Back to Basics - Stripes (Saint James Meridien Top to be Precise).

Friday 12 April 2013


I have dressed like the proverbial dog's dinner this week. No let me correct that - the dog's dinner has looked better. The daily offerings have been so bad that I have spared you the madness and badness.

But today, I woke up in a better frame of mind, hair freshly done and applied a little bit of makeup (just a smidgeon) to perk up the weary face (George stop getting up in the middle of the night, you little tinker - your mum's face will thank you for it). I even put on a little lip gloss to really push the boat out. Aaah - I feel better. Makeup does actually make you feel better - I'm just too lazy to practice what I preach most days and besides the French do that no make up look really well so I'm in good company really (keep selling it to thyself by way of an excuse).

I was stuck in the house yesterday. I wanted to get out but I couldn't as I was helping a friend with looking after her little one. Two whole weeks and not a whiff of a 3D shop can really get a girl down you know. But there's always that little chink of light to be found in online shopping :o) I can't recommend it enough.

I've been going through the wardrobe and I've actually done a bit of culling. Pat on back for me. I am offloading two bags of clothes to one sister and another bag of clothes to the god daughter. They don't know it yet. One woman's rubbish is another's treasure - right? But I am pleased - a few less clothes to think about not thinking about (think about it)!

So whilst going through the wardrobe and looking through my stripes, I came to the conclusion that I was still missing a red breton. I was missing one last year too when I did a post on stripes so I think that's an argument for my case for a red breton to update my wardrobe. It doesn't have to be a strict red but anywhere between pantone hellboy and pantone ironman is good :o)



I'm thinking red/raspberry will be quite fresh. A nice change from the classic blues and a little bit more funky than a black. I'm taking inspiration from the following : 


(Source: yscegr)

(source: dreamingspiresblog)

And hopefully this inspiration will lead to reality in the form of this :



Worn a little like this - I already have the hand in jeans pocket look perfected. I need to get a new pose - it's getting all a bit Blue Steel (Zoolander anyone? I love that film! Thought provoking it is not, entertaining it is).

Photo Credit : Atterley Road.com


So yeah - that's hopefully the red breton hole filled. I'll keep you posted whether it's a yay or nay when it arrives - I already know the sleeves are way long but hey - what's new?





46 comments

  1. My mother lives in France and has just bought my little boy a red Breton top-haha-he'd be so pleased to know that he's in style! :) Seriously though, I love the red stripes. I love bretons but wish I could find them a little more fitted, a larger bust means that without a tighter fit I just look big all over.

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    1. I think my boys have had every shade of stripe top going bar a red one so I think it might be on the cards for them to have one soon before they start refusing to wear anything I choose for them.

      I have all kinds of fits in my stripy tops but the slouchiness of this one appeals. I think it's because I'm a scruff at heart :o)

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  2. I'm a sucker for a breton so all of the above get the thumbs up from me! xx

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    1. I think it's impossible to look bad in a breton. So thumbs up from me too.

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  3. Great minds think alike! I'm on the hunt for a red breton too. I like the Saint James stripes but I worry whether the neck is wide enough for me - I like a wide boat neck on my bretons. I look forward to hearing what you think of it!

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    1. I look forward to receiving it. I'm a little worried that it might drown me rather than looking nicely slouchy. We shall see but I have a couple of back ups lined up should this one fail.

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  4. I love your poses! My 'outfits' have gone down hill the further through the hols we have got. Looking forward to going back to work for a break :) Love a raspberry breton - I had a longer one, but got called "Where's Wally" by my unforgiving boys so in the charity bag it went. It was the length that did it !

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    1. I never thought of the Where's Wally connotations but now that you mention it :o(

      Hopefully the raspberry shade is off enough to bypass my boys.

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  5. My red breton is on it's last legs (sob!) I need a new one but just can't find the exact same ( neat fit, 3/4 sleeve,nice boat neck, good quality cotton....fussy moi?!!!!) look forward to hearing about yours.

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    1. Well Armor Lux have this one http://www.thenauticalcompany.com/elbow-sleeve-breton-top-red/prod_167.html and this one looks like it has a lovely shape too http://www.bretonshirt.co.uk/ladies/la-chemise-breton.html

      Any of them fit the bill?

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    2. They are both perfect.......will order and report back

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  6. Looks lovely - and will be amazing on you, I can tell already! I also saw a few lovely red bretons in Benetton - narrower striped than this one but lovely fit. I was so tempted so will be back to buy one next month. X

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    1. Ooh - hope you get one to see how you are wearing yours. With boyfriend jeans maybe?

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  7. Oh bugger! Now I need a red Breton ...

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  8. Love it! And I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the St James, I know it's the ultimate classic but have never had one up close to inspect. They're quite heavy-weight, aren't they? I actually love the way she's wearing it in the second photo, love that half-tuck!

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. It's because I'm curious about the quality of the St James or the Armor Lux ones that I thought I'd go for a classic rather than a regular high street stripe - just need to scratch that itch. If it's lovely, it will be a bonus and if it's not, I've seen a couple more which might fit the bill and may be a better fit. We shall see ...

      And yes - the second picture is a winner isn't it.

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  9. They are the best! But i have only ever had a navy one, the red tones look really good though!xx

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    1. I needed a change. I had three blue ones staring at me this morning and I am wearing one now. Red is good. Raspberry is even better ;o)

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  10. I'm loving the red breton, esp the looser fit! Just roll the sleeves up a little.

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    1. I will! I will! That's the easy bit. Let's just hope it works on me that's all. If not .. all is not lost.

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  11. My next red jumper is the other way around but I probably need one of these too, thanks for that Sue, another item on my radar!!

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    1. Your next red jumper is the same as my blue one if I remember correctly. But I think that's my new thing to sort out the red stripes before I can move on to the next fad.

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  12. I'd like a family member to donate bags of clothes to me, especially if you keep buying nice tops like this;)

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    1. I'm afraid my sister doesn't really think that much of my stuff. She goes for comfort all the way so she gets all my old fleeces which I've been trying to wean myself off for the last couple of years. I put a few away and as I've not touched them in over a year, I think they can safely go.

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  13. I agree I need a new colour. I think you have a yellow one featured a while ago and I said I wanted one then, but I also fancy red and this one looks fab especially as it is oversized lol! Can't wait to hear all about it when it arrives x

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    1. It should be here soon .... hope it's worth the wait. What if I don't like it? Will cross that bridge when I come to it.

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  14. Hi there! Will love to see how this one looks, like Sharron I would love a yellow one too as I already have a red/white colourway for summer. Have a good weekend xxx

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    1. I seem to quite like the coloured Bretons. You can't beat the classic navy and white but sometimes a change is good.

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  15. Love this colour option! Hope you get out soon, I've been lucky these last few weeks but now feel like I need some time at home so the exact opposite. I find a spritz of perfume also helps me sometimes, as well as a bit more 'slap' ! x

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    1. I got out briefly on Friday evening but it wasn't enough. I've been out of the house - just not in shops!

      I have to say, I did feel more able to face the world after the little bit of makeup and changing out of joggy bots. You look better, you feel better.

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  16. Nothing wrong with your posing Sue - wish you could teach me a trick or two - just look like a prat when I try it! Like the red/raspberry option - especially with the jeans. Can't believe it's back to school Monday - it's flown by x

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    1. I can only pose in a mirror with me holding a camera. Get someone trying to take pictures of me and I become a total train wreck. I can NOT pose in front of people. Unless I have a prop i.e. small child.

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  17. I bought Lil L her red striped breton top but I also want one. I've narrowed it down to either a Saint James or Armor Lux. Both are made fab and luxurious cotton fabric.

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    1. Well I've got a Saint James on the way so I'll be able to pass judgement on one of those at least. I couldn't decide between getting a slimmer fitting one or a loose fit but I liked the colour on this one so much, I thought it couldn't hurt to try. Besides looser fits means you can eat more.

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  18. I've been on the hunt for a red striped too! Since I already have black stripes and blue stripes.. :)

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    1. I have blue, black and flouro pink and yellow. I think it's time for a red now.

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  19. I got a red one at one point and thought I looked like a candy cane! Haha. I think I just like myself better in darker colors, and I'm sure it will look lovely on you. All of my Saint James bretons have had fairly short sleeves, so you might be in luck! And I'm a fairly petite person at 5'4".

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    1. Where's Wally and candy cane's! Oh no. I can but try though can't I? I think I've done the black and blues to death so I just needed a change for the summer. I've got a feeling that this Saint James might buck the trend and the sleeves be stupendously long though. I had you for about 5ft 7" at least. See - photos can be so deceptive!

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  20. Saint James bretons are nice so I bet it will be a keeper. I recently picked up a red stripe one from Zara, which is 3/4 sleeve with a loose body. I like it, although am worried it might pill - although a good option if you're looking for something a little different?

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    1. I know which one you mean as I saw it in store but didn't pick up at the time - not sure why but it's one of the backups which I might go to if this fails. This one or another Maison Scotch one. I'm sure there's a red Breton out there for me.

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  21. An Ironman referance, a Hellboy-reference AND a Zoolander-reference in one post? Sue, let's just get married right now and get it over with. We'd have the best movie nights!

    The red bretons look really good, I've been looking for one myself but all I can find is black and navy. I found a really nice black one with little zippers on the sleeves this weekend actually, but I had already spent all my money on makeup and a pair of glittery shoes. Maybe for May!

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    1. Fabulous! I'm glad you picked up on the Ironman and Hellboy references there. Whoever the Pantone paint designers were - I think there was a film buff in there somewhere. I remember when the technicians where I used to work named the servers after the characters out of Toy Story.

      And funnily enough, I bought some makeup this weekend. A new lipgloss, an eyeshadow and one of those eyeliner thingy pens where you are supposed to draw little flicks at the corners of your eyes. I've tried with one of those before and failed miserably and threw it in the bin. But 2013 might be the year I crack the makeup stuff. Might be.

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  22. Uniqlo also got red marinières, that's where I got mine a couple of years ago. Still in perfect shape.
    I love how this easily brings a pop of color!

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    1. Aissa, I just had a look but no red ones that I could see this time round :o(

      Not to worry, I've got some backups to investigate.

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  23. haha i'm such a comic nerd, i love those pantone swatches!!! hope you find your perfect one sue :)

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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Susie So So