As we soak up these last few days of summer holidays before we start the transition of back to school and back to fall, we find ourselves reaching for the perfect transitional French Essential: the
St. James marinière top
.
This classic Breton striped shirt in blue and white was first introduced in the 19th century as part of the official uniform of the French navy. The striped design made it easier to spot sailors who may have fallen overboard a ship.
St. James is our go to for this classic top. The brand was founded in 1889 in Normandy, France and their first garment was a Breton striped sweater made for fisherman in the region. We love this classic long sleeve shirt as the evenings begin to cool just slightly but we’re not ready to throw in the towel on our nautical-inspired wardrobe just yet.