The latest installment of #frenchthings (earlier skincare and net tote here and here!) focuses on another classic – the Breton shirt, also known as a marinière.
A Breton truly goes with everything. I’m sure you have seen these blue and white striped shirts all over! The version I am wearing below has the blue and white reversed from the typical pattern where the white is more dominant. A Breton is a long-sleeved, cotton striped shirt traditionally worn by seamen in the French Navy. Over time, it gained the name Breton because many of the sailors in the French Navy were from Brittany.
The original version also keeps you pretty warm, but now you can also get the shirts in lighter fabrics. I used to think that a Breton was a bit of a cliche of traditional French fashion – sort of like I think of a beret – but they remain immensely popular worldwide. When I went to the Museum of Modern Art’s Is Fashion Modern? last year, a Breton was one of the 111 lasting fashion “items” and trends that was featured – you could even design your own digital version.
ps. A classic French brand known for their shirts, Petit Bateau, is offering a free gift with orders of $100 or more (use code B2SGWP!)
Hey, the Russian Navy have similar thing called “telnyashka” or “body shirt”. They have long sleeve, short sleeve and wife beater versions!
I know! It’s always a question of who came up with it first 😉
It is a popular style here in Florida as well.
I bet it is! It’s something about those seaside climates 🙂