If you are here (and I highly encourage you to visit on your computer), the site probably looks a little bit different! That is because my new site is finally here!!!! I looked back on emails and we started working on this at the end of January.
Aesthetically, it was just time. I didn’t mind the structure and flow of my old site. It functioned well and was easy to navigate. So many sites get redesigned and it is hard to find things. I didn’t want that to be the case. I was feeling tired of the colors and branding… and felt like the fonts were looking very 2015 (my last big redesign!). The millennial pink links, etc etc. My blog is still my most important channel and where I spend the bulk of my efforts. I want my site to reflect that!
My biggest challenge to Victoria (my incredible designer) was that I wanted to add more color to the site, but in a way that would feel sophisticated and upscale and also not overboard since I feature a lot of colorful outfits and projects. It was a pretty big challenge if you ask me, and she more than rose to the challenge. I am obsessed. The site now incorporates four colors (my signature green, a burgundy, a mustard yellow, and a cobalt blue).
The {New} Stripe!
Meet The Library, now searchable!
The biggest content change is that we gave the book club page (now “the library”) a pretty big makeover. It may not look like much but the biggest request I have been getting has been a separate search within the books page. This was very complicated on the dev side making it a lot of work for Lisa (my amazing developer who can build pretty much anything). Building in a search separate from the main search is no joke!
It was also a lot of work for me, adding separate author tags for every book (over 7 years of adding about 80 books a year has made this a PROJECT!). Spend some time playing around on this page, I am thrilled with it! This is probably obvious but you have to click on the book to read the description. And just like before, you can filter by genre, and sort by grade (or most recent) to find your perfect book!
The new shop page
We have a new shop page. This is very simple. I am only going to add maybe a couple things every week. An easy place to add my most asked about products. I don’t want to overload you with stuff so this will just be the items I get a lot of DMs about, etc!
More content on the home page
I have been blogging for twelve years and post six days a week so it was important to me to make the site a) really easy to navigate (check out the new pocket menu at the top, it’s so cool!) b) super easy for you to find whatever it is you are looking for, and c) packed with posts so that things don’t get pushed off the home page too quickly. I know that most of you come here once or twice a week, not every day, so that is important to me.
The beauty hub
This is the same as before but I always like to call out that it exists. Here, you can find product order, my exact routine FAQ’s, latest empties, and more. We built this as a direct response to all of the skincare questions on Instagram! Bookmark it: The Beauty Hub!
In closing…
I hope you love the new site as much as I do. I am fully obsessed.
This is also very sentimental. Victoria is one of my first friends through blogging. You may remember her from her vmac+cheese days. We have known each other since maybe 2010, 2011? Back then we used to have phone calls about blogging and how we’d grow our sites (we did a lot of guest posting for each other, haha). When she started focusing on graphic design I hired her to do my rebrand my site from Stripes & Sequins (RIP) to The Stripe back in 2015. I think I was her first blogger site design. Victoria is now going in house with one of her brand clients, so this will be her last blog design. Though, we can’t quit each other, and I don’t see myself ever stopping blogging so I told her to be prepared for me to reach back out in a few years!
Congratulations! It looks great!
Thank you!!!
Congratulations! I just worked on a website refresh for a non-profit and understand how much went in to this beautiful new site. Love it!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! Love The Library and I know that was difficult to do. We appreciate it (and you!).
I am so happy you like it. SO happy with how it looks and functions.
Looks amazing. I love the green. Congrats!!
thank you!
The new site looks so beautiful!! I haven’t fully perused everything yet, but I’m loving what I’m seeing. Congratulations, Grace!
thank you!!!!
looks great! congrats on the redesign! the new library section is my favorite!
so glad to hear it!
Looks SO good, Grace!! Was very excited to see the new look, and the green is definitely you!
Great job!
thank you!
The new site looks amazing, Grace! I am especially excited about The Library. Congrats!
i am so glad! xx
Love your new re-design, esp the library page! What a labor of love!
thank you!!!!
I love it so much, Grace!! Can’t wait to browse all the books in your library. And the little pops of green are so chic!
thank you!
Wow, Grace! The fonts, the monogram, the green!! Fantastic work.
thank you!!!
GORGEOUS and so YOU, Grace! Every detail is fabulous. Congrats on all the hard work!
thank you so much!
Congratulations, Grace- I really appreciate how easy it is to navigate the site while still being chic!
thank you!!!! That was the goal, so this comment really means a lot to me!
Hi Grace! I’ve never left a comment before, but am a longtime reader of your blog. Wanted to share with you that I LOVE this new re-design. It is SO GOOD. I love the colors and the fonts. Looks so sophisticated and luxe. And the Library of course! Amazing work to you and your team for all your efforts redesigning the site. Can’t wait to keep reading and following!
Thank you so, so much! I am really happy with it.
Such a beautiful redesign!! Love it, Grace!
Thank you!
Looks so good Grace! Victoria is such a talent. Can’t wait to explore the new layout.
SHE IS. Thank you friend!
It’s perfect, great work!
Thank you!!!
I love the new site!! Can’t wait to explore the book section more especially since I get my ideas for book club from you!!
Aw good!
Your new site looks incredibly chic!
Congratulations Grace, to you and your designers.
Thank you – really appreciate it!
Congratulations on the new site! It looks great! I love libraries, so I can’t wait to browse the stripe library 🙂 I was actually just thinking the other day about how I wished I could search the bookshelves, so to speak. I know a lot of work went into making that happen, so sending you a big thank you!
Thank you Kate 🙂 🙂
Looks great!
Thanks!!
Looks amazing – love the malachite accents!o
Thank you so much, they’re my fav too!
Everything looks amazing. Congratulations & great job! I’m obsessed with the library page!!! So excited about this as a resource. Thank you thank you!!!
Thank you, I am excited too!
Absolutely love it! The Beauty Hub and Books sections turned out GREAT! I really love how the background of the website isn’t white! So sophisticated yet fun!
Thank you!!!
I love the new site, Grace! The branding feels 100% you. Congratulations on launch day!
Thank you!
Congrats, Grace! I loved hearing about this being in the works on the BOP podcast and the design DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! Amazing! Congrats to you on this new chapter!! Thanks for continuing to innovate and invest – a longtime reader since your sequinned days
Awwww thank you so much Orla!!!
Congrats, the new site looks so good! But this library section is seriously amazing!!!
I am thrilled that you love it!
Your new design is incredible! So chic, yet functional. You’ve been my favorite blog to visit for years, and it’s exciting to see it evolve. Also, sorry to be ~that~ person, but I did notice a typo on the page description for the shop: it says JUST A LIKE STRIPE but I think you probably meant it to be just like a stripe? Sorry, I was a copy editor, and old habits die hard. But, love love love the new look!
gahhhh sorry this is fixed!
This is gorgeous! Congrats
Thank you!
Grace I love it!!!! I loved the former design too; this is even more sophisticated and classy, perfectly you.
Thank you!!!
Love your new site Grace! Congrats! So excited about the library!!
Ah I am so glad!
It looks great Grace!!
Thank you!
The stripe through your blog name in the pocket menu is just – ~chef’s kiss~. And I love how the hyperlinks are cobalt but switch to your emerald green when you hover over them!
ME TOO!!! It’s the little details!!!!
Looks amazing! Congrats!
Thank you so much!
Love the search feature for books!! Design looks great!
Thank you!
I love it Grace! Clean, elegant, sophisticated- perfectly you.
Thank you so so much!
Just popping on to say, site looks soooo good!! Congrats!
Thank you!!!!
Love love love the website! Beautiful job!
Thank you!
Love it! Beautiful, readable and easy to navigate — so often redesigns look cool but aren’t functional. Congratulations to you and your team!
Grace, The new design is fun, classy and easy to navigate. I love the way The Stripe title has solid letters and when you scroll it changes. That’s such a fun idea. She did a fabulous job. Pat
Thank you so much, Pat!!!
Gorgeous! Excellent design and functionality. Pulled open the laptop just to see it in all its glory. Love it!
Looks amazing, congratulations!!
Thank you!
Love the redesign!! Congratulations!
Thank you so much 🙂
Ok, I love it! The fonts, the colors, the layout. Just perfect!
THANK YOU!
Love it! The Library is so well done!
Thank you!
I haven’t looked through the whole site yet, but I love the library. Absolutely perfect!! Thank you❤️ The overall new look is stylish and inviting.
Thank you so much!
OMG I have been reading your blog for a few years now….religiously and I LOVE the look of the new site! It feels so fresh and modern. Truly love all your content.
Ah thank you! That makes me so happy to hear!
The new site looks SO good! I love how editorial yet approachable it feels! Congrats!!!
Thank you so much Meghan, that means the world!