All things Nautical and Chic. Thames & Hudson collaborates with Beyond Retro.

There is something uniquely appealing about wearing blue and white, sometimes added with a dash of colour, a unique combination inspired by hardworking sailors or fishermen and by life on harbour front, by the coast or on a ship.  Think sailor-collar blouses, brocade-trimmed naval jackets, anchor motif embroidery and the eternally-popular Breton stripe.

The je-ne-sais-quoi appeal of nautical-inspired fashion have for two centuries captured the imagination of designers - from the modernist elegance of Coco Chanel to Malcolm McLaren and  Vivienne Westwood’s punk-fuelled pirates.

Now a new book called Nautical Chic will look at the history of high fashion on the high seas.  Author Amber Jane Butchart, a fashion historian and vintage aficionado, traces the relationship between maritime dress and the fashionable wardrobe, uncovering stories, tracking the trends, and tracing the evolution of the style back to its roots in our seafaring past.   Illustrated with archive imagery as well as contemporary fashion photography, Nautical Chic charts the history of coastal couture.

Nautical Chic, published by Thames & Hudson will be out on March 30^th.

Coinciding with the book, the publisher Thames & Hudson is also partnering with Beyond Retro, the UK’s largest vintage retailer which is launching a Nautical Chic Collection. 

Author Amber Jane Butchart has taken inspiration from the stories of maritime naval officers, sailor-style and designers from John Galliano through to Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, to create an extensive edit of authentic trend-led vintage pieces from Beyond Retro for the Nautical Chic Collection which will be available in Beyond Retro’s four UK stores in Brighton, Soho, Dalston and Brick Lane in London from March 30th, and online.   Prices range from £12 - £58.

If you want to dive deep into the history of nautical fashion, Amber Butchart will be giving an illustrated talk on the subject at Beyond Retro’s store in Dalston on the evening of Wednesday April 22nd.  Guests will be able to shop the Nautical Chic Collection in store and will also receive a complimentary Sailor Jerry’s rum cocktail on arrival. Signed copies of the book will also be available for purchase at an exclusive discounted price. The event is free and begins at 7pm.

Amber Butchart began her career with the vintage brand in 2002, starting on the shop-floor and quickly progressing to becoming the company’s first buyer before setting up Beyond Retro’s archive. She cites Beyond Retro as the catalyst for her foray into fashion history and the Beyond Retro Design Archive also provided a source of inspiration whilst researching Nautical Chic.

Nautical Chic images courtesy of Thames & Hudson.