Breton Striped Top

In 1858 it was decreed by French Law that sailors would wear the Breton stripe top as part of their uniform.  The lowly Breton striped top was then elevated from sailors’ backs by none other than Coco Chanel. She wore hers with high waisted, wide leg pants and class. Bags of it. These days the Breton striped top has clothed the backs of many a celeb and become a mainstay in the uniform of the modern day woman.

Now, according to image consultancy rules you should never wear a stripe over a curve. This may be true of a vertical stripe but you can usually get away with a horizontal and they are surprisingly flattering. Fearne Cotton’s stylist used a lot of stripes when the presenter was in her first few months of pregnancy to disguise her bump. Lauren Silverman, partner to the man with the highest waistbands in showbiz Simon Cowell, wore a Breton striped top during her pregnancy as well. Then there’s Kate Middleton – she should be known as the Ambassador for Breton. And if it’s good enough for the future Queen, it’s good enough for us.

Consider your Breton beauty a ‘neutral’ – it will go with absolutely everything: skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans, 7/8 trousers, summer khaki pants, pencil and A-line skirts. Heck, even try it with a pair of denim shorts on the beach this summer. Choose to dress it up with a big statement necklace or add a leopard print scarf for an on-trend print clash. However you wear it, get loads of wear out of it. It’ll do you, and your wardrobe, proud.

See how to wear your bretton stripe top on the Earth, Wit and Style Pinterest