5 fun facts about the history of stripes in fashion

For the most glamorous and exclusive party of summer 2016… I Love Disco has chosen STRIPES!

Despite their long history, stripes—whether vertical, horizontal, nautical, or bayadere—have established themselves as a summer fashion classic… and for the 2016 season, STRIPES are back on the dance floor!
Here are 5 fun facts about the history of stripes in fashion:

1. Originally worn by Breton fishermen, the striped shirt became the official uniform of French sailors in 1858. Sailors claimed that thanks to the 21 blue and white stripes, it was easier to find a man if he fell overboard.

2. It was Coco Chanel who transformed the Breton Shirt into a true fashion icon and an essential piece in the collections of the most famous brands, such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Petit Bateau, and Karl Lagerfeld. And that is exactly how fine stripes were glorified in the 1950s!

3. The introduction of colorful fine stripes to the fashion world is due to the South American tradition of the bayadere—dancers who performed in bright, multi-colored striped dresses—and the intuition of Carmen Miranda, which also inspired Salvatore Ferragamo in the creation of his colorful sandals.

4. With Missoni in ’68, stripes were called ‘deckchair stripes’… a reference to beach deckchairs!

5. But when thinking of stripes, one cannot help but mention pinstripes, better known as ‘gessato.’ Made famous by celebrities as early as the 1930s, it became an icon of elegance primarily thanks to the dandies of that period! This highly refined mannish style captured the attention of Yves Saint Laurent, who brought it to the top runways of the late 1960s.

And today it seems that all these stripes are back in fashion… so Discolovers, start looking for the look that suits you best: deckchair stripes? Bayadere? Pinstriped? Nautical? Dandy style?

The choice is yours… as long as it is STRIPED!