It’s nautical but nice at the height of fashion

Jul 23 2007 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

‘All the nice girls love a sailor look’ says Vicky Pepys.

THE Nautical look washes in like the tide year in, year out. It’s a perennial fashion favourite and rightly so; it’s fresh and smart and holiday-ish, whether we’re on actual holiday or not.

It’s also a look for all ages; the more mature labels do nautical to a tee with the traditional sailor stripes, matelot crisp white bottoms and a touch of red to mimic the livery on board.

Fashionista labels have made nautical more “international resort” taking the key elements but translating them to a more daring silhouette with younger styling.

It’s a look that can be sweet and girly as well as jet set and glamorous and is universally recognisably resort wear.

If nautical is just one of your no-go fashion zones, take note that it looks like catwalk designers are seeing its future potential in winter collections.

Looking ahead at the preview pictures of the USA Cruise ’08 collections puts everything we know and assume about this look into a cocked hat. Just wait and see what the American designers can do with nautical when is ‘winter-fied’…

Cruise collections arrive in store mid-December for the coldest months, so nautical for Cruise is translated into warm winter fabrics. The stripy sweater is going to be worn under fleeces; the shades-of-blue dresses with be heavy with gold for evening; navy wool separates worn with white opaque tights and sailor pea coats (Anne Klein)… and the navy heavy wool winter coat will be embellished with brass or gilt buttons (Givenchy and Michael Kors).

Nautical isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but like all fashion, its open to interpretation and above all else, imagination. Winter nautical will be a look worth catching when it makes its transatlantic crossing, as it surely will, or buy now while there’s a chance to get a bargain in the sales; it's so much more than just one season’s wear.