Forget Polka Dots—This Is the Print Trend It Girls From London to L.A. Are Wearing

What do you consider synonymous with summertime? While travel might come to mind, fashion people are always thinking about one thing: print trends. Yes, really! Don’t get us wrong. We love an emerging destination too, but we find just as much excitement in exploring things closer to home—in this case, within our closets. It’s a phenomenon no more apparent than at the start of summer, when our social media feeds are flooded with new print trends. Blame the heat, but there’s something about this time of year that makes people want bolder wardrobes, and the default is patterns like leopard, gingham, and polka dot. While there’s nothing wrong with these timeless prints, they’re not the most thrilling options for those who are craving more adventure. Enter colorful stripes into the chat. We know stripes aren’t groundbreaking, but hear us out. These aren’t the ubiquitous ones that are often associated with summer.

We’ve seen countless fashion houses, from Jacquemus to Ralph Lauren, give this pattern a contemporary spin by embracing thicker, often Technicolor versions that resemble the umbrellas you’d spot at a beach club in the South of France. The result is a print trend that can make you feel like you’ve escaped to a far-off destination, hence the appeal. Beyond inducing wanderlust, what’s made this print trend so popular among the fashion crowd comes down to two things: It’s not as played out as polka dots, and it’s pretty versatile. Colorful stripes can be worn effortlessly to the coastline or the coolest brunch spot, and with so many classic staples being adorned with this print (e.g., T-shirts, tote bags, and trousers), it’s never been easier to incorporate it into your closet. Need proof? We’ve rounded up a few styling examples of how to wear stripes this summer along with a curated selection of the best striped pieces to buy. Adventure awaits!