Medium: Cotton

Date: c.1993

Country: France

Credit: Gift of Antoine Bucher

The marinière, colloquially known as a Breton shirt, was added to the French Navy’s official uniform in 1858. The white and dark blue horizontal stripes were designed to make it easier to see men who had fallen overboard. Over the last 150 years, Breton stripes have become an enduring fashion motif. Jean Paul Gaultier has made the marinière a fixture of his work, using it in his menswear, womenswear, accessories, and fragrance marketing.

Object Number: 2012.56.1