12 Outfits That Prove This Shirt Style Is the Backbone of a Chic Summer Wardrobe

I was recently pondering what I wear the most during the summer to figure out what my wardrobe was missing, and it occurred to me that I reach for striped shirts more often than not this time of year. They work with everything and are an easy way to elevate a casual outfit. I'm talking about summer right now, but they're a year-round basic, especially since they can take the form of a T-shirt, a tank, a long-sleeve tee, or a button-down.
Coincidentally, there have been many striped-shirt outfits that have stood out to me during my Instagram scrolls as of late, proving that they are indeed an easy avenue to a chic summer wardrobe. The aforementioned outfits I scrolled through were worn by women around the world, proving that they're a universal basic.
If you're as big of a fan of striped shirts as I am, scroll on for outfit inspiration and to shop similar striped shirts to wear all summer long.
Styling Tip: Pair an oversize button-down with trendy sneakers for an easy cool-girl look.
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Styling Tip: For a beach-meets-city vibe, choose elevated accessories like simple sandals and a structured raffia bag.
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Styling Tip: If you want a fun striped-shirt styling idea, pair a T-shirt with a pencil skirt and thong heels. You'll feel like you're back in 2002 (in a good way).
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Styling Tip: The perfect relaxed weekend look consists of an oversize button-down, loose jeans, and sleek sandals.
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Styling Tip: Give a miniskirt a chill, relaxed vibe by throwing a striped shirt on over it.
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Styling Tip: The perfect thing to wear with a cargo skirt is—you guessed it—a striped shirt.
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Styling Tip: It's impossible not to look chic in a black-and-white striped tee and black miniskirt. That's the tip.
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Styling Tip: Pairing a striped shirt with linen pants is the ultimate no-fuss summer outfit.
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Styling Tip: Another great city summer outfit is slide sandals and a striped button-down tucked into jeans.
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Styling Tip: A striped button-down is the ultimate chic swimsuit cover-up.
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Styling Tip: Pair a fitted striped tee with a full skirt to give it a more casual look.
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Styling Tip: Do as the French do and pair a Breton shirt with jeans and ballet flats.
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Shop More Chic Striped Shirts
Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
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