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Style & Beauty

Perfect stripy/Breton top

26 replies

nuitdesetoiles · 15/01/2021 16:08

I love stripes, like the French look generally but struggle with the perfect stripy top. Can be any colour and white not just navy, reasonably fitted, long enough so it doesn't ride up, either slash neck, v neck, or slightly off the shoulders (not t shirt neck as doesn't suit me) and good quality not too thick material. A lot I've tried are a bit frumpy or poor quality and bag easily. I'm size 8 but with d cup boobs and quite broad shoulders and a long neck. Not sea salt or Boden please...

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StepOutOfLine · 15/01/2021 16:09

Joules are the best quality.

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motherofgod2 · 15/01/2021 16:34

I would disagree. I have a Joules one and it's weirdly tight on the arms and has bobbled a bit. They are a nice thick fabric at first though. Following as I would like to get a better one

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Ellapaella · 15/01/2021 16:45

I have them from Joules and Seasalt but to be honest my favourite and most flattering one is from Matalan,£6!

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plumpootle · 15/01/2021 16:48

I like the sea salt ones

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Whoateallthestuffingballs · 15/01/2021 16:48

I got a lovely one from TK Maxx that is exactly as you described. It's Jaeger.

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supportivemyarse · 15/01/2021 16:51

saint james mariniere. soft, hardwearing, wash well, authentic breton top perfection.

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ArtemisBean · 15/01/2021 16:53

Yes, joules are a bit short on the arms for me and a bit on the thick side. Nicest one I ever had was from Crew.

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caperplips · 15/01/2021 16:54

Surely Boden is the spiritual home of the breton top? I have bought loads there over the years. The quality can be variable in terms of the thickness of the fabric though but they wear and wash well

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Lalalatte · 15/01/2021 16:55

Agreeing with pp to say Joules (am short hence arms are ok for me). V good quality, bought from their outlet shop on ebay.

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Sasuma · 15/01/2021 16:56

Maison Labiche? The material is quite thick so it falls nicely and doesn’t cease. www.maisonlabiche.com/en/97-sailor-shirts

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schmockdown · 15/01/2021 17:00

I like La Resoute. Joules aren't the same as they were they seem to have got thicker and a bit boxy.

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crumpet · 15/01/2021 17:06

Petit-bateau

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nuitdesetoiles · 15/01/2021 17:15

Thank you for all the suggestions so far! Like the look of Maison Labiche!

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NooneElseIsSingingMySong · 15/01/2021 17:22

I have a lovely one from Fat face. The colour is the larger stripe (rather than the white). It’s stretchy cotton and incredibly soft. It’s my favourite to the point as soon as it comes through the wash I wear it again! Not as cheap as some, I dithered over whether it was worth the £30 I paid but it totally was (compared with the Sea salt ones that looked nice but looked tired quickly). Mine is like this but different colours.

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CSJ113 · 15/01/2021 17:56

I have a couple from Baukjen which are very good quality.

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VanillaAndOrange · 15/01/2021 18:01

I have two that I'm particularly pleased with. One (yellow and white) is from Joules, the other one (dark blue and white) is from a brand called Captain Corsaire that I found in a sailing shop.

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Maireas · 15/01/2021 18:19

I can second Maison Labiche! I love a quality breton. Also try La Redoute - I got a nice one from there a few years ago, still looks good.
Also Wolf and Badger?

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Standrewsschool · 15/01/2021 18:25

Crew
[[https://www.boden.co.uk/ Boden]]

Crew Clothing Company, and Boden were the first companies I thought of.

Lighthouse
lighthouse

Not used them but came across this company recently.

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Ruthietuthie · 15/01/2021 21:16

I really love the Saint James ones. They wear and wear.

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nitgel · 15/01/2021 21:22

Baukjen have one on brandalley I quite fancied but sold out in my size www.brandalley.co.uk/16441891.html

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savvy7 · 15/01/2021 21:26

Agree with Jaeger at TK Macx

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Clickncollect · 16/01/2021 09:01

I got a lovely one from Baukjen recently / long enough in the body and arms and really comfortable. I do have a couple of Joules that I used to wear a lot but not worn in around a year. I must have put on some weight or they’ve shrunk in the wash as they felt a bit tight and short!

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BikeRunSki · 16/01/2021 09:14

Joules’ Breton fabric is too thick for me and the arms are too narrow. They also have a tendency to shrink.
Sea salt are too short in the body

Armour Luxe are an “authentic” French brand but pricey.

My favourites (I have many) are from Howies - years ago - and Mountain Warehouse.

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nuitdesetoiles · 16/01/2021 10:37

It's the thick, boxy look I have a problem with in a lot of them, I prefer them to drape and seem more fluid and also v particular re necklines...too t shirt like and they don't suit me which is why I prefer a slash neck.... The expensive ones may be worth it but if not I just don't have the inclination to queue for ages at the post office to return them...I can see from some of the pics they're a tad "boxy"

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Maireas · 16/01/2021 12:05

I think boxy is a fashionable shape, though. My Maison Labiche isn't boxy and is quality cotton. Also have you looked at Wolf and Badger? I've had nice, well cut tops from there. My La Redoute breton looks good and I've had it a few years. Maybe you're best to leave it until the shops reopen, though.

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