It’s time to say goodbye to boring and basic! If we can learn anything from this summer’s fashion trends, it’s all about embracing joy in our wardrobes. From the season’s It colours – almost exclusively punchy, vibrant hues like cobalt blue and lawn green – to the immense popularity of prints including polka dots and paisley, there’s no room for plain and simple.
Of course, you don’t have to be a maximalist to get in on the look. In fact, the easiest way to tap into this specific thread of sartorial happiness involves swapping out your go-to white tee for something you more than likely already own: a striped T-shirt.
Stripes are undeniably a classic pattern and, as far as we’re concerned, never out of trend. This summer it’s fair to say they’ve been embraced like never before, decorating everything from trousers and floaty mid skirts to tote bags slung over the shoulders of all the most stylish fashion girlies.
When it comes to contemporary striped T-shirts, this season has seen a certain style champion above the rest. Rather than the traditional two colourways alternating in stripes of the same thickness, 2026's take on a statement striped tee involves three different colours positioned in horizontal strips of varying sizes to create a more complex and visually dynamic design.
Take this Next number, which nails the look with its green, blue and white stripes. Featuring a double-layer top effect to give the appearance of a white T-shirt layered underneath, peeking out at the sleeves and hem, it effortlessly ticks off two trends in one.
We’ll be styling it with a crisp cotton white A-line skirt and Mary Jane trainers for a stylish look that'll take you to the office and onto post-work drinks in the park with friends. Or, for more casual weekends spent close to home, Bermuda shorts and flip-flops make for a laid-back look. The beauty of this trend is that it works in very much the same way as how you'd wear a white T-shirt, but with a bigger outfit payoff.
Next Green/Blue Stripe Short Sleeve Layered Crew Neck T-Shirt
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Ditch your plain white tees and find more of our favourite statement striped T-shirts below, all available to shop on the high street right now.
M&S Pure Cotton Striped T-Shirt
Massimo Dutti 100% Cotton Short Sleeve Striped T-shirt
Glassworks Green and Pink Bold Striped Contrast Collar T-shirt
White Stuff Kat Stripe Midweight Tee
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
