What is la marinière?

What is a Marnière? A marinière is traditionally a long-sleeve shirt with horizontal blue and white stripes. It became the original uniform of the French navy, or the Marine Nationale, in 1858 which is where its name comes from.

Why do the French wear striped shirts?

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.

Which French designer made la marinière famous?

After all, a jersey cotton jumper in a boxy cut is hardly designed to be worn over the pigeon breasted corsets of the turn of the twentieth century. The fame of Coco Chanel’s marinières became widespread and they were sought after luxury items. La marinière was now a unisex clothing item.

Why are Breton shirts striped?

Backstory. 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.

How do you style marinière?

To make the oh-so-easy pairing of denim and la marinière more creative, add some thin jewels, red lips or nails, a big belt, roll the sleeves, tuck/half tuck… Use different colors and shapes of jeans. La marinière has the magic ability to casualize a sexy mini leather skirt or a rock biker jacket.

What do striped shirts symbolize?

In the middle ages, striped clothing began to be a sign of an outcast or someone who needed to be contained: “Servants and court jesters wore striped cloth; so did prostitutes, madmen, and criminals, not voluntarily but by official orders.

Why do the French wear berets?

The beret turned into a symbol of the French resistance when fighting against the Nazi German occupation of France and the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II.

Why are sailor shirts striped?

Sailors used to say that the stripes made it easier to see men who had fallen into the sea. Marinières were made by independent tailors, but eventually were made in navy workshops; army tailoring was a separate duty, often performed by conscripts.

Why do Breton shirts have 21 stripes?

As the name suggests, the Breton, sometimes also called la marinière, is quintessentially French. In 1858, the striped shirt became the official uniform of the French navy. The design featured 21 stripes, which were said to make it easier to spot sailors who had fallen overboard.

How do you wear a Breton shirt?

Team it with a skirt in a contrasting print, or a strong colour, rather than jeans or shorts. Or use it as a layering piece, so that only a slice is visible: a Breton stripe sleeve worn under a short sleeve or sleeveless knit always looks chic.