Summer is finally coming, and with it comes a fresh sea breeze. Now that the nice weather is here, fashion has started turning back to nautical style and cruisewear. Here are some of the staple styles that can help you rock the nautical look:
1. A striped-tee (usually white with navy or black stripes) is a quintessential nautical essential that can be extremely versatile. Sometimes also referred to as a "sailor tee", this shirt draws its origins from part of the uniform of the french navy, but was later adapted and adopted by the general public for its sartorial style and comfort. This casual-but-chic look even made a fan of the great Jean-Paul Gaultier, who immortalized it in his collections and in his perfume, Le Male, assuring its place at the forefront of fashion.
Worn with a scarf (preferably a light one in softer colours, like the pale blue one shown above), it can give you a Parisian chic, making you look like you've just stepped onto a quay in Paris, out for a baguette or a patisserie at a waterfront cafe.
Cinch the shirt in at the waist for a more streamlined silhouette.
The striped-tee also has associations with the labyrinthine canals and waterways of Venice, thanks to their popularity amongst gondolieri, so you know that however you choose to wear the striped tee, you are sure to look like a jetsetting, trendy globetrotter.
2. White: against a perfect cerulean sky, white seems the perfect, pristine choice. At once easy-going and elegant, posh and still pleasantly cool, this colour has been the preppy choice of yachtsmen par excellence.
You can try to break up the uniformity of all-white by adding a flamboyant touch of texture, like a spray of pale flowers on a crisp shirt.
If the thought of that much white seems daunting, then throw in a fun element of riotous colour (like a necklace, scarf or bracelet) as a visual refreshment for the eyes.
3. Espadrilles: for a fun, beachy touch, you can never go wrong with espadrilles. Whether in neutral canvas or a crazy color or print, these sandals offer the lift of high-heels while remaining as comfortable as regular sandals, and are a perennial choice for fashionable summer shoes.
1. A striped-tee (usually white with navy or black stripes) is a quintessential nautical essential that can be extremely versatile. Sometimes also referred to as a "sailor tee", this shirt draws its origins from part of the uniform of the french navy, but was later adapted and adopted by the general public for its sartorial style and comfort. This casual-but-chic look even made a fan of the great Jean-Paul Gaultier, who immortalized it in his collections and in his perfume, Le Male, assuring its place at the forefront of fashion.
Worn with a scarf (preferably a light one in softer colours, like the pale blue one shown above), it can give you a Parisian chic, making you look like you've just stepped onto a quay in Paris, out for a baguette or a patisserie at a waterfront cafe.
Cinch the shirt in at the waist for a more streamlined silhouette.
The striped-tee also has associations with the labyrinthine canals and waterways of Venice, thanks to their popularity amongst gondolieri, so you know that however you choose to wear the striped tee, you are sure to look like a jetsetting, trendy globetrotter.
2. White: against a perfect cerulean sky, white seems the perfect, pristine choice. At once easy-going and elegant, posh and still pleasantly cool, this colour has been the preppy choice of yachtsmen par excellence.
You can try to break up the uniformity of all-white by adding a flamboyant touch of texture, like a spray of pale flowers on a crisp shirt.
If the thought of that much white seems daunting, then throw in a fun element of riotous colour (like a necklace, scarf or bracelet) as a visual refreshment for the eyes.
3. Espadrilles: for a fun, beachy touch, you can never go wrong with espadrilles. Whether in neutral canvas or a crazy color or print, these sandals offer the lift of high-heels while remaining as comfortable as regular sandals, and are a perennial choice for fashionable summer shoes.
