & silk-blend shirt, white
Striped cotton & silk-blend shirt, white. The shirt is the outfit.
- Dries Van NotenStriped cotton halterneck top, green
Striped cotton halterneck top, green. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
The Striped Dress
The heart of the edit — and the place the tonal stripe is most beautiful. One fluid dress, a flat sandal, and the summer is yours.
If the shirt is where the stripe is easiest, the dress is where it is most beautiful. A striped dress is the rarest thing — a single piece that needs nothing else, the print doing all the work. The edit's most elegant is Loro Piana's pleated striped linen midi in off-white, a column of the softest possible line, while Dries Van Noten's belted striped cotton midi in neutrals brings that artful, gallery-walk ease. For the investment piece, Brunello Cucinelli's striped cotton-blend minidress is impossibly soft, and Bottega Veneta's striped cotton shirt dress carries that quiet-luxury authority in every seam.
The shirt dress is a summer workhorse, and there are three beautiful ones here: Totême's twist-front cotton-poplin maxi shirt dress in soft blue, Thierry Colson's Alla belted cotton-poplin maxi shirt dress, and the airy Totême striped voile midi dress in white. For the maxi, Zimmermann's Cascadian belted striped linen maxi in brown is pure resort romance, Thierry Colson's Valentina striped cotton maxi brings a painterly multi-stripe, and Asceno's Melfi striped maxi is the easy, packable choice for a holiday.
For the halterneck, Patou's striped cotton halterneck maxi in neutrals is sun-ready and chic. The midi length is beautifully covered by Rosie Assoulin's gathered striped cotton midi in soft pink, Posse's Rosie striped cotton midi, and Staud's striped pleated cotton midi, the most accessible in the edit. And for the shorter shapes, Bernadette's Bonnie striped cotton mini and Zimmermann's Stripe Tuck mini are charming for an evening, while Zimmermann's Luna twisted metallic knitted midi brings a subtle shimmer for when the sun goes down.
The Striped Dress
The heart of the edit — the tonal stripe at its most beautiful, from Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli to Toteme, Zimmermann and Bottega Veneta.
- Loro PianaPleated striped linen midi dress, off-white
Pleated striped linen midi dress, off-white. Midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- Dries Van NotenBelted striped cotton midi dress, neutrals
Belted striped cotton midi dress, neutrals. Midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- Brunello CucinelliStriped cotton-blend minidress
Striped cotton-blend minidress. Short — shoe serious. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- Bottega VenetaStriped cotton shirt dress
Striped cotton shirt dress. The shirt is the outfit.
- TotemeTwist-front striped cotton-poplin maxi shirt dress, blue
Twist-front striped cotton-poplin maxi shirt dress, blue. Long. The shirt is the outfit.
- TotemeStriped voile midi dress, white
Striped voile midi dress, white. Midi. One bag.
- Thierry ColsonAlla belted striped cotton-poplin maxi shirt dress, blue
Alla belted striped cotton-poplin maxi shirt dress, blue. Long. The shirt is the outfit.
- Thierry ColsonValentina striped cotton maxi dress, multi
Valentina striped cotton maxi dress, multi. Long. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- ZimmermannCascadian belted striped linen maxi dress, brown
Cascadian belted striped linen maxi dress, brown. Long. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- ZimmermannStripe Tuck mini dress, blue/green
Stripe Tuck mini dress, blue/green. Short — shoe serious. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- ZimmermannLuna twisted striped metallic knitted midi dress, neutrals
Luna twisted striped metallic knitted midi dress, neutrals. Midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- PatouStriped cotton halterneck maxi dress, neutrals
Striped cotton halterneck maxi dress, neutrals. Long. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- Rosie AssoulinGathered striped cotton midi dress, pink
Gathered striped cotton midi dress, pink. Midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- BernadetteBonnie striped cotton mini dress, neutrals
Bonnie striped cotton mini dress, neutrals. Short — shoe serious. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- StaudStriped pleated cotton midi dress
Striped pleated cotton midi dress. Midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- PosseRosie striped cotton midi dress
Rosie striped cotton midi dress. Midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- AscenoMelfi striped maxi dress
Melfi striped maxi dress. Long. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
Mine is a striped trouser and a white shirt. The shirt is silent.— K.W., Editor-in-Chief
Stripe on the leg, plain above.
Striped silk shirt, black below.
Matching the stripe across two garments.
Soft Lines
Every striped piece in this edit, gathered in one place — tap any to shop.
Row's Gavina striped silk shirt. The shirt is the outfit.
Row's Caster oversized cotton-poplin shirt. The shirt is the outfit.
Striped voile shirt. The shirt is the outfit.
Oversized striped silk shirt. The shirt is the outfit.
Piana's Shay striped linen blouse. Jacket optional.
Purdey's cotton silk-blend shirt. The shirt is the outfit.
Dries Van Noten's striped cotton. One idea. Then stop.
Piana's pleated striped linen midi, midi. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Dries Van Noten's belted striped, midi. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Cucinelli's striped cotton-blend minidress, short — shoe serious. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
Veneta's striped cotton shirt dress. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
Tot me's twist-front cotton-poplin maxi, long. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
Thierry Colson's Alla belted cotton-poplin, long. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
Tot me striped voile midi, midi. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
Zimmermann's Cascadian belted striped linen, long. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Thierry Colson's Valentina striped cotton, long. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Asceno's Melfi striped maxi, long. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Patou's striped cotton halterneck maxi, long. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Rosie Assoulin's gathered striped cotton, red cotton. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Posse's Rosie striped cotton midi, midi. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Staud's striped pleated cotton midi, midi. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Bernadette's Bonnie striped cotton mini, short — shoe serious. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Zimmermann's Stripe Tuck mini, short — shoe serious. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Zimmermann's Luna twisted metallic knitted, midi. Fine-gauge.
Piana's Gustel belted striped linen, red linen. A shirt that would also work in town.
Mara's striped cotton silk-blend trousers. A shirt that would also work in town.
Mara's cropped striped cotton-piqu jacket. Shoulder first.
Piana's striped printed linen silk-blend, tan silk. City hours. Leather on the foot.
TWP's 4th St striped cashmere. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Zimmermann's Indra striped crocheted cotton. One piece. Everything else from another year.
Striped Trousers
The unexpected one — and the chicest way to wear the stripe if you find the dress too sweet. A tonal striped trouser is pure quiet-luxury polish.
For the woman who prefers her stripe below the waist, the tonal striped trouser is the most modern choice of all. Loro Piana's Gustel belted striped linen tapered trousers in white are the height of summer tailoring — fluid, elegant and impossibly refined. Pair them with their matching blouse, or break them up with a plain silk shirt. Max Mara's striped cotton and silk-blend trousers in neutrals bring the same polish with that signature Italian ease — the trouser that makes a simple white tee look considered.
Striped Trousers
The unexpected, modern way to wear the line — tonal striped tailoring from Loro Piana and Max Mara.
- Loro PianaGustel belted striped linen tapered trousers, white
Gustel belted striped linen tapered trousers, white. A shirt that would also work in town.
- Max MaraStriped cotton & silk-blend trousers, neutrals
Striped cotton & silk-blend trousers, neutrals. A shirt that would also work in town.
Beyond the Basics
The finishing pieces — a jacket, a kaftan, a coverup, a knit. The stripes that complete a summer wardrobe.
A few pieces sit beyond the everyday, and they are the ones that finish a wardrobe. Max Mara's cropped striped cotton-piqué jacket in white is the tailored topper that pulls a whole look together, while Loro Piana's striped printed linen and silk-blend kaftan is the most luxurious thing to throw over a swimsuit on the Riviera. For the cooler evening, TWP's 4th St striped cashmere sweater in neutrals is the soft, tonal knit you will reach for from June to September, and Zimmermann's Indra striped crocheted cotton coverup brings a sunlit touch of colour to the beach bag.
Beyond the Basics
The finishing pieces — a jacket, a kaftan, a knit and a coverup, from Max Mara, Loro Piana, TWP and Zimmermann.
- Max MaraCropped striped cotton-piqué jacket, white
Cropped striped cotton-piqué jacket, white. Shoulder first.
- Loro PianaStriped printed linen & silk-blend kaftan, neutrals
Striped printed linen & silk-blend kaftan, neutrals. Wear it like a dress.
- TWP4th St striped cashmere sweater, neutrals
4th St striped cashmere sweater, neutrals. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
- ZimmermannIndra striped crocheted cotton coverup, yellow
Indra striped crocheted cotton coverup, yellow. Wear it twice or don't buy it.
How to Wear the Quiet Stripe
The tonal stripe is the easiest pattern to style — because it behaves like a neutral. Here is how to wear it beautifully.
Treat it as a Neutral
The secret of the tonal stripe is that it pairs like a solid. A soft ecru-and-cream stripe sits happily with camel, white, tan and gold — the entire quiet-luxury palette. Wear a striped shirt with linen trousers, or a striped dress with a flat leather sandal, and let the line be the only pattern in the look. The understatement is the point.
Stripe on Stripe
For the confident, the chicest move of the season is mixing stripes — a striped shirt with a striped trouser, or different scales of line together. Keep them within the same tonal family (all soft neutrals) and the effect reads considered and editorial rather than busy. This is how the fashion set is wearing it now.
Keep the Rest Quiet
Because the stripe is already doing the work, everything else should whisper. Delicate gold jewellery, a tan or raffia bag, a flat sandal or a loafer, and minimal everything else. The tonal stripe rewards restraint — the less you add, the more expensive it looks.
Day to Night
A striped linen dress that carried you through lunch becomes evening-ready with a heeled sandal, a gold cuff and a swipe of red lipstick. Add the cropped jacket thrown over the shoulders as the temperature drops. The quiet stripe is one of the few prints that moves seamlessly from beach to dinner without a change of clothes.
The Last Word
The loud stripe will always have its place — on a deckchair, on a Breton tee, on a summer that wants to be seen. But the quiet stripe is the one that lasts. Drawn in soft neutrals by the houses that understand restraint, it is the rare print you can wear to work and to dinner, this year and next, without ever tiring of it. Buy the linen dress or the silk shirt that speaks most softly to you — and let the line do the rest.
For more, see our edit on the Italian Signora and the slip dress.