Breton Shirts
SAINT JAMES Breton shirts for men are rooted in French maritime tradition and are now recognised across the globe. A true symbol of nautical style, the marinière embodies French elegance, proving as popular in Paris and New York as it is in Tokyo. Our designs are available in a variety of cuts, fabrics, and colours, ensuring there is a style to suit everyone.
Crafted in our Normandy workshops, SAINT JAMES men’s Breton shirts combine authenticity, superior quality, and lasting comfort.
Crafted in our Normandy workshops, SAINT JAMES men’s Breton shirts combine authenticity, superior quality, and lasting comfort.
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The birth of the Breton Shirt
SAINT JAMES men's Breton Shirts have travelled extensively and spanned many generations before becoming essential pieces in our casual-chic wardrobes.
Originally, Breton Shirts were worn by French Navy sailors; they became an element of the official uniform from 1858. A decree published that same year precisely fixed the characteristics of the Breton Shirt: 21 white stripes 2 cm wide, and 20 to 21 blue stripes 1 cm wide.
Thick and made from unbleached and indigo yarns, the breton Shirt was worn close to the body. Three-quarter length sleeves that did not extend beyond the fisherman's smock helped avoid the risk of snagging during manoeuvres on board ships. The Breton Shirt was also long enough to cover the sailors' lower backs and protect them from the cold.
The precise choice of the number of stripes remains a mystery to this day. While some lean towards a symbolic explanation—with the 21 stripes corresponding to the number of Napoleonic victories—others have much more pragmatic theories. It is said, for instance, that blue and white stripes were chosen to make it easier to spot sailors who had fallen overboard, or simply that white was too easily soiled and indigo too expensive to choose just one of these two colours.
Regardless, although the number of stripes on SAINT JAMES men's Breton Shirts has changed, they remain an integral part of this garment, which has successfully adapted to changing fashion trends.
The SAINT JAMES men's Breton Shirt: from the Navy ranks to fashion shows
During the 20th century, the men's Breton Shirt became more widespread and gained popularity. Initially reserved for French Navy uniforms, it gradually spread to seaside resorts, driven by the rise of paid holidays. Very quickly, fashion adopted nautical patterns, and SAINT JAMES Breton Shirts appealed as much to fishermen—who appreciated their resistance, warmth, and durability—as to holidaymakers in search of a chic and relaxed style.
While the Breton Shirt first established itself by the sea, it soon conquered the cities and the world of high fashion. As early as 1913, Coco Chanel was inspired by Norman sailors and revisited the Breton Shirt in her Deauville boutique, giving it an unprecedented fashion dimension.
Throughout the century, many artists and personalities contributed to its international success: Picasso, Jean Cocteau, John Wayne, and the Mime Marceau. Great couturiers themselves adopted and reinvented it. Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and Jean-Paul Gaultier made it a key piece of their collections—the latter even transforming the Breton Shirt into an evening gown in 2006.
Today, the men's breton shirt has become an iconic garment, a symbol of French elegance and SAINT JAMES expertise, inheriting a timeless maritime tradition.
Men's Breton Shirts and SAINT JAMES expertise
SAINT JAMES men's Breton Shirts are the result of expertise acquired over 135 years ago, implemented every day by artisans within the brand's workshops.
The Breton Shirt passes through the expert hands of seamstresses who possess precious expertise, essential to the high quality of SAINT JAMES clothing. From knitting to packaging, the Breton Shirt requires 11 steps and 5 days of manufacturing.
Men's Breton shirts then undergo quality control before being ironed, packaged, and shipped. For a single model, 4.4 km of cotton thread is required, obtained from 104 cotton flowers. This human expertise results in high-quality garments that are durable over time and pleasant to wear.
How to wear the SAINT JAMES men's Breton Shirt?
The men's Breton Shirt is an essential piece for perfecting a casual-chic look, and it pairs perfectly with all basics by enhancing them with a touch of elegance and character.
It can be worn with jeans as well as with chinos, or even shorts for a holiday outfit. It is suitable for all seasons: in winter with a pea coat and raw denim jeans; in spring and autumn with slim jeans and a pair of boots or white trainers; or in summer with chinos and deck shoes to complete the nautical look.
Easy to care for, easy to match, and pleasant to wear, the SAINT JAMES men's Breton Shirt is a timeless piece suitable for all occasions.
