The good ol’ Breton striped shirt: it’s long been a wardrobe staple since it came into being more than 150 years ago as a uniform for the French Navy. It began to enter the mainstream after Coco Chanel incorporated the stripes into her 1917 nautical collection.

Just like the trench coat, it is one of the few items of clothing that has stood the test of time, and emerged from its former utilitarian existence to redefine itself as a go-to wardrobe must-have – and become the epitome of Parisian easy-dressing in the process.

One of the most versatile garments for both sexes, it can take you from day to night easily. However, SS17 has offered a bolder interpretation of this famed style, as designers have dared to rework the stripe.

From the so-called post-Soviet street-wear of Gosha Rubchinskiy to the politically charged catwalk of Vivienne Westwood, SS17 was awash with stripes in all shapes and sizes. This season, it’s all about making a statement with clashing stripes to achieve a strong, graphic look.

Even when more is more, a good look still comes down to balance

While it is a calling to abandon some of fashion’s hard-and-fast rules, there are some cautionary roadblocks to avoid. The Breton stripe top is an extremely versatile piece, but probably isn’t the best option for this trend. It’s perhaps too much of a classic and can look clunky if worn with an all-stripe outfit.

For a more contemporary – or strategically mismatched – look, think of ways to balance out your clashing stripes. Vertically striped trousers are a ubiquity on the high street at the minute and are a perfect entry-point into this trend. Try offsetting them with a T-shirt bearing a very fine pinstripe rather than one that is similar in shape to your legwear.

There was a noted return to 1990s power-dressing in the SS17 menswear shows and pinstripe played a key role in this. Deconstructing an all-pinstripe outfit and clashing with a more prominent, thicker, horizontal stripe is key to nailing the ‘new stripe’ trend, as it’s best worn when the stripes are very obviously different widths and directions.

It’s definitely an opportunity to fly in the face of convention, but it’s important to remember that even when more is more, a good look still comes down to balance.

For more info, see darrenkennedy.co.uk