Following last week’s ode to the classic trenchcoat, as sported by every chic Parisienne that’s worth her salt, yet another Gallic mainstay is in the spotlight this week...

As synonymous with France as l’escargots, baguettes and berets, the Breton (or Marinière top) and its 20-odd stripes have stood the test of time since the style’s birth in 1858. Originating in Brittany (Bretagne, en Français), the white and navy staple was first introduced as the uniform of French seamen, before being adopted by the likes of John Wayne, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, and Brigitte Bardot in the 1940s.

Now, in its myriad adaptations, it reigns supreme as a core fashion piece, central to any capsule closet.



A.P.C.’s long-sleeved style is as close to the original iteration as it gets. A slightly boxy fit from the brand’s Resort 2019 collection, crafted from a mid-weight cotton, it’s a classic that’s designed to make deciphering what to wear nothing short of a breeze.



For an understated, off-duty move, RE/DONE’s slim-leg blue jeans are the ultimate accomplice to keeping it casual. Team with Isabel Marant Étoile’s cream oversized coat to drill home the throw-on-and-go free-spirited message.



Elsewhere (still working with denim, but this time introducing it up top), Levi’s’ faded Original Trucker jacket pairs perfectly with Vince’s crushed velvet midi skirt – which, in its ‘coastal’ blue hue, subtly nods to the Breton’s seaside origins.



Meanwhile, to play with the classic’s horizontal lines, go clash-happy care of Petar Petrov’s pleated houndstooth-check trousers, safe in the knowledge that, in red and white, these palettes were meant to co-habit. Put a cherry on top with BOYY’s compact tote in berry-bright leather to add an extra ‘zing’ of colour to the scene.


Ahoy there, matey! Shop the Breton look and styling edit here:




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