How to Wear a Striped Shirt: 10 Breton Outfits for Women & Men

Journal · Style · 7 min

The striped shirt is probably the easiest piece in any wardrobe - provided you know how to set it off. Here are ten concrete striped shirt outfits, from weekend to office, for women and men alike, and the one rule that never disappoints.

Ever since Coco Chanel pulled it into her 1917 nautical collection, the blue and white striped shirt has never left the street. Picasso wore one in his studio, Jean Seberg in Breathless, Bardot on the Croisette - and it remains the surest shortcut to French chic. Its great strength: you almost can't wear it badly. But between an outfit that simply passes and one that lands, there are a few formulas worth knowing. Here they are, ranked from most relaxed to most dressed, season by season.

The casual blue striped shirt outfit that works every time, for her and for him: navy striped shirt + straight raw jeans + white sneakers. For women, tuck the hem in just at the waistband to mark the waist, and switch to ballet flats or loafers to dial it up. For men, keep the jeans well-fitted, never too wide, and cuff the hem once. This is the baseline - the one you pull on without thinking on a Saturday morning.

A sharper take on the previous look - and the image that always comes back when you think "Parisian woman". Choose high-waist jeans, tuck the Breton top in to create a high break, and throw a beige trench over the shoulders. The marked waist stretches the silhouette: it is the antidote to "stripes make me look wider". Flat derbies or loafers finish the look effortlessly.

For a more polished striped shirt outfit for women, slip the Breton top into a pleated midi skirt - camel, navy or khaki. The contrast between the graphic stripe and the movement of the skirt is what makes the outfit. Slim heels or ankle boots depending on the season, a structured bag, and you go from brunch to dinner without changing. It is the formula that proves the striped shirt is not just a weekend piece.

Yes, the striped shirt works at work. The key is two words: casual chic. Tuck a fine stripe under a navy blazer, with pleated trousers or a straight skirt, and the whole stays elegant and grown-up. It applies to both: men swap the blazer for an unstructured cotton jacket and sober chinos, grey or beige. The Breton top brings just enough ease to keep you from looking stiff.

"You don't wear the striped shirt for it to be noticed - you wear it so that you are."

The Breton top has a well-mannered side that's fun to push against. A black biker jacket over the stripe, raw jeans, ankle boots, and the polite turns rock. It is exactly the mix Gaultier and the French New Wave were after: a uniform piece subverted, worn with a hint of insolence. Works equally well for women and men.

The simplest way to look dressed without effort: play the blue camaïeu. Navy striped shirt, trousers or skirt in the same register, and let the stripe be the only point of contrast. The result is clean, graphic, and unmistakably French. For men, navy trousers and white sneakers are enough; for women, a navy pencil skirt tips the outfit into evening.

When the heat hits, the short-sleeve version stands on its own. With denim shorts or white linen trousers and espadrilles, you have the holiday outfit par excellence - the one of summers on the coast. A linen midi skirt for her, a well-cut bermuda for him: the striped shirt stays the anchor, the rest fades.

In spring as in autumn, the striped shirt layers. Wear it under an open denim or oxford shirt, or under a light cardigan, leaving the boat neck and the bottom of the stripe to peek out. The depth it adds to the outfit is immediate, and the gesture works the same for both. It is also the simplest way to take the striped shirt beyond summer.

For those who want to break out of the top-and-bottom pairing, the Breton top makes an excellent under-layer. Under a pinafore dress, dungarees or an apron dress, it brings the stripe and the navy note without weighing down the silhouette. Keep the rest sober - a dark denim, a plain knit - so the stripe stays the only graphic note. Sneakers or flat boots to keep it comfortable.

When it's cold, the striped shirt almost disappears - but the boat neck and a few stripes peeking out are enough to sign the outfit. Under a navy peacoat, a wool coat or a chunky crew-neck jumper left slightly open, it recalls the maritime origin of the piece without overdoing it. Dark jeans, ankle boots, plain scarf: the striped shirt's winter is sober and warm at once.

The one rule that matters

Ten formulas, but only one rule to remember: when you mix the striped shirt with another pattern, keep the stripe as the dominant piece. A floral print on a skirt, a discreet check, a touch of leopard - why not, as long as the stripe stays the main voice and the other pattern, a background note. The rest takes care of itself. That's also why the Breton top lasts: it is worn the same way, more or less, whatever your style - and at Gauvain Paris, it is cut from a single pattern that suits men and women alike, with a simple one-size shift. Browse the looks of our women's and men's collections, or discover our story.

Frequently asked questions

How do I wear a striped shirt without looking like a sailor cliché?

Avoid stacking nautical codes (anchor, pompom, captain's hat). Keep the Breton top as the only marine reference and pair it with neutral pieces: jeans, tailored trousers, a plain skirt. The stripe is enough; the rest should stay sober.

How do I keep horizontal stripes from making me look wider?

Choose a fine stripe and tuck the top into a high-waisted bottom to mark a high break. Then play the vertical - dark jeans or a clean trouser - and the horizontal stripe lengthens the silhouette rather than widening it.

Does the striped shirt work as well for men as for women?

Yes. The Breton top was born as menswear and remains truly unisex. At Gauvain Paris, the same pattern serves men and women, with a one-size shift - most of the formulas in this piece work identically for both.

What shoes go with a striped shirt?

White sneakers are the safest call for a casual look. To step up: ballet flats, loafers or derbies by day, slim heels in the evening. In summer, espadrilles or flat sandals.

Can I wear a striped shirt to the office?

Yes, in casual chic. Slip a fine stripe under a navy blazer or a cotton jacket, with pleated trousers or a straight skirt, and the whole stays elegant. The rule: keep only one pattern, the stripe.