Fashion

Theo & George shows its stripes in new Breton T-shirt collection

Style File: Backless dresses expected to be most popular debs dress choice

Dublin-based firm Theo & George has released Breton stripe T-shirts for €59

Deirdre McQuillan's face
Deirdre McQuillan
Sat Jul 21 2018 - 06:00

The Breton tee once worn by French fishermen and adopted by the French navy in 1858 is now a universal classic with enduring appeal. Its original 21 white stripes were designed to make fishermen more visible at sea, but now fashion has overcome that function and the tee is more like to be seen on city streets with jeans than on working seamen.

The Dublin-based company Theo & George founded by mother of two Katie O’Riordan is now making a premium version of the tee with a selection of colours launching this month. Carefully designed and well cut, it comes in a premium ringspun cotton for greater durability and comfort and is packaged in a white paper bag printed with all the details of its fit, length, fabric weight, manufacture, sustainability and commitment to slow fashion.

The tee costs €59 and currently – on special offer – if you buy two you get one free plus free global shipping and returns on all orders. Visit theoandgeorge.com for further details.

In demand: backless debs dresses

Back to back for debs

The debs season is upon us and according to Marian Gale, a leading expert on current trends, the latest style demanded from Leaving Cert graduate girl gangs is the backless dress. “I do a survey every year of what I have sold,” she says, “and nobody wants a short knee length dress, nobody wants two pieces and nobody wants too much bling. They want a showstopping floor-length number”, she says authoritatively.

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This dress, exclusive to her, ticks the boxes, has sharp shoulder straps, is split to the thigh with a dusting of diamanté and costs €599. But what about front support for backless? “Open-back dresses have fronts that are more closed in,” she says, “so they suit the bigger or smaller girl and many bigger girls tend to be athletic.”

It comes in sizes 6-16. The most popular colours this year, she adds, are navy and red, closely followed by ivory for summer. Most country schools have their debs in August, Dublin schools tend to be in September and October, so the hunting season for that perfect number is now in full swing.