Shop This City: What's All The Stripe Hype?

I know, I know, everyone is talking about stripes. From high end to mass market to discount retailers, everywhere you look, you're seeing stripes. But here's the thing, people I talk to still don't think they can wear them. "Horizontal stripes make you look fat," has been ingrained in their brains from a very early age and they can't seem to accept the fact that if worn right, they in fact, do not make you look fat.

Girl, I assure you, I go to great pains to NOT look fat! So there is no way I would don anything that came even close to doing so. Just like anything else I own, it's all about the cut. Cut right for your body and you can rock thin, medium or wide horizontal stripes.

Be smart about it. Wider in the hips? Give yourself some breathing room in that area with a fit & flare skirt that does just that (flares out from the fitted waist - duh). Kate Spade knows what she's doing:

Kate Spade

Candy Shop Jeanette Dress

$395

But really, you don't have to do head-to-toe pastels to get a piece of the trend pie. There are so many affordable, adorable options out there that live up to the stripe hype.

Ann Taylor

Nautical Stripe Sweater

$68

Pair it with white wide leg pants for a cool nautical spin.

French Connection

Striped You-Me-Oui Tank

$48

The cut is more forgiving around the midsection, making it more flattering.

Vince

Twisted Striped Sweater, Coastal

$129, was $195

The longer cut gives you a leaner silhouette.

Okay, I'm not going to try to pretend there's a secret way absolutely anyone can wear this bikini. You know if you can wear it or not...regardless of the fantastic nautical stripes.

Lisa Curran

Valencia U-Bar Bandeau Bikini Top & Scoop Bottom

$88 each