First spotted on the backs of sailors in nineteenth-century France, the nautical stripe has evolved from military garb to stylish staple in little more than a century. Since then, the so-named nautical stripe has exhibited some survival skills of its own. Its simple design has a beauty and a utility that make it the perfect contrast to more luxe statements—next to bolder hues and jewelry, the stripe is practically spare.
The nautical stripe has become synonymous with legends as diverse as Pablo Picasso and Brigitte Bardot. Black-and-white photos of Beat poets and Left Bank starlets imbue the striped shirt with chic insouciance, and, of course, its ubiquity on yacht decks connotes jet-set glamour. But it is not just the province of the globetrotting avant-garde. Emblazoned on swimwear, handbags and, as always, the simple cotton tee, the nautical stripe evokes a sporty, all-American elegance that works year-round, at sea or on land on the French Riviera to the Hamptons. It is a testament to the nautical stripe’s enduring appeal that season after season it reappears as bright as ever, making it a true Classic. Mix it up with any bold colourful jewelry to make this summer’s must have stripe your own.
xxx Golnaz & Caroline
