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It’s Official: The Striped Top Is 2025’s Hero Piece—4 Styles Fashion People Can’t Stop Wearing

By Swedan Margen

It’s Official: The Striped Top Is 2025’s Hero Piece—4 Styles Fashion People Can’t Stop Wearing

For years, the striped top was fashion’s shorthand for minimalism—the neat black-and-white Breton that slotted seamlessly into capsule wardrobes, and screamed Parisian chic. But this season, the motif has undergone a striking transformation. At Copenhagen Fashion Week, influencers and editors stepped out in stripes that were anything but quiet: rugby polos in saturated shades, oversized cardigans with XXL bands of colour and knits that demanded attention.

The appeal lies in the balance. Stripes remain as classic a motif as you can get, but their new, bolder iterations open the door to more adventurous styling. Street stylers confirm their versatility—layered under clean tailoring, clashed with leopard print, or paired with metallic skirts, the striped top grounds eclectic outfits without ever diluting their impact. This season’s palette of punchy primaries and unexpected contrasts feels fresh, playful and perfectly aligned with fashion’s latest appetite for personality dressing.

Alexa Chung wears a striped top with white jeans

Designers have also been instrumental in pushing stripes back into the spotlight. At Miu Miu, striped rugby polos and cropped have a added a playful, collegiate edge for seasons, while Rabanne's striped tees anchored a number of its 2025 runway looks. Over in New York, Proenza Schouler explored the motif through asymmetric silhouettes in slim navy and camel, proving that even the most classic pattern can be pushed into new, directional territory. Across the runways, the message was unanimous: stripes are no longer a quiet basic but a focal point in their own right.

Whether you’re investing in a candy-coloured knit, a collegiate-inspired rugby shirt or a classic tee with a twist, the striped top is ready to take its rightful place at the centre of your new-season wardrobe for autumn 2025. Shop our favourite hero pieces below.

4 Key Striped Top Styles to Try This Season

1. Striped Long-Sleeve Tees

Hollie Mercedes wears a black and white long-sleeve striped tee with blue jeans

Style notes: A striped long-sleeve tee instantly elevates even the simplest outfit. Opt for classic black and white for a timeless feel, or lean into bold colourways for a playful, trend-forward twist. Just add jeans and your favourite trench coat.

Shop the Look:

Iris Signature Long-Sleeve T-Shirt – Arket Gb

ARKET

Iris Signature Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

The perfect Breton: clean, unfussy and cut to perfection. This is the one you’ll reach for Monday through Sunday.

Slim Lightweight Long-Sleeved Top

COS

Slim Lightweight Long-Sleeved Top

Sleek and layer-friendly, this sits smoothly under blazers without bulk

Classic Striped Oversized Crewneck

Free People

Classic Striped Oversized Crewneck

Roomy in all the right ways, this drapes perfectly—ideal with leggings or denim.

Jersey T-Shirt

Cropped and cool, this designer take pairs just as well with low-slung trousers as it does layered over a slip dress.

Pure Cotton Everyday Fit Top

M&S Collection

Pure Cotton Everyday Fit Top

This comes in a handful of colours, but the subtle grape-hued stripe feels especially current.

2. Striped Knits

Live Madeline wears a pink and burgundy stripe jumper with blue jeans

Style notes: My favourite way to weave stripes into a look is through knitwear. Liv’s pink-and-brown colour pairing feels especially fresh, but the high street is full of equally playful combinations. From punchy primaries to softer pastels, striped knits offer an easy route into dopamine dressing and will instantly lift your autumn collection.

Shop the Look:

Knitted Alpaca-Blend Sweater

& Other Stories

Knitted Alpaca-Blend Sweater

Fuzzy, cosy and slightly slouchy—this is the knit you’ll live in once temperatures drop.

Cashmere Boyfriend Sweater

Reformation

Cashmere Boyfriend Sweater

Sustainably spun and perfectly oversized, it’s that “effortless luxury” piece every wardrobe craves.

Cropped Wool Cardigan

COS

Cropped Wool Cardigan

Minimalist lines meet playful stripes—just add a slip skirt and ballet flats.

Soft Touch Striped Crew Neck Jumper

M&S Collection

Soft Touch Striped Crew Neck Jumper

Proof you don’t have to spend big: this high-street gem feels way more premium than the price tag.

Multi Stripe Crew Neck Knit

Whistles

Multi Stripe Crew Neck Knit

Punchy stripes that brighten grey days—this is dopamine dressing, knitwear edition.

3. Striped Rugby Shirt

A woman wears a blue and white striped rugby shirt with tan-lens sunglasses

Style notes: Rugby stripes are having a real moment, bringing a sporty, collegiate edge to everyday dressing. I love the way they strike a balance between casual and statement—wear them half-tucked into wide-leg trousers or layered over a slip skirt for a modern twist.

Shop the Look:

Striped Polo-Neck T-Shirt - Women | Mango United Kingdom

MANGO

Striped Polo-Neck T-Shirt

Preppy but wearable—style with baggy jeans for that “Scandi woman off-duty” look.

Ilona Striped Rugby Jumper - Burg Stripe

Damson Madder

Ilona Striped Rugby Jumper in Burg Stripe

This is the kind of knit that makes a statement without trying.

Striped Wool Blend Polo Sweater

Massimo Dutti

Striped Wool Blend Polo Sweater

Streamlined and soft, this is the elevated rugby you can wear to the office.

Cotton Jersey Polo Shirt

Miu Miu

Cotton Jersey Polo Shirt

The cult version you’ve seen all over Instagram—cropped, cheeky, and very much fashion-girl approved.

Relaxed Striped Long-Sleeved Polo Shirt

COS

Relaxed Striped Long-Sleeved Polo Shirt

Ideal layered over a simple white tee.

4. Striped Shirt

A woman wears a blue and white striped shirt with blue jeans

Style notes: A striped shirt is the simplest way to tap into the trend while keeping things polished. This season, the focus is on relaxed, oversized cuts styled with everything from wide-leg trousers to tailored skirts. The style set are layering theirs under knitwear, pairing them with leather, or buttoning them up beneath sharp blazers for extra impact.

Shop the Look:

Sabine Striped Articulated Shirt

Free People

Sabine Striped Articulated Shirt

Oversized with a fluid drape—perfect worn half-tucked into wide-leg trousers.

Lux Shirt - Garden Stripe

Damson Madder

Lux Shirt in Garden Stripe

This shirt adds instant fun to your weekday rotation.

Loose-Fitting Striped Shirt

Massimo Dutti

Loose-Fitting Striped Shirt

The colour combo of dreams.

Cotton Poplin Shirt – Pink/blue – Women – Arket Gb

ARKET

Cotton Poplin Shirt

Clean poplin and subtle colour play; this will look especially sharp with navy tailoring

Oversized Shirt

& Other Stories

Oversized Shirt

Wear over a tee now or under chunky knits all winter.

Originally published by whowhatwear.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Vanity Fair Fashion.

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It’s Official: The Striped Top Is 2025’s Hero Piece—4 Styles Fashion People Can’t Stop Wearing - Vanity Fair Fashion