BRETON STRIPES: An Ode to Coco Chanel

The military has long had an influence on fashion, no matter the locale or the era. It’s no wonder then that Coco Chanel fell in love with a naval look while vacationing by the sea in Southern France, and decided to add the Breton Stripe top to her 1917 collection. The rest is history…literally.

So where did the Breton Stripe Shirt come from? Like a lot of French things, the Breton Stripes came from Napolean. The white and blue knit shirts were legally made a part of the French Navy’s regulation uniform for its sailors. The naval top was supposed to have exactly 21 stripes. Like Naoplean’s Arcs de Triomphes in Paris, a concept borrowed from the Romans by the way, the stripes on the sailors’ shirts were to commemerate Napolean’s victories.

With the turn of the century and the rise of Chanel’s influence on fashion, the Breton Stripe became an ode to Chanel, not the 19th century dictator. Stars like Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and even James Dean and Marlon Brando turned Chanel’s Breton Stripe Shirt into a mainstream phenomenon. Even today the look is around and going strong. The staple of many wardrobes, most women and men have at least one Breton Stripe Shirt in their repotoire.

Despite being a common commodity these days, it’s not just like any other trend. These stripes still reminds many of us, even designers, of something rebellious. Just as Coco Chanel took the Breton Stripe top & sailor trousers and went against all the ideas of style in her era, designers today are using that same rebelious attitude to turn the wheel of fashion to a new age. Sometimes even using the concept of the Breton Stripe to do so. And so de we, everytime we don our favorite Breton Stripe tee.

On behalf of everyone with a stripe shirt, skirt, dress, or scarf we have to say…. Thank you Chanel for being so sartiorally brave! This is a look we want to keep.

Breton Stripes

The Row Round-frame acetate and metal sunglasses $450, Dolce & Gabbana Striped cotton-poplin tunic $1,045,  Eugenia Kim Sunny grosgrain-trimmed toyo sunhat $415, Solid and Striped The Chloe striped bandeau bikini $175,  Marni Ruck leather-trimmed canvas bucket bag $1,150, Flamingos Striped canvas platform sandals $290

Words by Lindsey Alexander

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