If there’s one thing that defines nautical style, it’s Breton stripes. Like a woman’s LBD, the evenly interspersed white and navy of this iconic pattern make it a true closet must-have because it can be worn with pretty much anything, provided that you’re skinny enough to pull off horizontal stripes.
But how exactly did our general consciousness come to associate stripes with sailors? It doesn’t take Einstein’s IQ to put two and two together, so the logical answer is that stripes were worn by seamen. Which ones? Well, the story goes like this.
In 1858, French law mandated the naval force to wear striped shirts so that they would be easily spotted in the water in case they went overboard. The design of the knit piece was very particular and displayed 21 stripes, which represented each of Napoleon’s victories against the British.
Slowly trickling down to the working mariner community in Northern France for its practicality, this 19th century innovation was legitimized into the fashion world 60 years later by none other than Coco Chanel herself, who incorporated the aesthetic in her 1917 clothing line after gathering inspiration from a seaside holiday.
After another hundred years from their sartorial discovery, Breton sailor stripes have become a summer fashion staple for both men and women, and have evolved into one of the pillars of chic Parisian style.
Look 1: H&M tee, Zara trousers, Ebel Wave Gent watch
Look 2: Gap tee and shorts, Finlay & Co. sunglasses
Our bi-monthly installment of Fashion Chameleon, a men's fashion and lifestyle blog written by Jim Joquico the founder of La Moda Dubai.