The swing of the fashion world away from Americana and toward Italian sensibilities has led to an explosion of bold styling, an experimentation with color and pattern born thoroughly of Continental taste. Yet the Italians shouldn’t get all the love. Overlooked as they sometimes are, the French have been formidable contributors to men’s fashion over the years- it’s no accident that Paris puts on runway shows for men as well as women. France, as a whole, loves striking, memorable design, something that stands out, something that reveals the good taste of the wearer. The pattern we call Breton stripes is drawn from this love of the bold, and to this day it is a worthy choice for any FashionMR in search of a casual statement piece.
The Breton stripe, as its name suggests, originated in Brittany, though not in the way one might think. Though it became a province of France in 1532, Brittany has long maintained an independent streak, perhaps due to its history of changing hands between France and England. This nationalism is exemplified by the Brittany flag: instead of a colorful design, it is starkly black and white, black stripes on a white background, with a canton like ermine fur in the upper-left corner.
Though originating in Brittany, the Breton stripe became completely French in 1858, when an Act of France designated that white shirts with black stripes would be the official upper garment of sailors in the French Navy. As so often happens with military wear, what started on seamen soon grew ubiquitous among all sailors and mariners, and then became just as commonplace on land. In the 1950’s it crossed the Atlantic through the efforts of great artists such as Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, and though it has not always enjoyed roaring popularity, it remains to this day a solidly famous garment.
The Breton stripe can be worn as a sweater or a shirt. In both forms, it is always a crewneck, and almost always long-sleeved, in keeping with its maritime traditions. Though typically white with black stripes, navy stripes have become popular, and even red stripes occasionally appear. Some makers even invert the colors, creating black shirts with white stripes. Whatever permutation you select, you cannot go wrong with the Breton stripe shirt or sweater as a casual garment. Wear it indoors in the Winter, and as Spring arrives take it outside with a pair of chinos or some shorts. It is simple, bold, and has heritage- everything a FashionMR could ask for.
