Seemingly out of nowhere, I’ve ended up with an overstuffed board on Pinterest with nothing but red stripes on it.
This is unusual, not because I have a pin board dedicated to a niche interest, but because historically speaking red stripes just aren’t my jam. Much like when I wrote about the color blue, they used to feel basic to me, not my style at all. They were associative of window awnings at ‘50s themed diners or swim trunks from Old Navy.
I can’t remember the exact image that began to thaw my icy feelings about the pattern, but I know it was of a very lavish bedroom that featured a red striped wallpaper.
My newfound affinity is a true lesson in the impact of presentation. Red stripes, when designed in a classic candy-cane way, conjure up images of barbershop quartets or patriotic picnics. However - start playing around with widths, color combos, line weight, and details, and you have something totally different. With the proper spacing, you get the vibe of 19th century seaside resort. Pairing the red with a nice shade of pink takes you from Kris Kringle to Coco Chanel.
It’s also a great example of widening the lens: looking not just at the pattern, but at what’s surrounding it. Finding unique ways to incorporate and inspiring ways to display it. I’m a die-hard advocate of pattern clashing, and so much inspo I found pairs red stripes with contrasting prints or textiles that make them less circus, more stylish. A red striped wall on it’s own could look jarring, but add a gallery wall on top of it, some contrasting curtains or a funky lampshade and you have a much more interesting view.
I love a statement print because two things can both be true at once: a little bit goes a long way OR more is more is more. The peep of a red striped bed skirt can add some personality to an often overlooked space, but why stop there when you can also wallpaper the ceiling?
I get so excited when I change my mind about things and get to enter a whole new world of inspiration. It’s really important for creative people to be open to not only new ideas, but to old ones as well.
Here’s a nice lil roundup of red-striped inspiration to spice up your day! ❤️🌶️💋
This sweet striped top from Clotho is perfect for layering or hot days.
This article on the “somewhat rebellious history of the striped shirt”
Adjacent to Stripes is Plaid, and Articles of Interest, one of my favorite podcasts, did an interesting episode about it!
Stripes or not, this piece from - ironically - The Stripe is a great jumping-off point for adding a splash of red to your look. ❣️
Add just a pop with a red striped ribbon in your hair 🎀
I LOVE Striped pajamas! They give me Cary Grant vibes and are eternally classic. A few sets I like are from J. Crew, TbCo, Lisa Says Gah and West of Breakfast. 😴
Special nod to Damson Madder for this PJ set (I die!) and these cute jeans. 👖
I am prepared to hop on the bandwagon and get a pair of Adidas Sambas! I love how they look on everyone! I doubt I’ll get red, but the classic red striped and two-tone pink and red Gazelles are tempting… 👟
Spruce up your bedroom with this Percale cotton striped duvet cover, these thin pinstriped sheets, or this linen bedding set 🛏️
Or, if you want something a bit more subtle, here’s a striped bed skirt.
I can picture these block print linen curtains in so many different spaces! 🪟
A shower curtain (this one too) would look sooo cute 🛀
I have a recent robe obsession, so here’s a few that I would like someone to buy please: Field Robe, Pink & Red Peppermint robe, and this one, though overpriced, is so fun with the color block sleeves. 👘
Dusen Dusen has mastered the art of striped linens. We have their towels, placemats and sheets, and yet I still want the robes, oven mitts, trash can, and canisters. wow. 🛍️
This extremely satisfying TikTok makes me want to paint my whole hallway in stripes. This one, too! 🖍️
From House & Garden: 31 Ways to Incorporate Stripes into Your Home 🏡
Tips from Benjamin Moore on how to paint stripes on your walls 👩🎨
Speaking of painting, this is a cool glimpse at stripes used in art! 🎨
A stunning tour of Maison Colbert, an art space in London that looks like an interior confection out of a Wes Anderson movie. 😍
Baker Peter Reinhart created a Detroit-style pizza named Red Stripe, and I really wish I was eating it rn. 🍕
omg, this KILIM TABLE RUNNER! 🍓
And wait, this Ikea floor runner also! 💥
Ben loves Japanese handkerchiefs, and the red bamboo one would be adorable. 🟥
This British woman won a court case to keep her candy-striped townhouse 🏠
Grab a beer and sip a cool Jamaican Red Stripe 🍺
Wow, this article about the Vienna Secession art movement was interesting 🧐
A look at stripes in film and why characters wear them! 🎥
It’s probably time to add some red striped washi tape to my collection - looking at this one and this one. ✂️
HOW CUTE is this little striped Italian teapot?! (Plus the sugar and creamer set ommggg) 🫖
These pink and red taper candles are perfect for a Galentine’s party! 🕯️
And someday, when I’m rich, I’ll buy this cute handmade candle holder 😘
I looove the idea of creating striped mats for art, prints, and photos! These botanical ones are super cute, and I love this downloadable blue and red striped photo frame mat. 🖼️
Artist Tara Roma Gill has the prettiest striped floral prints in her online shop. 🌹
I would get these little striped porcelain cups to keep pens or bobby pins in! 🥤
What’s your version of red stripes? Is there something design-wise you always overlooked but then became inexplicably obsessed with? Let me know your thoughts!
I just bought red striped linen bedspread from a brand I found on Pinterest and love them! (Ugly URL because I don't think I can make a pretty link in the comments: https://everlastingfabric.com/products/thin-stripe-duvet-cover?variant=43927058809073)
Creative breath of fresh air ✨️ so inspiring ✨️