Gauvain Paris · The collection
Women's Breton Shirts
Our women's Breton shirts are French sailor shirts in the true sense: each striped shirt follows the pattern set by the French Navy in 1858, with 21 knitted Breton stripes, a boat neck and heavy 220 g/m² cotton. Two makes to choose from: La Marinière 1858, knitted and sewn in Troyes, France, in carded cotton, and the Marinière Originale, a softer combed-cotton Breton top made in a workshop in Portugal.
Choose your striped shirt for women in navy, ecru, red or green, as a striped long sleeve shirt or a short sleeve Breton stripe top, from XS to XXXL depending on the style. To find your size, see our women's Breton shirt size guide. Free shipping to Europe and the United States.
Women's Breton Shirts
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Le Pantalon Original women
1.349 kr
Women's Breton tops, from the deck to the wardrobe
Born in 1858 as the regulation knit of French Navy sailors, the Breton shirt moved into the women's wardrobe in the 1910s and never left it. It has the rare quality of making a simple outfit look considered, with no visible effort. Our women's Breton tops keep the original codes, boat neck, dense knit, stripes knitted into the fabric, in cuts made for today. For the full story, read the history of the Breton shirt.
Two women's Breton shirts, two places of making
La Marinière 1858 is our flagship women'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 women is knitted in Portugal, in our workshop. Same boat neck, softer combed cotton: this is the everyday striped top, the one you wear all year. The full comparison is in our article on carded and combed cotton.
Long sleeve Breton top or short sleeve striped tee
The long sleeve Breton top is the historic format, with the boat neck and cuffs you roll back. The short sleeve version 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, red or green: choosing your stripes
Navy and white is the classic sailor pairing, the one that works with everything. Ecru and navy softens the contrast and lifts the complexion. Red and white is rarer and bolder, best kept for simple outfits. Green and white, the newest, is the least expected of the four. 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 women's Breton top
A women's Breton top 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. The pattern is shared with the men's cut, only the size shifts by one step. 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.
How to wear a women's Breton top
Tucked into high waisted jeans to mark the waist, under a blazer for a sharper look, or with a long skirt and flats for something softer. The rule that holds across outfits: 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 women's Breton top
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 men's Breton shirts and kids Breton shirts.
