{J. Crew Ruffle Sleeve Dress, Club Monaco Hat (similar), Cambridge Satchel Crossbody Bag, Zara Shoes}

Black & white stripes are one of my favorite prints, and they work perfectly on those days when I’m short on time and pressed for what to wear. And let’s face it, that’s pretty much everyday in my world! But if you’re worried about stripes making you look fat… don’t be! The trick to making stripes work is to either A) not give a damn, or B) find the size and shape that work for your body type.

I tend to go for option A most often, but since I did title this post How to Wear Stripes, here are a few things that I’ve learned from experience:

• Chevron stripes work on just about anyone
• Vertical stripes can be elongating (just be careful you don’t wind up looking like Beetlejuice)
• Small horizontal stripes across the chest can look a little wonky on us busty gals (especially in stretchy materials)
• When in doubt, add a pop of color with accessories (red, yellow, hot pink and cobalt blue all look especially fetching)

Below are my favorite black & white striped dress picks at the moment…