Congratulations fellow yachters, you effortlessly are the epitome of fashion this Summer! Nautical fashion has been the recent rage all over. From sailor collars to navy stripes, 2022 is the year of the sea. If you want to be part of 2022’s nautical fashion trends, be sure to check out our boutique to purchase Magnum Merchandise here!
In case you missed it, nautical fashion was all over the Spring/Summer 2022 runways. Refreshing as it is, it’s not entirely new: sailor collars and Breton stripes first gained notoriety in the 19th-century war effort, during which there was a growing demand for naval officers. For its contemporary resurgence, designers revisited these then-practical design codes, using them as fashionable flounces for the modern dresser. Think navy wool double-breasted jackets made for combating cold oceanic winds and stretchy cotton pants that, hopefully like the tide, work with you, not against you.
When channeling the voyage-ready trend, there isn’t just one set uniform. Even way back when ruling powers were known to tweak naval regalia. In 1858, Napoleon Bonaparte relaxed the standard militant armor for a casual cotton stripe tee—aka the Breton top. Originally crafted with 21 stripes to symbolize Bonaparte’s military victories, the shirt was used to spot soldiers who had fallen overboard. The Breton top offered an early glimpse at nautical fashion’s casual side, which is exactly what designers are tapping into today.
This sea-inspired way of dressing eventually evolved from its practical premise, lending itself as a wardrobe accent to the fashion elite. The Breton shirt became a staple part of Coco Chanel’s wardrobe, while Grace Kelly adopted the striped scarf for wear around her head. A half-century later, these same motifs have resurfaced via the Spring/Summer 2022 shows. Designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, and House of Aama peppered their collections with nods to the maritime trend via sailor pants, white drop-collars, and sailboat-shaped hats.
Seem outlandish? It’s easier to nail than you’d think. Let the ahead nautical outfit ideas inspire you to test-drive the trend.
1. Layer Up in Style
Nautical outfits aren’t just bound to Mediterranean waterfronts and city escapes. No, it’s an aesthetic you can sport all year long. Bevza’s ocean-inspired, space-dyed sweaters are the blueprint for this. Decorated with sailor scarves and crafted in a ribbed knit fabrication, Bevza proves that maritime style can be transeasonal when rendered in the right textures. If you’re unable to shake off your wanderlust for far-off shores as fall approaches (been there), we suggest matching Arch 4’s Navy Ribbed Cashmere with Zara’s relaxed culottes. The fine-gauge knit will keep you comfortable from dawn ’til dusk, making it the perfect nautical outfit for a beachside walk to the ice-cream shop.
2. The Sea Is Calling
Nothing says “off-shore escape” quite like a kitschy motif—which Rosie Assoulin proved in its Spring/Summer 2022 collection. Wear the nautical outfit in its original, midi-dress format, or recreate it with some equally eye-catching swimwear, like Karl Colletto’s Basics swimsuit with a Rosie Assoulin scallop skirt, which promises a polished look whether you’re lying by the sea or heading into town for an al fresco lunch. Plus, with swimwear as your base layer, you can go for a swim at any given moment. After all, isn’t spontaneity what summer is all about?
3. Minimalist at Sea
It’s a common misconception that bold prints are the only way to truly embrace nautical fashion. Vivienne Westwood rejects this—and so do we. The British brand proves you don’t need to sport loud garments to appeal to this aesthetic. Instead, you can opt for muted pieces with varied textures. An easy way to do this is to take an off-white linen wrap dress, a piece that often feels reminiscent of the sails of the boat, and pair it with other fabrications that play off the oceanic theme. For the minimalist, we recommend adding in a pearl necklace and topping off your outfit with a straw hat to anchor (pardon the pun) your look in a vacation-ready feel.
4. Modified Stripes
It wouldn’t be a nautical outfit without at least a few stripes. This season, Rosie Assoulin makes a case for ditching Breton stripes in their chunkier form; instead, working them in a balanced manner throughout. The American designer used a pinstripe waistcoat-duster hybrid to nail the nautical trend from a more nuanced perspective. Recreate the look with a cropped waistcoat, courtesy of Saint Laurent. Its sharp lines and navy color have the same polished appearance as the latter, just in a more casual format. Don it with some sailor trousers and a balloon-sleeved oxford for a sophisticated look that’s sure to impress a date.
5. Statement Sailor Collars
To truly master nautical fashion, incorporate simple accents that do the talking for you. Case in point: the elongated collar. A detail that has become popular in the wake of cottagecore, drooping, pointed collars with gothic stitching speak of misty nights at sea and shandies made for sharing. It’s this dark past that Charles Jeffrey Loverboy tapped into for his Spring/Summer 2022 show.
We promise it’s not all doom and gloom, though: Scandinavian label Ganni’s Chelsea-Collar Knit Cardigan demonstrates a significantly sweeter take on the springtime accent. Boasting a basket-weave design, this top layer offers a textured edge that would pair well with other optimistic pieces, such as a white Isabel Marant skirt and a Loewe bag.
Original article published on editorialist.com