Has the Breton striped top finally died?

[imalloutofideas]

I just began to ponder whether the ubiquitous Breton stripe top has finally died a death. Without anyone telling me you can wear whatever you like (obviously) what do we all think?

[LunaTheCat]

No I have heaps stripey dresss and stripey tops. Love them all. Instant chic.

[Blueuggboots]

I love them. Boat neck tops aren't go to as are stripes! But I wear bootcut jeans, so what do I know??

[Blueuggboots]

*are my go to

[RuffleCrow]

I don't get the appeal. Unless your belly is miraculously washboard flat after kids, who wants horizontal stripes there? They make me look pregnant.

[Idontneeditatall]

I see far fewer Bretons now than I did a few years ago

[PaperFlowers4]

They are a classic, but definitely had a moment from late 2000s on, which has already subsided.

Paired with skinny jeans is a stale look, but with the right silhouette a Breton wouldnt exactly look bad, although totally unremarkable.

[Trewser]

A good breton top is a classic and they suit me. Being a slave to fashion whims and being worried that you don't look on trend at the school gate is a recipe for sartorial disaster.

[ZaraW]

Breton's aren't supposed to be remarkable.

[Boireannachlaidir]

There a world of difference between a Breton and one of those ubiquitous stripey non-descript tops. Saying that, the whole skinny jeans look with them is tired...

[ferrier]

Hopefully!

[thetardis]

for those of us old enough to still be crushing on kurt cobain stripe tops (and plaid shirts) will never die :D

[Trewser]

thetardis yes! I've always thought a proper Breton should look more grunge than Kate Middleton

[which1]

So what's the difference between a Breton top and a top that is long sleeved with blue and white horizontal stripes?

As I thought that WAS a Breton...

[thetardis]

i think breton is an uneven stripe.

[Trewser]

No, a breton top is longer, not clingy and has a boat neck.

[Trewser]

And the boat necked, cream and black stripes are super cool and hard to find.

There's a place for a Primark navy and white long sleeve top, but its not a Breton.

[Floisme]

Right now they're intertwined with skinnies in my head. Back in the day when we could actually see that skinnies were pitiless on the thighs, a breton / stripy top (I'm not getting into that argument) helped balance you out. So they stepped up from being an under the radar 'classic' to a fashion staple. The problem is that the only way from there is down. Now the silhouette is changing I can see them slipping back off the radar for a while. Nothing lasts forever. But then nothing stays out of fashion forever either so I'm sure they'll be back before too long.

[Candymay]

I have never heard of this top. I feel ashamed and will look it up now.

[Trewser]

I think you might be over thinking them flo

[TipseyTorvey]

I can't wear them due to huge norks. I feel like I'm missing out on a cultural phenomenon.

[Idontneeditatall]

I disagree trews, I’m with flo on what she says!

[Floisme]

Oh I'm sure I am. But then I enjoy thinking about this kind of stuff.

What I found was that, once I stopped wearing skinnies and no longer needed the stripes for balance, all these other things that I'd overlooked began to annoy me: The stripes were not kind to my post menopausal boobs and jawline; the colours weren't as neutral as I'd thought. And so on.

[Ohyesiam]

My ( admittedly chic) 81 year old mum wears them.
I don’t know if this bigs up her elegance credentials, or puts the Breton down in others eyes. She does have one of the most curated wardrobes I’ve known.

But I do think it features in why I ve never worn them( that and as a pp said, ample norkage).

[LilyJade]

My one posh friend wears Bretons, other than that I see a lot of 60somethings round here in them.

I don't wear them, wouldn't look right with my big chest!!

[evilharpy]

I still see a lot of them around in the Cotswolds. Less so at school pickup.

I had a lovely one from Tesco of all places, it had exactly the right amount of cling, was exactly the right length and had a perfect boat neck. I've never found one I liked as much. My current one is from Boden I think and has a few coloured stripes at the wrists. They are just so easy to throw on with a pair of jeans and a leather jacket and look acceptable.