Right now, your summer wardrobe is probably crying out for a versatile layering piece…and a striped shirt might be the answer. This season's fashion is built on those hardworking pieces you can throw on without a second thought. And sometimes all you need is that one standout layer to add personality to an outfit. Enter the colorful striped shirt: the effortless summer staple that will solve all your dressing dilemmas.
Whether you're heading to the beach, grabbing brunch, or just in need of an extra throw-on layer, colorful striped shirts are the hero of the 2026 summer wardrobe. They work for soooo many summer occasions and instantly make an outfit look more put together.
And currently, stripes are having a major fashion moment. From pastel pinstripes to bold oversized designs, the print has been spotted everywhere this season, proving that while trends come and go, stripes always remain. They're playful, polished and, perhaps best of all, incredibly easy to style.
So if your summer wardrobe is missing one key piece, we'd argue it's a colorful striped shirt, and Zara's latest $49.90 design is ticking every box. Cut with an oversized silhouette and relaxed fit, it's designed to be worn loose and effortless, making it ideal for those days when you want to look chic without putting too much thought into it.
It’s in a bold statement hue—a bright green with chocolate brown stripes—to instantly add vibrancy and interest to an outfit. Envision it with linen trousers and a white vest, or over a black bikini and denim shorts. Throw it over your favorite bikini for an easy cover-up that looks instantly elevated. Or, wear it unbuttoned with matching shorts and sandals for a chic poolside look. It works just as well with a pair of relaxed blue jeans and white sneakers for weekend coffee runs, or tucked into tailored linen trousers for a smarter look. You could even knot it over a slip dress when the temperature drops in the evening.
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Megan Louise Davies is a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan, covering everything from reality TV chaos to the latest celeb scandals. She’s previously worked for The Sun and The Times, and has interviewed names from Nish Kumar to Celia Imrie. A Bristol Uni graduate, she once wrote a 10,000-word dissertation on Taylor Swift and Beyoncé and has some seriously niche musical theatre knowledge…
