THE JOURNAL

The thing about stripes is that they come in all, well, stripes. Big thick ones. Little skinny ones. Up and down or side to side. And this season, they’re across everything. Handily, this particular pattern also happens to be one of menswear’s most accessible. Not to mention the easiest way to add a pop of colour.
But the vertical that we really want to focus on here is the horizontal stripe. And it’s not just the pattern with the most potential for broad appeal, it will broaden your chest, too. Or, in accordance with the Helmholtz illusion, they can make an object (let’s say: you) appear taller. So, for most men, stripes along the X axis will prove flattering rather than flattening. (Or fattening.)
Whatever you have planned this spring, there are lines that align, below.
01. The Aimé Leon Dore rugby-style sweater


Few brands do rugby shirts quite like Aimé Leon Dore – the NYC brand has quietly positioned itself among the top names reimagining 1990s prep for the modern menswear audience. And this pink style is a prime example. It comes in a thicker handle, so you can wear it in place of a sweater over dark-wash jeans and sneakers.
02. The Polo Ralph Lauren cable-knit crewneck


If you’re anything like us, you can spot a Ralph Lauren sweater from a way away. As with most of the brand’s pieces, it’s reminiscent of early collegiate days but still feels fresh today. The relaxed shape allows for a collared shirt to be worn underneath, but it’ll work just as well with an untucked T-shirt peeking out the hem.
03. The Moncler logo-appliquéd cotton polo shirt


Moncler earnt its name through Alpine pursuits. In fact, it borrowed its name from an Alpine village, but that’s another story. However, the brand is just as adept at lower altitudes, as this cotton polo shirt proves. A classic sportswear staple with the distinctive logo on the sleeve.
04. The CELINE cotton-jersey polo shirt


“Rugby” isn’t a dirty word. Although it can be a dirty sport. Therefore, we assume CELINE is pitching this piece as a polo shirt so it doesn’t end up anywhere near a muddy field – even if the coding is closer to that worn in a ruck. Bold, block stripes with a contrast white collar, it is also, thankfully, machine washable.
05. The Dries Van Noten Vinny’s satin blouson jacket


Historically, Dries Van Noten has been noted for its playful and somewhat elaborate patterns. Which might make deck chair-style stripes a bit… straightforward? Fear not, because this satin blouson, designed under the aegis of new creative director Julian Klausner, comes embellished with crystal floral motifs to offset the fluid fabric.
06. The Remi Relief long-sleeve T-shirt


A traditional la marinière should feature 21 stripes, said to represent each of Napoleon’s naval victories. This Breton-adjacent piece by the Japanese skate brand Remi Relief features… OK, so we haven’t counted how many stripes there actually are along the body panel of this tee, with finer contrasting stripes down the sleeves, but by our calculations it’s, well, a lot. A clever spin on the classic.
07. The Balenciaga logo-embroidered cotton-jersey polo shirt


A central pillar to emerge from the early days of Pierpaolo Piccioli’s stewardship of Balenciaga is a merger of tailoring and sportswear. This playful take on the rugby shirt leans into that theme, giving the standard striped jersey a voluminous, relaxed shape, with the storied house’s insignia on the chest.