It’s Official: The Striped Top Is Autumn's Hero Piece—4 Styles Fashion People Can’t Stop Wearing
For 2025, stripes are stepping into the spotlight again, reworked in fresh shapes and styling that make the classic print feel brand new.


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.
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
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.
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2. Striped Knits
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.
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3. Striped Rugby Shirt
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.
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4. Striped Shirt
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.
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Marina Avraam is Senior Shopping Editor at Who What Wear UK, where she expertly navigates Zara, H&M, Toteme and Net-a-Porter (to name but a few) on a daily basis to unearth the most worthwhile pieces, while valiantly resisting the urge to add every single one to her basket. At Who What Wear, Marina is committed to curating a shopping experience that feels both aspirational and intentional, guiding readers to items—both affordable and investment—that will genuinely benefit their wardrobes.
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