Sweater (c/o), jeans, hat, shoes (code “SIMPLYELSA10” for 10% off)

As I sit at the kitchen table on this drizzly, overcast Monday, I’m manifesting a nautical Summer escape by way of wearing stripes and white jeans. It’s pretty much my warm-weather uniform no matter the location (or the forecast). Stripes and neutrals are two things that, no matter what, always remain classic. I’m big on striped summer knits, and I frequently sport lightweight sweaters, but especially on those chilly June days. Also, if you ever find yourself dockside, waterfront winds pack a different punch, and you’re always wishing you had an extra layer! Vineyard Vines always has fantastic size-inclusive sweaters, and when I was perusing their site, I locked eyes on this striped cotton boatneck sweater.

I absolutely loved the warm and light colors and thought it was exactly what I was looking for. I have a navy and white striped cashmere sweater that I reach for often, but I was wearing it into the ground and knew I needed a more durable one, too. So, when this striped cotton boatneck presented itself, I thought “yup. that’s the one!” I find that neutral striped sweaters can be worn a multitude of ways. Arguably, the ways are actually pretty endless (coming from a stripe lover). But my favorite way to style a neutral striped sweater, is with white jeans and a classic summer hat.

When it came to styling it, I found the sweater to be on the longer side, so, skinny or straight-leg white jeans felt like the way to go. I opted for my favorite white skinny jeans and love how they balanced out the length of the knit. If you subtract the hat and flats, this is a super simple look. The hat really adds a fun and summery element to the outfit, and takes an everyday look to an elevated look in a pinch. This fit of this hat is also the best, the interior is adjustable and sits comfortably on my larger head.

To make things feel more sophisticated, I chose a point toe flat in a light-colored leather (comes in wide widths). The pale, neutral blush tone jives so well with the color of the sweater, and makes things feel intentional and pulled together. The best part about styling a neutral striped sweater is that there is no wrong way to do it! Whether it’s with white denim and a couple of classic accessories like I wore, or with shorts, sneakers and a baseball hat, you can’t mess it up. This look is perfect for an elevated everyday out and about or even just at home.

On sizing, I found that the sweater was roomy but still ran true to size for the most part. I am 5’6, it was a little spacious, but I would only size down if you’re in-between sizes. I personally got the xxl which is my normal size!