breton inspiration via the totally addictive la marinere
my breton striped shirts have made living out of my very limited abroad-wardrobe a breeze. i did a short post on this last year, but now that i've thoroughly road-tested my Saint James shirts that i purchased shortly before leaving for SH, an updated post is in order.
bretons that i've been living in all year: HOPE, Vince, Saint James
however, my 2 Saint James shirts have kept their shape perfectly well, and there has been no pilling, color-loss, or loose threads. very gratifying to see that this historic company is still making a really quality shirt!
a stripe a day...
i love the pink and navy/pink stripe ones especially - the green is also such a cheery color for spring. and of course, the navy/cream is the original, timeless classic.
some of my favorite ways to wear them
the j.crew limited edition Saint James bretons currently available are a slightly slimmer archive version of the Saint James, and i like how the sleeves are more feminine fit. i'm definitely getting one (or two) - now just a matter of deciding on colors...
how do you wear yours? and for the breton junkies out there - how many do you have? :)
I adore the Breton striped shirt, although I have *maybe* one (if it can be called that). I meant to look more seriously at them in Paris, but time got away from me. Perhaps J Crew is the answer!!
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous in them, as always. And if they can survive such horrors of washing machines, WOW!
thanks Catherine! i was really happy when i saw that jcrew started carriny Saint James. and yes, take it from me, if my SJ bretons have withstood over half a year of Chinese laundry machine washing, they're the real deal!
Deletei adore saint james! my first saint james shirt i wore religiously for two years without fail - i don't know the style name but it is cut for ladies because it has a shorter torso, fitted sides and 3/4 sleeves. mine is black and white, and because it is fitted i wear with with everything from wide legged linen pants in the summer to tucked into a wool pleated skirt in the winter. i bought a second as a replacement but since the first hasn't given out yet, i now have two in rotation! i also have a Minquiers in red and white stripe I like to wear with denim or white. there are several more breton stripe tops in my closet - they are the only prints in my wardrobe beside some embroidered pieces I picked up in India - so you could call them a favorite of mine. ps if you are in the US, the saint james in nyc is small but has great selection (they also ship). i think saint james also does some of the best quality wool sweaters and cardigans... :)
ReplyDeleteoooh i know - i love stopping by the SJ boutique in NYC. it has the feel of a family business in the shop. :)
DeleteI always get a little excited when I see a new Foundations post from you!
ReplyDeleteI love breton tops, they're just so easy to wear. I had to go through a few trials and errors before finding one that fit me properly. It's still not perfect but at least it looks good. I was always under the impression that the St James breton tops were a little stiff and never really looked into them. Glad to hear they're actually very soft! The particular Minquiers style you have wouldn't suit me though: straight and with shoulder seams a little past the shoulder, I'll look wider due to my body type! I'm hoping they have different styles so I can invest in one.
aww thanks Christine! that's really nice to hear! :)
Deleteyeah all my bretons are softer cotton ones - i don't like the very stiff cardboardy knit ones. those would be good for actual fishing on the rough seas!
the SJ ones at jcrew this season are a more feminine cut, which may work for you better. i have somewhat broad shoulders for my frame, but i think both SJ styles look good with cuffed sleeves and the right pair of jeans :)
I love these, and currently own two - a 3/4 sleeve black/white with a shorter torso (can't remember the style name!) and then a Minquiers 10 in red/navy blue. I love both but I particularly love the red/navy blue...I would highly recommend it. I, too, am constantly searching for comfortable cotton that doesn't look terrible after a couple washes and you're right - Saint James is the key! So worth the price and possibly the best item in my wardrobe - glad you're enjoying yours!
ReplyDeleteyes! i have the red/navy blue one too! its one of my faves, and i brought it with me to SH too :D
DeleteThat first grey and black v-neck from the left is TDF! Who makes that one, if you don't mind me asking? I love this classic look. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
La Petite Gigi
that's one of my HOPE tops :)
DeleteLa Marinière is indeed addictive. I remember spending HOURS making my collage of my favorite images from it for my own blog. That was fun.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to splurge on a St. James. My current favorites are two I got from Gap, one in classic white and blue, the other in blue and red. It's made of a heavy knit, though, so they haven't gotten much wear because we are in the midst of a VERY hot summer. I also like the first one I've owned, and it's from H&M, made of light cotton in grey and black. It's held its shape well, and is in surprisingly in good shape considering (1) how much I've worn it and (2) it's from H&M.
i know - such an endless inspiration stream!
Deletei have a few H&M cotton basics that are quite well made. i believe mine are organic cotton too!
I'm so curious about Saint James because everyone seems to have nothing but good things to say about them. Definitely a contender if my own Bretons need replacing.
ReplyDeleteI was happy with two Bretons for quite a long time, and added a third last year. I don't need too many to make me happy! Personally I do like them in the stiffer knits because I like a more sturdy look to set it apart from the t-shirt feel. Which means I only wear mine on cooler days.
indeed! they're definitely a no-nonsense heritage brand - and priced quite reasonably for what you get in the long run. i find that the softer combed cotton drapes a bit better on me. either way, hard to go wrong :)
DeleteBeautiful, Miss Sophie! Can you tell if the J.Crew St. James and the original are of the same quality and hand? I have not been very impressed by J.Crew's quality; however, I was planning on purchasing a breton from St. James anyways, and the slimmer fit would probably fit me better (I am petite, with narrow shoulders).
ReplyDeletehi Lilly - the SJ bretons from jcrew are made by Saint James and completely separate from jcrew's house label. as it's a special edition reissue of a vintage Saint James minquiers i think it is the same material (also looks like it drapes on the model similarly like mine fits). let me know which color(s) you end up getting if you get one! :)
DeleteThanks! I bought the navy and pink one. I'll see how it fits, and if it's a winner I'll probably buy another.
DeleteHi, I bought my first one last year, Armor Lux, 3/4 sleeves, 5 colours strips (orange, yellow, red green, and brown ).
ReplyDeleteI also have a non original breton one, orange and olive green.
I like them, and maybe I will buy the one I saw yesterday in the Armor Lux shop: a classic navy one, 3/4 sleeve with a lace yoke.
hah, that photo was from the middle of winter so it was all about utility! :) i totally agree; a stripe is IDEAL for layering and adding visual interest to a look!
ReplyDeleteI wear one from Target - they are a tad young for me so qualify as a trend, not as foundation:).
ReplyDeletestill a classic in my book ;) - Picasso wore them as well as so many icons from the 60s and 70s!
DeleteHi, I love the way you style these.
ReplyDeleteI had an interesting experience shopping at SJ in Paris with my sister. She was surprised when I dragged her there because the shop looks really... "normal" from the outside (nothing screams "buy me buy me"). But like you said, it has that family business vibe inside, and the fitting room is very cute, very nautical. The funny thing is that there were only old ladies and I looked completely out of place haha.
Anyway, I just bought my very first SJ marinière in January and have been wearing it every week ever since. It's the Huitrière II (3/4 sleeves, navy/cream, jersey, with shorter, more fitted torso). At first, I kinda hesitated between this and the Minquiers 10, but considering I don't have enough of thick, warm shirts for the cold European weather (I just moved to Paris to study from sunny tropical Viet Nam), I went ahead and splurged on the Huitrière II and am very glad I did. It's thinner than the men's version, and I don't think it would be too hot to wear in the summer. I prefer it not tucked in pants but it looks good either ways. You might want to consider going one size up (I went 2) if you're buying SJ women's marinière, for a loose fit.
I'm thinking about getting the Levant 10, the short sleeved version of the Minquiers 10, in red/cream.
thanks Xannie! :) SJ is refreshing in a sea of overhyped and under-delivering brands...
Deletei prefer the men's/unisex bretons still because i can get the smallest size and its got just enough slouch. i had a women's breton before and it came a little short in the torso. i do love the slimmer sleeves on the SJ ones currently at jcrew though.
Like everyone else I'm a definite fan of the breton stripe! I currently have four- my favorite being the one from Saint James. I have a kids one and the length is perfect. So much so that I'm thinking of getting another in the navy w/white stripes color combo.
ReplyDeleteyeees i will always enable you to get another breton :)
Deletei love the stripes and you tempt me to get one! fyi, following :)
ReplyDeletebtw, my PS1 is holding up awesomely (and it has been in the rain)! no obvious water marks (i just rubbed at it til it faded into the leather!
girlymd.blogspot.com
ugh I totally bought the wrong one! I have the Naval II and its so stiff and boxy, kind of a masculine cut almost.
ReplyDeleteDesperately want to buy a Saint James - have since I was in Paris last year - but will have to order online as I am currently living in Australia!
ReplyDeleteAll my internationally bought clothes are Euro 38 and US 8, but I am just so worried about sizing online. Also you look so much smaller than me in your photos!!
Can you give any more sizing info/advice?
Thank you :)
I really like the navy/pink stripe brenton. I might have to order that one. Also, I've been reading for a while, but I haven't commented and I wanted to tell you that I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteJust read your entire blog in one day.. I'm addicted to your simple, yet oerfect style. I NEED you make another post soon!!
ReplyDeleteHi, can you let me know what ballet flats are you wearing in the last picture? I like the higher cut of these!
ReplyDeleteHello! I love St. James and was so ecstatic when J. Crew began selling them! I have the white and marine Meridien and the Naval II in red, but I missed out on the pink and green Bretons you have above!!! And they are definitely not on the St. James website. Do you have ANY idea where I can find them?!? I am dying, DYING to have them!!! Someone help!
ReplyDeletelisalunade@gmail.com
Hi, I read your blog regularly a enjoy it a lot. I know this is an older post, but I had a question about the St. James shirts. I recently bought 2 from J Crew (the Meridien) and they both have pilling after only a few washes. It's not severe and I will probably just ignore it, but I am really disappointed as these are expensive shirts that should not do this. I wash them in the machine with cold water and hang them to dry, which is what the washing instructions say to do. I am not hard on these shirts at all. I am wondering what you think of this -- you say yours have not pilled so I am wondering what I might be doing wrong! Or if the shirts have just lowered in quality lately or something. Thanks!
ReplyDelete