I will not lie to you: I own more striped things than any person really needs…Ooopsie 😂👀 It started with one shirt I bought on a trip to visit my sister in Boston, and now my closet looks like a candy cane exploded in the neutrals section.
But there is a reason for the obsession, to be honest guys.. Black and white stripes go with EVERYTHING. They feel a little French, a little put-together, and they save me on those mornings when my brain simply refuses to make decisions.
So I pulled together the looks I actually wear, the ones I fall back on again and again.
My 20 Favorite Ways to Wear Black and White Stripes
Black And White Striped Shirt With Blue Jeans
This is the one. The classic. If you only try one look from this list, let it be a black and white striped shirt outfit with your favorite blue jeans. It is the combination I reach for probably twice a week, and it never once has let me down.
Tuck the front of the shirt in a little, roll the sleeves, add flat sandals or sneakers, and you are done.
Black And White Striped Top With Black Trousers
When I need to look slightly more polished but I do not have the energy for a full outfit, this is my move. A black and white striped top outfit paired with clean black trousers reads as intentional, even when it took me four minutes to put together.
Add gold hoops and a structured bag and suddenly you look like you have meetings. Whether or not you actually do.
Black And White Midi Skirt With White T-Shirt
My sister wore something like this to a lunch last spring and I copied it immediately, no shame. A flowy black and white skirt outfit with a plain white tee is so easy and so pretty for warm days.
The white tee keeps it simple. The skirt does all the work. Tuck it in, throw on some flats, and go.
Black And White Striped Sweater With Straight-Leg Jeans
Fall me lives in this. A cozy black and white striped sweater outfit with straight-leg jeans feels like something you would see on a Parisian woman walking to the market with a baguette, and I mean that in the best way.
I like mine a size up so it slouches a bit. Comfort with just a splash of polish. My kind of thing.
White Shirt With Black Wide-Leg Pants
Okay, this one is not stripes, I know, but hear me out. A crisp white shirt and black pants outfit is the backbone of the whole striped situation, because it is the base you keep returning to.
Wide-leg black pants with a tucked white button-up is timeless. Add a striped scarf if you are missing your stripes (I always am).
Black And White Striped Pants With Black Tank Top
Here is where things get a little bold. A black and white striped pants outfit with a simple black tank on top is such a fun way to let the stripes be the star without the outfit feeling like too much.
The trick is keeping the top plain and dark. The pants are loud enough. Let them talk.
Black And White Cardigan With Blue Jeans
My mom gave me a black and white cardigan years ago and I honestly wear it more than she ever did. A soft black and white cardigan outfit over jeans is that perfect in-between piece for when it is not cold but it is not warm either.
Button it halfway, leave the rest open, add a little pendant necklace. Cozy but still cute.
Black And White Pants With White Button-Down Shirt
So this is the look I wear when I want to feel like I have it together at work. A tailored black and white pants outfit with a white button-down is clean, sharp, and photographs beautifully (not that I photograph my outfits, but you know, just in case).
Tuck the shirt, add a thin belt, and put on your most sensible-yet-chic loafers. Instant polish.
Oversized Striped Shirt With Black Leggings
This is my Saturday-morning-coffee-run look, and I stand by it. An oversized striped shirt, sleeves pushed up, worn over black leggings, is comfortable in a way that still feels a little intentional.
My friend Dana calls this my “I woke up like this but I did not really” outfit. She is not wrong. And I love it for that.
Striped Long-Sleeve Top With Denim Skirt
A fitted striped long-sleeve with a denim skirt is such a good spring combination. It has that easy, breezy energy without you having to try very hard at all.
I like a slightly longer denim skirt for this, something that hits below the knee. Add white sneakers and you are set for a full day of wandering around town.
Black And White Mini Skirt With Black Sweater
When it gets a little cooler but I still want to wear a skirt, this is what happens. A short black and white printed mini with a plain black sweater on top is such a good balance of playful and grown-up.
Tights in the cold months. Bare legs when it warms. Either way, the sweater keeps it feeling cozy and the skirt keeps it fun.
Striped Sweater With Black Midi Skirt
Of course I had to include a striped-on-solid situation. A striped sweater half-tucked into a long black midi skirt is one of my favorite fall combinations, and it feels dressed up without any effort.
Add ankle boots and a crossbody bag. I wore this to a museum with my husband and he actually said I looked nice, which, if you know him, is basically a standing ovation.
White Oversized Shirt With Black Flared Pants
A big, roomy white shirt with black flared pants feels a little bit seventies and a lot chic. I roll the sleeves and leave the top button or two undone.
The flare on the pants does something magical for your whole silhouette. Trust me on this. Add a small heel if you want the leg to look longer.
Striped Wide-Leg Pants With White T-Shirt
Striped wide-leg pants are a commitment, but a joyful one. Pair them with a simple white tee and you have an outfit that looks relaxed and interesting all at once.
Knot the tee at the waist if the pants sit high. Little details like that make a big difference. Honestly.
Black And White Cardigan With Black Mini Skirt
This is a slightly flirtier take on the cardigan. A cropped or fitted black and white cardigan buttoned up like a top, worn with a black mini skirt, feels youthful and sweet.
I add tights and loafers when it is cold. It is the kind of outfit that looks like it belongs on a college campus in the best way.
Black And White Trousers With Black Blazer
Now we are getting fancy. Striped or checked black and white trousers under a crisp black blazer is the outfit for when you need to look like you mean business.
Keep everything else quiet: a plain top underneath, simple earrings, a good shoe. Let the trousers be the moment. And they will be.
Striped Button-Down Shirt With White Jeans
Summer in a single outfit. A crisp striped button-down with white jeans is fresh, coastal, and just a little preppy. I feel like I should be walking along a boardwalk somewhere.
Roll the sleeves, tuck the front, add a straw bag if you have one. My sister and I basically both live in this from June through August.
Fitted Striped Top With Black Maxi Skirt
A snug little striped top with a long, flowing black maxi skirt is such an elegant combination, and it is secretly SO comfortable. Almost like wearing a nightgown but you look intentional.
I add a delicate necklace and flat sandals. This is my go-to for a warm evening out.
Black And White Pleated Skirt With White Knit Top
Pleats. I love a pleat. A black and white pleated skirt with a soft white knit top has movement, it has swish, and it makes even a boring errand feel a bit special.
Tuck the knit in loosely. The skirt moves when you walk, and there is something quietly lovely about that.
Cropped Striped Cardigan With Black Pants
And here we are at the last one, a little full circle moment. A cropped striped cardigan buttoned up over sleek black pants is chic, tidy, and works from morning to night.
Wear it on its own like a top, or with a tank underneath. Add pointed flats. It is the outfit I wear when I want to feel like the most put-together version of myself, and it always delivers.
