Spring & Summer

How to Rock Side-Stripe Pants

Ladies, start your engines and get ready to rock one of the hottest trends this spring: Women’s side-stripe pants.

Whether you call them racing stripe pants, side stripe track pants, or striped joggers, trousers with a stripe down the side are everywhere. This leg-lengthening look is good news for fashionistas, regardless of your age. Oh, and did I mention they’re youthful?

If you’re ready to give it a whirl, here are my picks, along with some tips on how to wear this trend at any age.

Side-striped pants are part of the athleisure trend we’ve seen over the last couple of years. The thing I like about them for us mature gals is that they’re both comfy and chic. You don’t see too many trends come along that cover both those bases, and that gets me excited.

Black and white side-striped pants for women over 40

Ease Into It with a Classic Sporty Look

Side-striped pants are showing up in stores in all sorts of lengths, cuts, and colors. You’ll find everything from cigarette pants to cut-straight and bootleg styles.

If you like the trend but are worried about looking like mutton dressed as lamb, then I recommend you ease into it with a classic pair like these black pants with a white stripe down the side.

Think about these pants as an updated version of your go-to LBPs (Little Black or Navy Blue Pants).

My advice would be to keep the rest of the look clean and classy with a fresh white t-shirt and ultra-on-trend white trainers, so you don’t distract from the sporty stripe. If you like a more funky look, I have seen these styled with a brightly colored, vertically striped cotton button-down shirt. It’s really different!

Do a Stylish Take on White Jeans

If you haven’t tried them, I strongly encourage you to give white jeans a go. (And yes, you can absolutely wear white pants without looking heavy.) If you have tried them and are now looking for ways to update this wardrobe staple, a pair of white with a side stripe is the perfect solution.

Not only do they give you all the benefits of white jeans – a fresh summer look, a perfect canvas for brights and neutrals, a go-with-everything wardrobe item – a dark stripe down the side is super slimming. This pair has a raw, step hem finish, which makes them a touch edgier.

You can wear them with a black top and casual canvas shoes to keep the black-and-white vibe going or wear them with a bright top.

Blue side-striped pants for women over 40

Look Chic with Polished Shoes and Accessories

While styling side-striped pants for a sporty look is a no-brainer, it’s equally easy to dress them up a little to go out for drinks with the girls or Saturday brunch with the family.

It’s as simple as sticking with a slim trouser cut like that of the pair featured above (they also come in black with a white stripe too, but I love this gorgeous cobalt blue shade) and upscaling it by adding a chic sandal, great bag, and some sophisticated earrings.

What do you think of side-stripe pants? Is this something you can see yourself giving a try?

Shop more side-stripe pants here:

Meet the author

Deborah Boland

Deborah, a former Fashion & Lifestyle TV host and Image Consultant, understands the style challenges women face in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. As the founder of Fabulous After 40, she helps women tweak their chic and embrace fashion with confidence—so they always look and feel amazing.

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