Nautical Fashion Starts with Blue and White and Horizontal Stripes
Nautical-fashion is among the most enduring styles of summer clothes for women.
This sea-inspired look has two basic ingredients:
horizontal stripes.
blue and white as the basic colors.
Red and Yellow Accents
Brighten Sailor Look
Throw in some red or yellow for contrast. A red-and-white horizontally striped knit shirt, for example, adds pizzazz to a dark-blue suit.Add brass buttons to a navy-blue jacket. The preferred jacket style is double-breasted. A yellow slicker is well-known rain gear for sailors on the high seas. A dash of yellow also adds snap to this favorite among summer clothes for women.
From the High Seas
To High Style
Nautical-fashion has a long history in the annals of style. These colors emerged for sailors as early as the 1850s.The source of the horizontal stripes as a feature of this enduring look are the Breton sailors of France. The yellow slicker resulted from treating canvas with linseed oil to make it waterproof.
Queen Victoria & Coco Channel Popularized Nautical Fashion
Queen Victoria decked her boys in sailor suits, creating instant success for nautical-fashion for civilian wear.Early female sea-bathers, in their bloomer skirts, often featured the middy-sailor collar, with its long square back. Coco Chanel was the next to use nautical-fashion as an iconic style statement. This, of course, brought sailor-wear squarely into contemporary fashion, where it has remained ever since.
Sailors' Dress Whites Made Look Sexy
World War II was the next landmark in the emergence of nautical-fashion as a perennial summer favorite. Enlisted men in their dress whites on shore leave caught the eye of many a fair maiden. “Hello, Sailor,” has become a flirtatious opening gambit to this day. Bell-bottoms, which offer ease of movement for completing shipboard tasks, made a huge comeback in the 1970s. They are cyclic favorites. The middy blouse was strong throughout the 1950s. It interpreted the sailor’s tunic with its large square shawl collar trimmed with braiding. Many a Catholic girl remembers her mother pinning a handkerchief into the deep V.
Yachting Adds Class
The passion for sailing as a leisure pursuit – especially among the wealthy at first – added another page to the history of this ever-popular look.Well-heeled yacht owners – even when they left piloting the cruiser to a licensed captain – favored navy blue jackets with brass buttons like that on naval officers. White slacks or cotton flannels are worn by men to achieve this version of nautical-fashion. Women may wear a knife-pleated white skirt or white slacks. The color, navy blue, has its origin of course in the color chosen by the U.S. and British Armed Forces for officers’ uniforms.
How You Can Be Nautical
Today’s interpretations of the sailor’s striped shirt come in an array of blues and many other colors. They are an especially sharp as summer clothes for women when teamed with sparkling white slacks. Make sure the fabric has some Dacron or Spandex to ensure the fully-pressed look that characterizes sailors’ uniforms. Add some fun to nautical-fashion with red accessories -- sandals, handbag, nail polish and lipstick -- for drama. Appropriate jewelry includes an anchor pin or dolphin earrings.
Do Not Add Medals to This Look
What to avoid: Do not decorate yourself with medals. These are earned for bravery and service by those who serve in the Armed Forces and are not fashion statements.Investing in nautical-fashion for your summer clothes for women wardrobe offers several benefits: - Striped tees and white pants are familiar items easily purchased as separates.
- Slacks and tees are relatively inexpensive and often may be purchased on sale.
- The solid slacks and striped tee are versatile to mix with other outfits.
- Blue, white, and red are colors that look good with almost every skin tone.
- Nautical style is a perennial favorite, so your clothing investment will remain summer clothes for women with staying power.
- Your blue-and-whites go from work to weekend with ease.
Nautical-fashion is one of four classic styles
in summer-clothes-for-women. Red-and-white gingham with country checks,
oh-so-cool seersucker fabric
, and
tropical print dresses and clothing
are other perennially popular summer favorites.
Striped Shirts, Sweaters, & White Slacks Are Nautical Essentials
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