Happy Wednesday, Ladies! Today, we are looking at one of the hardest-working wardrobe essentials in your closet: the tee shirt. This essential often gets overlooked because of its utilitarianism. Dress it up or down; a tee shirt can be one of the most versatile items in your closet. Keep the neutrals on hand with white, gray, and black in a crewneck, v-neck, scoop, or bateau neck. But don’t forget stripe tees, especially this time of year.
Did you know the striped tee started life in The French Navy in 1858? The original sailor tee sported 21 stripes, one for each of Napolean’s victories. The distinctive pattern of stripes made it easier to spot a sailor in the sea if, by chance, he fell overboard.
At the turn of the twentieth century, on a visit to the French Riviera, Coco Chanel spied the tee on a Navy seaman and introduced the Breton tee in her 1917 nautical collection. This look was a breakaway from the heavily corseted fashion popular then. Coco initially paired the tee with flared trousers, and a trend began. Women in trousers? Striped Tees? Separates? This outfit seems so matter-of-fact these days, but waaaay back when it took one brave woman to change fashion forever.
And definitely add whimsy to your wardrobe with a graphic tee. They look fantastic underneath cardigans, jean jackets, and blazers.
