double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six are Simply Striped

September 20, 2021 / 36 Comments
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

There is nothing quite like a big, bold, black and white prison-style striped pattern to make yourself visible. In fact, that was the sole purpose of striped patterns when they first made their appearance in woven textiles…their visibility. Stripes are one of the first patterns in woven textiles which have been in continuous use in the apparel industry since the beginning. Stripes are also a gender neutral, timelessly classic print that is just as acceptable on an infant as it is on an octogenarian. Stripes go with everything including other stripes and lend themselves to many creative combinations within my very own closet. However, five hundred years ago, I could have been sentenced to death for wearing such an outfit as this.

In 1310, a French cobbler was sentenced to death simply for being spotted wearing striped clothing. At that time, striped patterns were reserved for only those members of society who didn’t want to follow the social rules. (Maybe that’s why I love stripes so much because I sure don’t like very many social rules!) The pattern was visible enough to make society’s undesirables stand out in a crowd and was therefore reserved only for servants, court jesters, prostitutes, madmen, and criminals. These groups of people did not wear stripes by choice either. There were sumptuary laws and official orders from the ruling classes stating that the members of society who fell into these classifications must wear stripes. And anyone else was forbidden from doing so or they risked their life for donning the devil’s cloth. Like that poor cobbler from Northern France.

double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Throughout history, stripes have always maintained their connection to something sinister even as they became more and more mainstream and socially acceptable to wear. By the 1700’s, stripes began making their appearance in royal fashions and home decor in Western cultures and so began the transition from devil’s cloth to one of the most popular prints in the world today.

In the 1920’s, as women were becoming more and more liberated, stripes began to appear in women’s activewear clothing lines. During this age of Prohibition, pinstriped suits also became very popular for men and a trademark symbol of the gangsters who ran the illegal businesses during this era, still holding on to the print’s long history of “bad guy association”.

The pinstriped gangster suits of the 1920’s led to the more politically charged zoot suits of the 1940’s which were worn as political statements by many ignored and underrepresented communities.

Less than two decades later, this print saw new refinement by the 1958 Act of France which issued striped woven tops to navy seamen as part of their uniform. The tops were woven with 21 horizontal stripes to represent Napoleon’s 21 victories. This newly distinguished version of striped shirts cemented the print as a timeless classic from that point forward.

“In the stripe there is something that resists enclosure within systems.”

Michel Pastoureau, The Devil’s Cloth

Resources:

double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Today we see stripes everywhere. You probably have a few striped pieces in your wardrobe already or somewhere in your home decor. I have tons of stripes all around and in my closet as well. It is one of my favorite prints for mixing patterns. I love stripes with florals, plaids, polka dots, leopard print, camouflage, and even with more stripes.

This month’s Thrifty Six theme was Simply Striped chosen by me. I will admit to cheating a little bit for this challenge. I had already purchased this black and white striped knit dress and black and white striped duster at Solitary Consignment and I needed a reason to wear them together. So when my turn came to pick a style challenge, I figured why not use the opportunity to share my newly thrifted outfit.

I was unsure of the dress when I first saw it on the rack. Knit dresses of this sort show every bump and lump that I don’t want to show and we are always told that horizontal stripes are even worse for body image. But it was hanging on the clearance rack for a mere $4 so I tried it on anyway. And look what happened when I stepped out of comfort zone and into a crazy tight boldly striped form fitting knit dress…I really kind of loved it.

Then I spotted the vertical striped duster and immediately knew that these two things would be so perfect together. I added some jewel toned sandals and earrings for a bit of color and I made my simple stripes anything by simple.

double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Now let’s check out my thrifty friends in their simply striped looks.

The Thrifty Six is a group of international fashion influencers who meet once a month in our little space on the internet to share our thrifty outfits. On the third Monday of every month, we will all share an outfit based on a theme that features preloved wardrobe pieces. Shopping and reselling preloved clothing is so much better for the environment and you can find some of the best fashions in thrift or charity shops. The Thrifty Six are here to inspire you to shop second hand! 

The Thrifters:

Emma of Style Splash

Style Splash
Emma of Style Splash

“I found this striped jacket in a charity shop for only £5, and although I already have a few black and white jackets in various patterns, I couldn’t resist this one! A classic black and white striped jacket will never go out of style. For contrast I teamed it with red culottes and my favourite Soul Sisters T-shirt.”

Emma

Grace of Graceful Rags

Graceful Rags
Grace of Graceful Rags

“Would you believe this is the only striped thrifted piece I own? It’s a little summery for this late in the season, but I thought this strapless pink dress would pair perfectly with a denim jacket for an outdoor dinner. This dress is originally Ann Taylor and I got it for only $15—you can tell the quality of it from the double-lining and the interior belt that helps it stay up. Too bad a bird pooped on it the first time I wore it! It was in perfect condition until the stain remover I used smeared the pink colors… Boo. But thankfully it’s (mostly) only noticeable to me!”

Grace

Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade

Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade

“Avoiding the Moiré Effect…stripes confuse the photographic lens, the tighter the stripe the greater the confusion…We see the Moiré effect, that weird moving pattern when stripes merge into each other and out again. I wondered how I might create a striped outfit to please the camera – of course, the power of black and white…this time two negatives definitely make a positive!”

Jane

Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi

Lucy Bertoldi
Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi

“You all know how much I love a great jumpsuit-and this one has stripes up, down and across! Thrifted years ago, I usually style it with a white or red leather jacket…but wait, since ‘Stripes’ is our theme- zebra print has so many funky kinds of stripes! This perfect, flashy, totally sequins jacket is on point layered over this jumpsuit! Nothing like a hodgepodge of stripes to make this print-mixing addict indulge in a dopamine styling fix. Loving this look so much- thanks Thrifty Six for inspiring me!”

Lucy

Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style

Nancy's Fashion Style
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style

“This striped dress was one of my first pre loved purchases. It’s a King Louie dress which is a brand that designs retro clothing. They often have very colorful items. And you know I am not about very colorful. On me that is. So these red stripes with black in it where perfect for me. This dress was a bit short for me and I have sold it after I wore it one season. But it did start my love for pre loved items.”

Nancy

And me!

double stripes, black and white stripes, knit dress, duster jacket, thrifted style, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

“I was visiting my friend recently in her consignment shop when I spotted this bold black and white knit dress that I was certain would not be flattering. But I tried it on anyway and I loved it! Then I saw this striped duster hanging on the same rack and very much needed to pair the two pieces together. So I did it!”

Shelbee

Are you a fan of stripes?

I am also guest posting for my dear friend Michelle of My Bijou Life today. Check out my Meditative Coloring Therapy and join Michelle’s Link Up Potpourri!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Outfit Details: Dress (Charlotte Russe) and Duster-Thrifted / Shoes-Payless / Earrings-Target

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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