The British royal family was perhaps looking to inspire a feeling of patriotism and national pride when they dressed the young Prince Edward VII, eldest son of Queen Victoria, in a miniature version of the Royal Navy uniform. Queen of elegance at the time, England set the tone and throughout the 19^th century, little boys and girls would be dressed up like junior sailors. At the beginning of the 20^th century, flappers and tomboys would them too, take on the sailor look in wide sailor’s pants and blouses with embroidered anchors.

Paid holidays increased the number of beach and sea devotees and throughout the following decades, the Marines were the winning summer concept.

This shirt, which is part of the ceremonial navy uniform, has inspired the fashion world since its birth and especially Coco Chanel… up to the point of making it a solid symbol of the Navy and the seaside resorts, engraving it in the collective unconscious.

The sailor outfit of young Edward VII 

To shine like a true 20’s tomboy, like Coco in Biarritz in the arms of Boy Capel or Colette in la Treille Muscate in the shadow of her Tropezian garden… The Navy shirt is a safe bet when opting for the allure of a young Proustian girl, honouring the beginnings of seaside leisure and holidays…

The shirt is long enough to be worn as a short dress so just slip into your sandals and run to the beach, or the window, and dream of far-off horizons.