I had long ago sworn off striped tops as a component of my style, last wearing one many months ago as part of a mime costume. Once I’d entered my 20s, most of them just seemed a little too preppy for the adult version of me—a reminder of my somewhat unpleasant experiences at private elementary and high schools. Neither was I interested in psychedelic, Godspell-style stripes in rainbows of bright hues since I tend to dress more on the understated side. And though I found myself briefly tempted by the striped gamine look, I worried the strong horizontal lines wouldn’t be flattering on my straight-shouldered Shape M body.

Enter Bailey 44’s Kama Sutra Weaved Top, whose entirely fresh take on stripes somehow blends a modern graphic polish with flattering draping inspired by this summer’s Grecian trends. The jersey fabric is striped in a mix of neutrals, and although the lines are strictly horizontal in back, the front interlaces strips of material diagonally, forming a forgiving weave that slims the torso. A long seam edged with shirring runs down the center, pulling the eye in from the shoulders and accentuating a proportionally smaller waist. The effect is sleek without being so clingy that it reveals you just ate more for lunch than a handful of almonds, and the curved front hem continues the attractive angled lines of the design.

Surprise, surprise: I love this top. It’s enough to make me completely reconsider my aversion to stripes. I’m realizing that even a horizontally striped tank could look great on a strong-shouldered M or Y shape as long as it has a V or scoop rather than a bateau or crew neckline. So maybe it’s time to abandon my bias against stripes and welcome them into my wardrobe in one or two of their modern incarnations.