Nautical Chic

From Chanel’s coastal couture to McLaren and Westwood's punk-fuelled pirates, from Jean Paul Gaultier’s beefcake camp to Tommy Hilfiger’s preppy classics, this is the first and only book to celebrate nautical fashion and all its iconic looks. Nautical style has an enduring sophistication, and this volume is a glorious celebration of its perennial popularity, tracing the history of its trends and impact on the clothes we love. From the beaches of Cape Cod and Nantucket to the yachts of Côte d'Azur, not to mention catwalks everywhere, the nautical look has cut a sartorial swathe for over two centuries. Amber Jane Butchart charts the rise and rise of the nautical influence on fashion over five chapters, each one devoted to an iconic maritime figure. While ‘The Sailor’ explores the undeniable sex appeal of the sailor and ‘The Sportsman’ covers the classic All-American Look, ‘The Officer’ shows how epaulettes, brass buttons and braiding came to be catwalk staples. ‘The Fisherman’ charts how blue-and-white stripes became the choice of style arbiters as diverse as Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Andy Warhol. ‘The Pirate’ concludes the book by tying together Captain Hook, Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen.