Why are Breton tops striped?
Breton stripes hail from Brittany (or Bretagne) in Northern France, which explains their name. Thick cotton shirts with these stripes became part of the uniform for seamen in 1858, because they were decreed easy to spot in a sea emergency and because the fabric was so hard-wearing.
What color is Breton stripe?
The Breton stripe was the uniform for French seamen In 1858, a government decree said that all seamen had to wear a striped top, designed with a 2 cm white stripe followed by a 1 cm blue stripe and so on. In total, there are 21 white stripes and 21 indigo blue stripes.
Why do Breton shirts have 21 stripes?
The Breton stripe shirt was first introduced in 1858 as the uniform for all French navy seaman in Northern France. The original design featured 21 stripes, one for each of Napoleon Bonaparte’s victories and the distinctive stripes made it easier to spot wayward sailors who had fallen overboard.
What is a Breton top?
Breton tops were first worn as the uniform for the French navy, favoured for their comfortable fit and practicality, as the stripes made the wearer easy to spot in the sea during an emergency.
Why do Breton tops have buttons?
Navy life can be full of perils, and having buttons, toggles and zips means more opportunity to get snagged or ensnared in rigging, fishing nets and other seafaring hazards. And those stripes – surely they make it easier to spot an unhappy sailor who’s fallen overboard into the water?
What is a classic Breton top?
The Breton Striped Shirt: An Iconic French Fashion Staple. If there is one piece that most of us probably have in our closets, it’s the classic Breton striped shirt. This cotton long-sleeved shirt with horizontal blue and white stripes, originally worn by seamen in the French Navy, has become a staple in French fashion …
How many stripes does a Breton top have?
The Breton first came into existence in 1858 when the French navy were given the stripe tops as part of their uniform. The idea behind the design was that the stripes would make any sailor that fell overboard much easier to spot. Each of these tops had 21 stripes, one for every victory by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Why do the French wear striped shirts?
The “Tricot bleu de service courant Marine nationale” (“French Navy Standard Duty Blue Jersey”) is part of Uniforms 22bis and 23. Sailors used to say that the stripes made it easier to see men who had fallen into the sea.
What should a 58 year old wear?
You can wear these basics to work, out to dinner and anywhere else:
- Dark denim, mid-rise, boot-cut jeans.
- Dark denim, mid-rise, straight-leg jeans.
- White jeans (boot-cut or straight-leg)
- Great-fitting pants.
- Black fitted jacket.
- Black pencil skirt.
- Cardigans.
- Tank tops.
Are Breton tops in fashion?
The Breton stripe tops you’ll turn to time and time again The Breton is one of the most enduring fashion items. A legitimate wardrobe staple, it’s a fashion classic in the truest sense of the word; a piece that is guaranteed never to date, is easy to wear, and can be worn all year round.
