From the classic to colour pop! The cutest Breton tops to buy now, from £9.50

Fashion can be fickle, but it takes time for something to become a true classic. Case in point? The Breton striped top, which has been a classic for more than a century and is now a staple item in almost every wardrobe across the land.

First pioneered by Coco Chanel in 1917, it was inspired by the young sailors she saw around town in one of her favourite summer spots in Brittany. Theirs had 21 stripes, symbolising each of Napoleon's victories, but Coco Chanel was clever – she took the idea of the top, softened the fabric to a cotton jersey and famously wore her version around town with wide-leg trousers and espadrilles, pioneering a boyish way of putting clothes together that was controversial at the time but one we still take inspiration from today. Amazing, really.

Today, Breton stripes are going strong in luxury ways at Chanel, Miu Miu and Rabanne, and in everyday ways at Boden, Next and Arket, in a variety of colourful stripes and varying widths. And while icons, celebrities and royals, from Pablo Picasso to Alexa Chung and the Princess of Wales, might be wildly different in their personal style, they’re united by their love of a Breton top – a truly democratic item!

In our edit, we’ve found the closest to a Chanel classic at Sézane, whose Colette Marinière top has 21 stripes and buttons at the shoulder. Hush offers an upbeat slim stripe long sleeve in red and white, while Arket has a classic red and white crew neck short-sleeve T-shirt (£17). For a more updated feel on the timeless style, ME+EM has a three-quarter-sleeve towelling sweatshirt with a button-up collar (£95).

My personal favourite is Next’s brown and white boxy T-shirt (£18) – brown feels softer for summer than a sharp black and white style, and while it’s the unlikely colour of the summer, its popularity will continue into autumn, too.

If you’re going for a smart/casual look and are at a loss as to what to wear with jeans and trainers, a leather mini skirt with sandals, a long skirt, shorts or a maxi skirt, simply pull out your Breton and go, safe in the knowledge you’re wearing a beloved Chanel-inspired design classic, and one that will elevate your style in an instant.