Our guest blogger again this week is Taylor Anderson, Design Assistant at Beacon Hill. In this blog, Taylor continues her exploration of our attraction to the stripe and its place in fashion and interior design.

Taylor Anderson
There is no room for error when it comes to straight lines: the stripe abandons its quiet demeanor, and can’t help but tattle on anything that is not perfectly aligned, measured, sewn, painted, or stretched. Whether it be the strings of our instruments or the frames of our architecture, the importance of precision resonates with those who recognize true quality and craftsmanship.

I find it fun to be on the lookout for stripes in fashion, because the human body is anything but straight! It's always inspiring to see a designer who can flatter the female form while still capitalizing on the impact of a stripe pattern.

Source
I love the way the taffeta in Grace Kelly's skirt appears pieced together, almost like beams of light shooting from her waist. We see a greater sense of circular rhythm coming from her skirt than from the mosiac behind her: like a parasol or pinwheel ready to spin.



Source: The World of Interiors
The broad, hand-painted strokes in this gown allow your eye to take quick inventory of every pleat, tuck and fold. It's the structure in the stripes that reveals her form and the desiger's workmanship.

Zoe Saldana in Armani (Source: In Style
Each bag below speaks a language of sophistication, where less is more, and pattern serves to focus our attention on excellent workmanship. Would we notice such curvature and layering without the stripes to guide our focus? Would this Miu Miu bag look as crisp and sleek?

Giuseppe Zanotti Miu Miu Edie Parker Fendi
And now, we look at some of the most challenging and satisfying uses of the stripe in design: interiors!
We get a sense of austerity and serenity from these meticulously painted stripes. Whereas the flat plane of the wall is a perfect canvas for clean lines, the stripe reciprocates by accentuating the curvature of the shelving and molding. Such a simple motif transforms these small bathrooms into spaces with drama and character.

Source: House Beautiful Source: Lonny

Source: 1stDibbs.com Source: House Beautiful
Note the alignment of each piece on both this bed and the settee. The stripes seem to spill in an endless flow, jumping over spaces or bumps along the way without missing a beat.
But Sampson, steer clear of that pink bedroom!