Dress Like a Man by Antonio Centeno, Geoffrey Cubbage, Anthony Tan, Ted Slampyak Page A
Tags: Health; Fitness & Dieting, Beauty; Grooming; & Style, Men's Grooming & Style, Style & Clothing, Beauty & Fashion
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or shape). Those three basic approaches lend themselves to a startling array of options; here we list the most common in menswear, along with their dimensions.
Pin Stripe
The most restrained pattern a man can get short of a solid color, pinstripes are often seen on business suits, jackets, and trousers. White stripes against a dark background is the most traditional approach.
One of the defining features of a pinstripe pattern is that the stripes are spaced substantially further apart than their own width. That leaves a lot of "empty" space in the base color of the fabric, relative to larger, busier patterns.
Dimensions: Stripes of less than 1/16", separated by gaps of at least 1/4".
Chalk Stripe/Pencil Stripe
Wider than pinstripes, chalk stripes are still designed so that the stripe is narrower than the gaps between stripes. This is another popular suit and jacket pattern, slightly less formal than pinstripes, but it is also used (usually in brighter colors) for casual dress shirts.
The term "pencil stripe" is sometimes used to describe the same basic pattern. The two are functionally interchangeable; the only major difference is that people are more likely to call a light-colored stripe on a dark background a "chalk stripe" (due to its similarity to lines on a chalkboard), while brighter colors and lighter backgrounds are usually called "pencil stripes."
Dimensions: Stripes typically run between 1/16" and 1/8" in width, separated by spaces of at least 1/4".
Candy Stripe
A symmetrical pattern made of two alternating colors, each one in stripes of the same width. This is very widely used in shirts, and occasionally in casual suits and jackets (especially seersucker).
Most candystripe patterns use a single color, alternated with white stripes. Blue and oxblood red are the most common for dress shirts, but any color will work. The white stripes make the other color read from a distance as slightly lighter than it actually is.
Dimensions: Each stripe is about 1/8" - 1/4" wide.
Bengal Stripe
A wider version of the candystripe, Bengal stripes are bolder and less common. The name always implies a colored stripe alternating with a white one. Dark blues and purples are the most traditional color choices.
Like candy striping, Bengal stripes are typically seen on dress shirts, but they are also sometimes used to make casual jackets, trousers, and even suits. It is most common in South Asia, where the pattern is used in non-Western clothing styles as well.
Dimensions: Each stripe is about 1/4" - 3/4" wide.
Awning Stripe
The widest type of alternating, same-size striping, awning stripes are mostly only seen in novelty clothing. Carnival barkers sometimes wear awning stripe jackets in red and white, and they tend to show up on the sidelines of college football games as well, in the local team's colors.
You can get away with awning stripes if you have a big personality, a big body, or both. It's also a viable pattern for casual and pajama pants, especially the drawstring variety. Otherwise, leave it to the carnies -- and to actual awnings, from which the pattern takes its name.
Dimensions: Very broad stripes -- at least 3/4" wide, and often 2" - 3" wide.
Rail Stripe
A repeating pattern of two narrow stripes separated by a small gap, with a wider gap in between each set of stripes, is called "rail striping" (for obvious reasons).
Occasionally, a rail stripe will add a third, dashed line down the middle. In most cases the stripes are all one color, against a solid background of another color. The pattern is used for both suits and shirts. It is less common on unmatched jackets or trousers.
Dimensions: Variable, but the stripes are usually quite thin (1/4" or less), spaced about a half-inch apart with a gap of an inch or more between each set of stripes.
Variegated Striping
Multiple vertical stripes of varying widths and color, whether against a background color or dominating the whole garment, are referred to as
Pin Stripe
The most restrained pattern a man can get short of a solid color, pinstripes are often seen on business suits, jackets, and trousers. White stripes against a dark background is the most traditional approach.
One of the defining features of a pinstripe pattern is that the stripes are spaced substantially further apart than their own width. That leaves a lot of "empty" space in the base color of the fabric, relative to larger, busier patterns.
Dimensions: Stripes of less than 1/16", separated by gaps of at least 1/4".
Chalk Stripe/Pencil Stripe
Wider than pinstripes, chalk stripes are still designed so that the stripe is narrower than the gaps between stripes. This is another popular suit and jacket pattern, slightly less formal than pinstripes, but it is also used (usually in brighter colors) for casual dress shirts.
The term "pencil stripe" is sometimes used to describe the same basic pattern. The two are functionally interchangeable; the only major difference is that people are more likely to call a light-colored stripe on a dark background a "chalk stripe" (due to its similarity to lines on a chalkboard), while brighter colors and lighter backgrounds are usually called "pencil stripes."
Dimensions: Stripes typically run between 1/16" and 1/8" in width, separated by spaces of at least 1/4".
Candy Stripe
A symmetrical pattern made of two alternating colors, each one in stripes of the same width. This is very widely used in shirts, and occasionally in casual suits and jackets (especially seersucker).
Most candystripe patterns use a single color, alternated with white stripes. Blue and oxblood red are the most common for dress shirts, but any color will work. The white stripes make the other color read from a distance as slightly lighter than it actually is.
Dimensions: Each stripe is about 1/8" - 1/4" wide.
Bengal Stripe
A wider version of the candystripe, Bengal stripes are bolder and less common. The name always implies a colored stripe alternating with a white one. Dark blues and purples are the most traditional color choices.
Like candy striping, Bengal stripes are typically seen on dress shirts, but they are also sometimes used to make casual jackets, trousers, and even suits. It is most common in South Asia, where the pattern is used in non-Western clothing styles as well.
Dimensions: Each stripe is about 1/4" - 3/4" wide.
Awning Stripe
The widest type of alternating, same-size striping, awning stripes are mostly only seen in novelty clothing. Carnival barkers sometimes wear awning stripe jackets in red and white, and they tend to show up on the sidelines of college football games as well, in the local team's colors.
You can get away with awning stripes if you have a big personality, a big body, or both. It's also a viable pattern for casual and pajama pants, especially the drawstring variety. Otherwise, leave it to the carnies -- and to actual awnings, from which the pattern takes its name.
Dimensions: Very broad stripes -- at least 3/4" wide, and often 2" - 3" wide.
Rail Stripe
A repeating pattern of two narrow stripes separated by a small gap, with a wider gap in between each set of stripes, is called "rail striping" (for obvious reasons).
Occasionally, a rail stripe will add a third, dashed line down the middle. In most cases the stripes are all one color, against a solid background of another color. The pattern is used for both suits and shirts. It is less common on unmatched jackets or trousers.
Dimensions: Variable, but the stripes are usually quite thin (1/4" or less), spaced about a half-inch apart with a gap of an inch or more between each set of stripes.
Variegated Striping
Multiple vertical stripes of varying widths and color, whether against a background color or dominating the whole garment, are referred to as
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