The nautical trend: a fashion editor’s styling guide

It’s time to dig out your Breton stripes and find your sea legs – sartorially speaking, of course. Yes, dear readers – or rather, m’hearties – the nautical trend is back.

As a fashion editor, my in-built trend radar has been picking up signals of a nautical renaissance ever since I spied sailor hats and stripes at the Simone Rocha for Jean Paul Gaultier couture show back in January. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about a duchesse-satin sailor hat that makes the thought of sailing the Seven Seas considerably more appealing.

Then, Marc Jacobs reimagined the Breton tee at his Autumn/Winter ’24 show. And just this month, swimwear label Seabass teamed up with actress, poet and style muse Greta Bellamacina on a collection of nautical-inspired swimsuits and two-pieces.

The accompanying campaign, lensed by Melanie Rodriguez and styled by Rachel Bakewell, sealed the deal for me, as I vowed to have a Nautical Girl Summer at whatever cost. Imagine this one-piece with high-waist jeans, just imagine!

I may prefer life on dry land but I have been a long-time proponent of the trend. My wardrobe already contains a vintage Laura Ashley sailor jacket, some high-waist, extra-wide-leg trousers from Mondo Corsini, and a beautifully crafted sailor hat from Local Woman.

To that, I plan to add a few more Breton tees, the elusive Miu Miu boating shoes (if I can ever track down a pair in my size), and a vintage anchor charm. I also have my eye on this vintage sailor collar, to nauti-fy plain T-shirts.

I’m not the only one who will be enjoying a Nautical Girl Summer. Writer and content producer Liv Purvis recently shared a vintage sailor jacket that she’d picked up from Wimbledon Homes and Antiques Fair on her Instagram and on The Fringe of It podcast, which she co-hosts with Charlotte Jacklin.