Why Stripes Will Never Go Out of Style
Stripes have solidified themselves as a timeless wardrobe staple. They’ve gone from royal dress to sailor uniforms to cabanas and catwalks without missing a beat. But beyond the trends, stripes just feel like summer.
They conjure up beach umbrellas, toes in the sand and that first sip of something cold in the sun. They’re polished enough for a seaside lunch but still relaxed enough for a barefoot stroll to the pool. In short, stripes have been setting the tone for summer style for over a century, and from parasols to linen shirts, it’s clear they’re going nowhere fast.
A Brief History: From Pharaohs to Fashion Icons
So, where did this summery staple come from? It’s fair to say the stripe has had quite the journey.
Some of the very first and most iconic features of stripes in fashion date back to the days of Ancient Egypt, think Tutankhamun’s iconic golden headdress. Called ‘Nemes’, these striped headdresses were only reserved for pharaohs, with the gold stripes representing the sun and the blue stripes the transition to the afterlife.
Fast-forward a few millennia, and stripes found their sea legs in the 19th century, becoming the official uniform of the French Navy. Known as marinières, these blue-and-white Breton shirts weren’t just stylish, they were also clever, designed to help spot sailors at sea. It wasn’t long before the look set sail beyond the deck and onto dry land, popping up in seaside resorts and beach clubs, cementing its status as the ultimate symbol of nautical chic.
Resorts weren’t the only ones to fall in love with the Breton stripe. While holidaying on the French Riviera, Coco Chanel spotted the design and brought it to her 1917 collection. On a mission to free women from the restrictive clothing at the time and make it more practical, the striped shirt was exactly what Chanel was looking for. Needless to say, it quickly shot into fashion’s mainstream.
In the mid-20th century, greats like Audrey Hepburn and James Dean were seen wearing striped shirts through the media. With fashion trends naturally following what celebrities wore, the striped shirt boomed further.
Today, stripes are as popular as ever, cropping up on SS26 runways at Prada and Armani, and let’s not forget Jean Paul Gaultier’s iconic ‘Le Male’ bottle is still going strong.
Striped Shirts at LOVE BRAND & Co.
We’ve always had a thing for stripes. From pinstripes to chunky candy stripes, we have included stripes in our collections for decades. Our striped shirts are the kind of pieces you throw on without thinking, then end up wearing all summer.
We design our striped shirts to feel as relaxed as they look. Crafted in our 100% linen from Normandy flax, they’re lightweight, breathable, and the stripe offers a timeless charm to compliment easy-breezy summer day in comfort and style.
