Fashion: Always in style, legend has it Breton tops hark back to beating the Brits
APPARENTLY Breton tops have the number of stripes that they do because when the cotton shirts were adopted as French naval uniform in 1858 it was decreed that they should be emblazoned with 21 white and blue stripes, to represent Napoleon's 21 victories over the British.
Later, Coco Chanel popularised the long-sleeved 'mariniere' top and Breton (meaning 'from Brittany') shirts have been in style ever since.