Even before Les Bleus won the World Cup soccer championship, sailor stripes were a thing here, but now they’re The Thing. This summer, if you want to feel French in every sense of the word, go with stripes. Sleek mini shift versions are taking the streets, blue and white Place Saint Sulpice (above) or red and white waiting for the Bateau Mouche Square du Vert Galant:
Long and short sleeved tees make a fresh statement on everyone— young or mature, female or male, slim or less so:




They’re available everywhere, but if you want the real deal, made in France with Fair Trade cotton by a company founded in the epicenter of the marinière, that sponsors music festivals and the beautiful replica of Lafayette’s ship, l’Hermione… go with Armor Lux.
Their Paris store 16, rue Vavin 75006 Paris (Phone 01 44 07 00 77) is slashing prices right now and until August 7th:


Check out their website for prices on every possible item imaginable for the whole family and the home. You’ll also find info on the history of the brand and its commitment to sustainability.
http://www.armorlux.com/en/
For the backstory, pictures and folklore (originally worn by Breton “onion johnnies” peddling garlic and onions across the channel in England, it became part of the official French Navy uniform and then sexy androgyne high fashion thanks to Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot and Jean-Paul Gauthier, to name a few…) see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinière
http://www.stylefrancais.com/2017/05/lhistoire-de-la-mariniere-chapitre-1/
Or if you’re not ready to take the plunge, Have a drink at a sidewalk café and people watch and count stripes 🙂
Happy Parisian Summer!
xxxxxx Aliss