The Breton shirt, the French striped icon
Discover the full Gauvain Paris collection of Breton striped shirts, gathered in one place, in navy, ecru or red stripes. From the Originale made in Portugal to La Marinière 1858 made in France, find the striped icon that suits you.
The Breton shirt, a French icon born in 1858
The Breton shirt was born in 1858, when the blue and white stripe entered the official dress code of the French Navy. A workwear piece at first, the marinière left the decks for the civilian wardrobe a century later and became one of the few classics people keep for years. This is the full Gauvain Paris collection of Breton striped shirts, from the faithful revival of the naval pattern to the striped knit you wear every day. For the full story, from sailor's uniform to fashion staple, read the history of the Breton shirt.
Two lines of Breton shirts, one striped icon
La Marinière 1858 is our flagship model, made in France in Troyes, the historic capital of French knitwear, and certified France Terre Textile. Dense carded cotton, boat neck, stripes knitted into the fabric rather than printed: it follows the codes of the original naval shirt closely. Discover how a Breton shirt is made and our collection made in France.
The Original Breton Shirt is knitted in Portugal, in a certified partner workshop. Same weight, same boat neck, a softer combed cotton: this is the French sailor shirt for everyday wear, the one you keep on all year. To understand what separates the two fabrics, read our comparison of carded and combed cotton.
Breton shirts for men, women and kids
Our striped shirts are cut in the same spirit for everyone. Browse the men's Breton shirts, the women's Breton tops, and our kids and baby Breton shirts. The pattern is shared across both adult fits, only the size shifts by one step, which makes a Breton top easy to share within a couple or a family.
Navy, ecru or red: choosing your stripes
Three colourways make up the collection. Navy and white stripes, the classic sailor combination. Ecru and navy, softer, easier to wear through the day. Red and white, rarer and bolder. Because the stripes are yarn dyed then knitted, and never printed, they do not fade in the wash. To match each colourway with the rest of your wardrobe, read styling your Breton stripe by colour.
Long sleeve Breton shirt or short sleeve Breton tee
The long sleeve Breton shirt remains the historic format, the one with the boat neck and cuffs you roll back. The short sleeve Breton tee takes over from spring to late summer, in the same knit and the same cotton. Both formats exist for men and women in the collection above. For warm weather outfits, see summer Breton shirt outfits.
Which size and which fit to choose
A Breton shirt is worn close to the body without being fitted: it is a dense knit that should fall straight from the shoulder and leave the boat neck free. If you hesitate between two sizes or between our two lines, our guide to choosing a Breton top compares the fits, the fabric weights and the men's and women's size equivalences.
How to wear a Breton striped shirt
The Breton shirt works in every season: with raw denim and white trainers for an easy weekend look, under an unstructured jacket for something sharper, or tucked into wide trousers for a Parisian feel. We have gathered ten Breton shirt outfits for women and men you can copy as they are.
Caring for your Breton shirt so it lasts
A well cared for cotton Breton shirt lasts for years. A 30°C wash on a delicate cycle, a gentle spin, drying flat, never a tumble dryer: those few habits are enough to protect the knit and the depth of the stripes. The full method, first wash included, is in our Breton shirt care guide.
