Audrey Hepburn's way of dressing was built from very few pieces: a striped top, slim black trousers cropped above the ankle, and flat shoes she could walk all day in. That's exactly why it still works, and why I build so many capsule wardrobes around a striped shirt. It needs almost nothing added to look finished. These 20 Audrey Hepburn Striped Top pairings run from capri pants and cigarette trousers to skirts, linen and leather, so there's something for work, weekends and travel. Adjust the stripe width, the hem length and the fabric weight to suit your body and your climate. The aim is the feeling of her clothes, not a costume copy.
Stripe Width, Neckline and Who Each Suits
Striped tops look alike on a hanger and very different on a body. Before picking an outfit, I check three details on the top itself.
- Stripe width: narrow, closely spaced stripes look neat and shrink visually on most figures. Wide stripes are bolder and add width, which suits slim frames more than full busts.
- Contrast: black on white is the sharpest. Navy on cream or ecru is softer and kinder to fair or warm skin close to the face.
- Neckline: a boatneck widens the shoulders a little and shows off the collarbone. If your shoulders are already broad, a shallow scoop is easier.
- Sleeve length: three-quarter sleeves are the classic choice and look tidy pushed up. Short sleeves suit summer and layering under jackets.
Fabric weight matters too. A thicker cotton jersey holds its shape and hides bra lines, while thin jersey clings and twists. For a top you'll wear constantly, the heavier one lasts longer and looks better tucked.
1. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Black Capri Pants
If you only try one outfit from this list, make it the boatneck with black capris. A boatneck with narrow black or navy stripes frames the collarbone, and fitted capris that stop at the lower calf show just a little leg above the flat. On a petite frame I'd move the pant hem slightly higher; taller women can go a touch longer. Tuck the top or choose a version that fits smoothly at the waist, because a loose stripe blurs the clean shape. Black ballet flats, a small structured bag in black or tan, pearl studs and classic sunglasses are the whole kit.
2. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Cigarette Pants
Cigarette pants are a step dressier than capris, and they take the same top straight to the office. Choose high-waisted black trousers with a flat front, a clean waistband and a narrow ankle, then tuck the striped top in completely. A slim leather belt helps if your waist disappears in a plain waistband. Watch the fabric: very thin cigarette pants show every pocket lining and crease across the lap, so I go for a mid-weight crepe or a stretch twill. If you're fuller through the hip, a straight leg is kinder than a hard taper. Pointed flats or kitten heels, a top-handle bag and studs finish it.
3. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Cropped Jeans
Dark cropped jeans are the most forgiving way into this look. Pick a straight or gently tapered cut with little fading and no rips, since distressing pulls the outfit toward casual weekend and away from Audrey. Roll the hem once if needed so a sliver of ankle shows above the flats. Black ballet flats are classic; red ones add one point of color without changing the mood. A partial tuck feels relaxed, a full tuck more structured. Curvier figures do best in a mid- or high-rise with a contoured waistband, which stops the back gaping. A crossbody and cat-eye sunglasses complete it.
4. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Wide Leg Trousers
Wide trousers work with this look as long as the top stays fitted. A close black-and-white striped top over high-waisted wide-leg trousers in black, navy or cream gives you a narrow top half against a column of fabric below. Hem the trousers to skim the floor with the shoes you'll wear most, since wide legs that cover the whole shoe swallow your height. Tuck the top fully. With a fuller bust, I'd choose a slightly open boatneck and medium-width stripes; very narrow, high-contrast stripes stretch visibly across the bust. Slingbacks or pointed flats, a structured bag and small hoops finish it.
5. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Pleated Midi Skirt
A pleated midi gives a striped top movement, and the two together look deliberately feminine without trying too hard. Start with a fitted three-quarter-sleeve stripe and a black, navy or red skirt at the natural waist. Fine pleats swing as you walk, but they also add bulk at the hip, so if you carry weight around the middle, choose a skirt with a smooth yoke before the pleats begin. A narrow belt marks the waist. Ballet flats keep it practical, kitten heels make it smarter. Add a top-handle bag and a silk ribbon tied around a ponytail.
6. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With A Line Skirt
An A-line skirt has the shape of classic 1950s dressing, and it suits more body types than almost any other skirt. Tuck a short-sleeve striped top into a solid black, navy or ivory skirt that falls just below the knee. The fabric should be crisp enough to hold the flare but light enough to move; a heavy, stiff cotton starts to look like a costume. If a full circle feels themed, a softer A-line with less volume keeps it everyday. Kitten heels or ballet flats, a narrow belt, pearl earrings and a small frame bag complete it.
7. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Tailored Shorts
Tailored shorts are what I pack for warm city trips instead of denim cutoffs. A navy-and-white stripe tucked into high-waisted shorts in white, beige, black or navy looks neat, and a mid-thigh length with a slightly relaxed leg and pressed pleats keeps it grown-up. For more coverage, Bermuda length gives the same shape. Untucked, a striped top over shorts goes boxy, so tuck it. Espadrilles feel holiday-ready; loafers or flats suit errands. Go easy on nautical accessories, since the stripe already sets the theme. A woven bag, sunglasses and small gold earrings are plenty.
8. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With White Pants
White trousers lighten the whole look for summer. Choose cropped straight-leg trousers or ankle jeans in a substantial fabric; thin white cotton turns see-through in bright light and shows pocket bags. Skin-tone underwear, not white, disappears underneath. A navy-and-white boatneck with a front tuck gives clean contrast. Tan loafers, black flats or low espadrilles set the formality. A straw bag and dark sunglasses suit a sunny day. If bright white feels stark against your skin, cream or ecru is softer and hides marks better on a long travel day. The neutral base lets the stripes lead.
9. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Trench Coat
A trench over stripes is the outfit I'd wear on the plane for a spring city break. Pair a striped top with slim black trousers and a trench that falls around the knee, with enough room to move your arms freely. Beige gives the classic contrast; navy or black looks sleeker. Wear it open so the stripe and the coat's front edges make long vertical lines. Petite women should look for a shorter trench; a full-length one can drown a small frame. Push the sleeves up a little. Loafers or flats in dry weather, low-heeled ankle boots in rain, plus a leather bag and big sunglasses.
10. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Black Blazer
Put a black blazer over a striped top and the shirt becomes office-ready. Wear a fitted or gently relaxed stripe under a single-breasted blazer that sits on your shoulder line and ends at the upper hip, with cropped black trousers below. Push the sleeves up so a little stripe shows at the cuff; it takes the corporate edge off. An unlined blazer with soft shaping drapes over a knit top better than a heavily padded one. Worn open, the jacket creates a long central line. Loafers, pointed flats or low slingbacks, a compact tote and a simple watch finish it.
11. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Cropped Cardigan
A cropped cardigan makes this look warmer and a little sweeter. Layer a black, red, navy or cream cardigan over a fitted stripe so the neckline and a slice of pattern still show, with high-waisted black capris below. Fine-gauge knits matter here; a chunky cardigan over a jersey top bunches at the armholes and loses the clean line. Wear it open, or button only the middle buttons to mark the waist. With a fuller bust, I'd leave it open and choose a lower-contrast stripe so the top half doesn't feel crowded. Ballet flats, pearl studs and a small shoulder bag finish it.
12. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Denim Jacket
A denim jacket is the weekend version. Start with a black-and-white stripe and slim black ankle pants, then add a medium-wash jacket cut to the waist. Keeping pants and shoes black gives one continuous line beneath the casual denim. Roll the cuffs once so the striped sleeve peeks out. A jacket with some stretch and shaping is more comfortable through the arms and bust than rigid denim. Ballet flats keep it classic; clean white sneakers win on a long walking day. A red neck scarf adds color, but then keep the bag neutral.
13. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Red Scarf
A small red scarf is the most packable accessory I know: it weighs almost nothing and changes the whole outfit. Pair a fitted navy-and-white top with black cropped pants and tie a lightweight red silk scarf neatly at the neck. That one spot of color carries the vintage feel. If neck scarves feel fussy, tie it around a ponytail or bag handle instead. Keep earrings small so they don't compete. A soft red lip can repeat the accent, though natural makeup is fine. Black ballet flats and a structured bag keep the outline clean.
14. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Headscarf
A headscarf adds a film-star note, but two patterns near the face need care. Horizontal stripes and a busy print fight each other, so I'd pick a solid scarf or a very small print in black, cream, navy or red. Tie it under the chin or around a low bun, and use a couple of hidden pins if the wind is strong. Wear it with a striped boatneck, high-waisted cropped trousers and flats. A solid scarf matching the trousers gives the quietest effect. Large sunglasses and a structured bag complete it for breezy travel days and outdoor lunches.
15. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Linen Trousers
Linen trousers keep this look cool on hot days, and a fitted cotton stripe holds the shape against all that relaxed texture. Choose high-waisted pants with a straight or gently wide leg in cream, beige, navy or black, tuck the top fully and add a slim woven belt if the waistband needs help. Pure linen creases within the hour; a linen blend creases less and survives a suitcase better. Petite women look cleaner in a cropped or full-length trouser than in an awkward mid-calf. Sandals, espadrilles or light loafers, a straw tote and a wide-brim straw hat finish it.
16. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Leather Jacket
A leather jacket gives the stripe an edge without losing the polish. Layer a cropped black moto jacket over a fitted Breton top, with high-waisted black capris or slim ankle trousers. Keep the hardware minimal; lots of zips and studs tip it into biker territory. Pointed flats soften the leather, loafers firm it up. Faux leather is lighter for in-between weather and often packs flatter. If cropped jackets cut you at an awkward point, choose one that ends at the high hip. Leave it unzipped so the stripes show. A small black crossbody and dark sunglasses are enough.
17. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Pencil Skirt
A pencil skirt makes the stripe properly work-ready. Choose a high-waisted black skirt that follows the body without gripping and ends near or just below the knee, with a back or side slit so you can climb stairs and sit comfortably. Tuck in a fitted three-quarter-sleeve stripe and add a slim belt if the waistband is plain. Ponte knit holds a pencil shape better than thin stretch fabric, which rides up as you sit. If you'd rather not emphasize your hips, a straight skirt is gentler. Kitten heels or pointed flats, a structured tote, pearl studs and a cardigan over the shoulders finish it.
18. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Suit Trousers
Suit trousers bring the stripe into a modern wardrobe with very little fuss. Pair a soft striped top with pleated black or charcoal trousers at the natural waist, falling straight. Front pleats and a fluid fabric skim fuller hips; flat-front stiff wool can pull across them. A fitted top looks sharper, a relaxed one more casual. Hem the trousers for the shoes you'll actually wear: white leather sneakers for errands sit lower than black loafers for work, and the hem should break cleanly on both. A leather belt, structured tote and simple metal watch finish it.
19. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top Under A Sleeveless Dress
Wearing a stripe under a sleeveless dress is a trick I use to stretch one dress across more seasons. Choose a simple black shift or A-line with room through the bodice, and a fine cotton or lightweight knit stripe; a thick top bunches at the armholes. Narrow stripes layer most easily because they read as detail rather than competition. If the necklines clash, a boatneck under a wide scoop sits neatly. Keep the dress at knee or midi length, with ballet flats or low Mary Janes, a structured mini bag and pearl earrings. It adds coverage on cooler days.
20. Audrey Hepburn Striped Top With Culottes
Culottes move like a skirt and wear like trousers, which makes them good for a full day on your feet. Pair a fitted black-and-white stripe with high-waisted black culottes ending between the lower calf and ankle. The waistband should lie flat, and the legs should drop cleanly without excess volume; too much fabric and they look like a skirt that lost its way. Tuck the top in. Petite women may prefer narrower culottes ending just above the ankle; taller women can carry a fuller midi. Pointed flats, slingbacks or low block heels lengthen the leg.
A Week Away With One Striped Top
This look packs better than almost any other because every piece goes with every other. For a week, I'd fold two striped tops (one navy, one black), black capris, white or cream trousers, one skirt and a light jacket. Ballet flats and one pair of walking sneakers cover the shoes. Add a red scarf for color.
- Day one: stripe, capris, flats, the scarf at the neck.
- Day two: the other stripe with white trousers and loafers or sneakers.
- Day three: stripe tucked into the skirt, cardigan or jacket on top.
- Then repeat with swapped tops. Nobody notices a repeated striped shirt.
Stripes That Stay Straight After Washing
Cheaper jersey can twist after a few washes, so the side seams swing toward the front and the stripes start to slant. There's not much to do once it happens, which is why I look for even, straight stripes at the side seams before buying. Wash striped tops inside out in cool water, and on the first few washes keep navy or black stripes away from whites, since dark dye can tint the white bands grey. Dry them flat or over a rail, not on a hanger, so the shoulders don't stretch.
Black Capris and Flats Come First
Audrey-inspired dressing comes down to clean lines, careful proportions and very few accessories. A striped top is the base, and the cropped pants, tailored trousers, skirts and flats around it set the mood. You don't need a vintage replica to get there. If you're building this from nothing, buy black capris and ballet flats first, then add denim, linen, a skirt, a jacket or a scarf one at a time. Each one gives the same striped top a new outfit, at any age or size, in any season, and it all fits into one small suitcase.
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