Contrast-Collar Striped Long Sleeve Top and Shorts Set

About this piece

The collar is the point of this one. It is cut from a solid block of colour and set against a fine stripe, which gives the top a neat, almost shirt-like neckline while the body stays soft and unstructured. The shorts match the stripe rather than the collar, so the set reads as one idea with a deliberate interruption rather than a full pattern repeat.

Fabric and feel

A fine-gauge striped jersey with a smooth surface and a light hand — the kind of cloth that feels cool when you put it on and stays that way. It has moderate stretch across the width but very little vertically, which is what keeps the stripe from stretching out of line across the shoulder. The collar is a firmer rib so it stands on its own and holds its shape around the neck wash after wash.

Cut and fit

The top is cut straight with a slightly wider shoulder and a long sleeve finished with a narrow ribbed cuff, which you can push up to the elbow without it springing back. It finishes on the hip, comfortably over the waistband of the shorts, so there is no gap to keep pulling at. The shorts are mid-thigh with a soft waistband and a working drawstring, cut a touch wider through the leg than a fitted running short.

Stripes, collars, and lines that hold

Horizontal stripes twist when fabric is cut off-grain, and a twisted stripe is the fastest way to make a garment look cheap. Each panel here is cut square to the stripe and rested before sewing, so the lines stay level across the chest. The contrast collar is then set by hand rather than run through a folder, which is slower but keeps the neckline circle true instead of slightly oval after the first wash.

Sizing notes from the studio

Model is 172 cm and wears S. The set runs true to size with a comfortable rather than oversized body, so take your usual size unless you want the top loose, in which case go up one. The collar sits close, so if you have a wider neck or prefer room at the throat, sizing up also gives you roughly two more centimetres around the collar band. Sleeves are cut long; a single turn at the cuff sits on the wrist.

Specifications

Set includes	Striped long-sleeve contrast-collar top and drawstring shorts
Top	Straight body, solid contrast collar, ribbed cuffs, hip length
Shorts	Mid-thigh, soft waistband with working drawstring
Fabric	Fine-gauge striped jersey with moderate width stretch
Sizes	S, M, L, XL — flat measurements in the size chart
Colours	Green, Navy, Red

How we would wear it

1. Neat but not formal

   Wear the collar as the only detail and keep everything else plain.

2. Push the sleeves

   Push both cuffs to the elbow for a shorter line over the shorts.

3. Two pieces apart

   The top under a trench coat with tailored trousers works as well as the set.

4. Weekend set

   Add low-profile trainers and a canvas cap; the stripe carries the outfit.

In the box

• 1 x contrast-collar striped long-sleeve top
• 1 x striped drawstring shorts

Care

Wash cold and inside out to protect the stripe and the contrast collar, and do not leave the set soaking. Line dry in the shade — direct sun will fade the collar faster than the striped body, which is exactly the mismatch you do not want. Press the collar only from the reverse with a cool iron. Skip the dryer; the jersey does not need it and heat distorts the stripe alignment.

Questions we get asked