Breton Striped Shirts
Our French sailor shirts slip naturally into any male wardrobe. Pay tribute to the French Navy with a soft cotton marinière shirt or a boat neck top, and modernize your look with our iconic men's work chore jacket.
Breton shirts for men, a wardrobe classic
The men's Breton shirt comes straight from the striped knit worn by French Navy sailors from 1858 onwards. Workwear turned wardrobe staple, it has the rare quality of crossing decades and seasons without ever looking like a costume. Our men's sailor shirts keep the original codes, boat neck, dense knit, stripes knitted into the fabric, in cuts made to be worn today. For the full story, read the history of the Breton shirt.
Two men's Breton shirts, two places of making
La Marinière 1858 is our flagship men's model, made in France in Troyes, the historic capital of French knitwear, and certified France Terre Textile. Dense carded cotton, a crisp hand, deep stripes. Discover how a Breton shirt is made and our collection made in France.
The Original Breton Shirt for men is knitted in Portugal, in a certified partner workshop. Same boat neck, softer combed cotton: this is the everyday sailor shirt, the one you pull on without thinking. The full comparison is in our article on carded and combed cotton.
Long sleeve Breton shirt or men's Breton tee
The long sleeve men's Breton shirt is the historic format, 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 are in the collection above. For warm weather looks, see summer Breton shirt outfits.
Navy, ecru or red: choosing your stripes
Navy and white is the classic sailor pairing, the one that works with everything. Ecru and navy softens the contrast and sits more easily in an office. Red and white is rarer and bolder, best kept for simple outfits. Because the stripes are yarn dyed then knitted, they do not fade in the wash. To match each colourway, read styling your Breton stripe by colour.
Which size to choose in a men's Breton shirt
A men's Breton shirt is worn close to the body without being fitted: the knit is dense, it 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 fits, fabric weights and size equivalences. The pattern is shared with the women's cut, only the size shifts by one step.
How to wear a men's Breton shirt
With raw denim and white trainers for the simplest version, under an unstructured jacket for something sharper, or with chinos and loafers for a coastal feel. The rule that holds at any age: a fine stripe, a clean lower half, and nothing else striped on you. We have gathered ten Breton shirt outfits for women and men you can copy as they are.
Caring for your men's Breton shirt
A 30°C wash on a delicate cycle, a gentle spin, drying flat, never a tumble dryer: those few habits protect the knit and the depth of the stripes for years. The full method is in our Breton shirt care guide. See also women's Breton tops and kids Breton shirts.
