Recently, for some reason, I’ve been obsessed with everything nautical. I don’t know what caused it, but I realized, as I flipped through my various fashion magazines, that my fixation isn’t without warrant.
Obviously, when I say nautical, I’m not talking Popeye or sailor uniforms. There are many sophisticated ways to pull off a simple, airy summer look with this timeless trend. First is my personal favorite: Stripes.
Generally, when going for a nautical look, stripes tend to be thin and have a patriotic color palette. White and navy is the most common, but versions of red and white or navy and red also work really well. Like I said before, though, keep the stripes thin to avoid looking like a candy cane or our nation’s flag. Your top can be long-sleeved, a thin cotton tee, a tank top, basically whatever you — or the weather, in some cases — dictate. Tops can additionally be made of any fabric: Cotton, silk, man-made — stripes can normally work with any fabric.
When it comes to bottoms, less is more in terms of colors. Neutrals are always the best options for nautical outfits. Think khakis, white or practically any shade of denim you could imagine. Concentrate more on the fit of your pants or shorts than what color or fabric they are.
Nautical-inspired looks can, of course, carry over to the beach. This year, Target came out with a plethora of striped bikinis with tiny gold accents perfect for your seaside look, all at an affordable price. Plain navy, white and red also work well paired together or mixed and matched.
If you’re looking for a small dose of nautical flair but don’t want to go all out, accessories are a great option. Try a chunky rope bracelet or anything with a little anchor pendant. Now, before some of you go tying rope around your wrists, that’s not what I mean. Many companies make bracelets out of various materials — like rope — and if done correctly, they can be a quirky way to make a statement. Proenza Schouler did it last season when they made adorable, multi-colored bracelets out of woven climbing rope and carabineer clasps (the metallic ones people often put on their book bags).
Anything gold can accentuate a nautical look. Tiny gold buttons on striped shirts can give you a subtle effect without blinging yourself out too much. A delicate gold anchor, sailboat necklace or small ball earrings are great choices. If you’re not really a jewelry person, a vibrant stripe of red lipstick looks fabulous with any skin tone.
Above all, keep your seafaring look simple. If you go overboard — no pun intended — with accessories or stripes, it won’t be pretty.
