Jersey shore: go back to basics in style with a long-sleeved T-shirt in a neutral shade
The average Londoner owns 3.3 Breton tops. At least the stats are along those lines, with the blue-and-white striped failsafe as common among capital dwellers as a 4.5 Uber rating.
And yet while the Breton will never fall from favour (despite its Gallic routes, its popularity is cemented in London folklore along with the Ten Bells pub and the half-mile-long escalators at Angel Tube) our favourite stripes are encountering competition.
The heir to the Breton’s throne is a super-soft jersey top in a neutral shade. This might sound uninspiring but the long-sleeved T-shirt is a revelation. Notably, as a result of its hyper-simplicity, we have a top in our midst that is more useful to our wardrobes than anything we’ve seen for quite some time.
I arrived at this discovery during a recent dash around Gap, where the long-sleeved jersey is very much order of the day at the moment. Available in varying shapes - the store offers V-necks, crew-necks and a flattering boater style - the long-sleeved top is replacing the Breton as the thing you impulsively pick up on the way to the till, with the view that “it will be useful”.
Gap isn’t the only one to have noticed the merits of a long-sleeved T-shirt. Cast your eyes around the rails of your favourite basics brands and there you’ll see them - the long-sleeved T-shirt is this summer’s slow-burning hit.
What’s brilliant about this style is its comfort factor. Wearing a long-sleeved jersey is tantamount to wearing pyjamas, making it a great option for long journeys and, of course, hangover days.
It also wins favour on the grounds that it’s the perfect complement for this season’s much-loved slip dress. Wear one layered under a dress with a pair of Gazelles and you’ll have that Kate Moss circa ’94 look down pat.
Similarly, wear a skinny-fit black one - Petit Bateau is good for this - with raw-edged denim and, voila: you’re a young Brooke Shields.
The joy of the long-sleeved T-shirt is its ability to blend into the crowd. This anonymity makes it a dream for those who veer towards a pared-back look. But the purchase of a decent collection of long-sleeved jersey tops also befits those who favour clothes that make a major statement.
Wondering what to wear with that feather-trimmed sequin skirt you bought on a whim during a bout of sale shopping? The long-sleeved T-shirt is the solution. Accordingly, I’d just fill your chest of drawers with variations of the style and rely on your long-sleeved jersey as a sort of emergency kit for “can’t get dressed days”.
To find the long-sleeved T-shirt of your dreams you’ll have to cast your net wide. LA brands James Perse and LNA are a great place to start. Both offer high-quality T-shirts cut in loose, flattering silhouettes.
But fail-safes are also to be found on the high street. Head to Gap for a long-sleeved T-shirt in every shape your heart desires, and to Zara for a low cost version with a bit more personality.
ArticleJersey shore: go back to basics in style with a long-sleeved T-shirtBretonKate MossZaraBrooke ShieldsLong-sleeved T-shirts - in pictures
Karen Dacre heads to staples corner