Do stripes make you look fat?

A stripe is a pattern, and a pattern “breaks up” a solid surface, making that surface appear less solid. A pattern distracts the eye, fragments the visual field, creates interest, and lets you make a style statement. None of these things have anything to do with “thick or thin.” Clear enough, right? We’ve backed this up for you in the blog post below. :-)

Today is one of those days

There are certain statements that make me angry. Half-truths, incomplete conclusions, outdated clichés—whether or not they’re served up with a dash of misplaced expertise. And no matter how often I read or hear them, I always have to hold myself back from launching an immediate counterattack. Most days, that goes fine. Some days, it doesn’t. Today is one of those days.

The day started out so nicely—out in the sun with coffee, my notebook, and my trusty MacBook. Reading the news, answering emails, and catching up on all the latest fashion news. Nothing wrong with that—I love it. But it turned out to be the “boring season,” and what happens then? People take the opportunity to dig through the archives. Spring is in full swing, so let’s go with a lighthearted topic. Fashion? Always a good idea. A nice, comprehensible list? Absolutely.

Some real gems

And so it happened that on this beautiful spring day, I was handed a friendly, instructive top 10 list about general fashion dos and don’ts. I settled in to give it a good read. And what a treasure trove of gems I was treated to... “If you have pimples on your upper arms, it’s better not to wear short sleeves; long sleeves camouflage them better.” What a relevation. And then this one… “Heels make your legs look longer.” I hadn’t thought of that myself… or “A V-neck makes your neck look longer.” Okay, that one’s a bit less obvious, I’ll keep it in mind.

It went on like that for a while—not rocket science, but some useful tips here and there for anyone who wants to hear them. But then… “Stripes make you look fat.” Oops. There went my sunny mood. Because if you mess with my beautiful product—for those who may have forgotten, the iconic Breton stripe—you’re messing with me.

“Because I get really worked up about stripes, but the opposite is definitely not true.”

Stripes make you look fat?

Stripes make you look fat? Honestly, I have no idea where that misconception comes from. Of course, you don’t have to be Einstein to realize that a horizontal stripe doesn’t have a slimming effect. But that doesn’t mean the opposite is true! A stripe is, after all, a pattern, and a pattern “breaks up” a solid surface. This makes that surface appear less solid. A pattern distracts the eye, fragments the field of vision, creates interest, and lets you make a style statement. None of these things have anything to do with “fat or thin.” Moreover;

“A stripe is a line, and lines have never made anyone look fat.”

Now, of course, you might say that’s like asking a barber if you need a haircut, but a scientific study at the University of York* found that participants actually thought people in photos wearing horizontally striped clothing looked slimmer than those wearing vertically striped clothing.

Well then, it’s my turn… I can also make a list like that

As I said, I got all worked up—in the old-fashioned way—over that clichéd claim. So much so that I almost committed the fatal faux pas: writing a letter to the editor. But I pulled myself together (phew, common sense after all ;-) ). Because I can do this, too, and I made a list of my own—but with a twist. Here it is…

• The Breton stripe is an iconic pattern with a celebrity fan base that speaks for itself. Wear stripes, and you’ll share the style of famous trendsetters. Fail-safe.
• Want to look your best at a formal appointment without denying that you know a thing or two about fashion? Wear a striped turtleneck under your city-chic suit.
• Is your inner girly-girl crying out for attention, but you don’t feel like walking down the street looking like a Barbie? Then skip that princess-worthy dress and go for coral-pink stripes. Just the right amount of girly with a Breton twist and the cutest little kitty. Meow
• Not in the mood for all-over horizontal stripes today? Break up the pattern with an ultra-feminine V-neck. And it makes your neck look longer... To be fair here, credit goes to the previous list.

Last but not least

Don’t let anyone tell you what to do. Not even me :-). Wear what makes you feel good, follow your own taste and instincts—with a healthy dose of confidence and a big smile, you can wear anything you want. Seriously. So go ahead and show that you don’t care. I’ll wrap up with my own statement. And it’s one good enough for the newspaper...

"DO STRIPES MAKE YOU FAT? Too much mayo on a hot dog—THAT’S what makes you fat!"

There. That’s a relief. Now I’m going back to my regular job. Today I’m treating myself to a soy latte and a fresh donut. I think I’ll get one of those with striped icing!

So you can shop in the online store with complete peace of mind. Plenty of stripes :-)

Love, Nicole

Copy: Ilse Vlastuin

*(Source: “Applying the Helmholtz illusion to fashion: horizontal stripes won’t make you look fatter” by P. Thompson & K. Mikellidou, 2011)