Don’t be scared of STRIPES

They can look a fright — but flatter too!

Worried t hat wearing stripes can make you look like a walking deckchair? if so, you’re not alone. the variety of striped dresses i s vast and the margin for error is terrifyingly wide. but it’s worth making an effort, because the right stripes can do wonders for your figure. remember, you can use horizontal stripes to accentuate width where required, while verticals are both lengthening and slimming. diagonals, when well tailored, can make you look taller and create a smooth silhouette, and mixing stripes can produce useful optical effects, creating curves where none exist.

here, KATHRYN RILEY tries some of the best — and worst — striped dresses on the high Street . . .

Styling: ELIZA SCARBOROUGH Top, £27, phaseeight.com Skirt, £55, heels, £49.50, boden.co.uk EACH of these separates would look great teamed with a simpler item in one colour, but put together they create a jumble of an outfit. The mix isn’t helped by the top, with stripes going...