The sailor trend has drifted back into fashion’s orbit just as our collective mood shifts towards wanting a little more la dolce vita. As I write this, hail is battering my window. So, while Costa del London offers very little hope of me ending up on a tropical island with salty hair, wearing a bikini and a crochet dress anytime soon, embracing the nautical trend does feel like one small step closer to boarding a yacht.
Ahoy, sailor! Shop the trend:
Maritime references have been circling the runway for several seasons now, but SS26 cemented the aesthetic on our radar. On Miu Miu's AW26 runway, Bella Hadid walked in a look that leaned heavily into nautical styling, while Celine, Ralph Lauren and Dior all embraced maritime influences across their recent collections too.
Unlike some runway aesthetics that require a complete wardrobe overhaul, the sailor trend slips easily into pieces you probably already own: striped knitwear, crisp white trousers, navy cardigans, boat shoes and silk scarves tied neatly under the chin or around the neck. Even the colour palette feels straightforward. Think navy, cream, bright white, cherry red and touches of gold hardware.
The cool girls sporting sailor-esque looks on our street style radar appear to be picking one or two maritime references and grounding them with relaxed tailoring, denim or simple summer basics. A striped jumper with white jeans and leather sandals. A sailor-collar dress with chunky loafers. Or a neckerchief tied over a plain vest top, for example.
Ahead, how to to wear the sailor trend for summer.
Breton stripes
There’s a reason Breton stripes return every single summer. Originally introduced as part of the French Navy uniform in 1858, the nautical staple has long moved beyond its maritime roots to become one of fashion’s most enduring warm-weather classics. And if you’re looking to dip a toe into this season’s sailor trend, they remain the easiest place to start.
The appeal lies in their simplicity. You don’t need to lean into full maritime fantasy with anchors, rope details and sailor hats layered all at once - a striped tee already does much of the work for you. Styled with tailored shorts, relaxed denim or white linen trousers, and you instantly have a nautical-inspired outfit.
While classic navy-and-white Breton stripes will never really fall out of favour, this season’s iterations feel slightly softer and more fashion-forward. Chocolate brown, cream and muted red colourways have emerged as favourites among the style set, offering a fresher take on the timeless nautical aesthetic.
Sailor hats
Ahoy, captain! Sailor hats are probably the most playful way to lean into this trend.
The easiest approach is pairing them with otherwise very wearable basics. Think oversized shirts, simple slip dresses, relaxed tailoring or even a plain white tank top and denim shorts. Striped bucket hats feel especially easy for everyday wear because they nod to the nautical aesthetic without looking overly themed. Meanwhile, structured white sailor-style hats add a slightly more fashion-forward finish to minimal outfits during holiday dressing.
Boat shoes
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Boat shoes have officially sailed far beyond their preppy beginnings. Once reserved for yacht decks and East Coast summer wardrobes, the practical leather slip-on has become a favourite among the fashion set - and no actual boating experience is required to justify adding them to your shoe rotation.
Originally designed in 1935 by Paul A. Sperry, the boat shoe was created with function in mind: gripped rubber soles, soft leather uppers and laces designed to stay secure mid-sail. For decades, they were closely associated with classic Americana styling, often worn with chinos, knitwear and crisp shirting.
Now, the style set are wearing boat shoes with relaxed tailoring, boxer shorts, oversized denim and floaty white skirts instead.
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Sailor collars
Sailor collars are perhaps the most overt interpretation of the trend, but they can still feel incredibly wearable when styled thoughtfully. Oversized collars in particular have become increasingly popular over the last few seasons.
For daytime, sailor-collar dresses work well with chunky sandals, loafers or your favourite trainers to balance out the slightly more romantic silhouette. Meanwhile, sailor-collar knitwear feels particularly easy to incorporate into everyday wardrobes because it pairs naturally with denim and tailored trousers.
Navy remains the obvious colour choice here, but softer white and cream versions feel especially fresh during summer months. Polka dots, subtle stripes and cotton fabrics also stop the look from feeling too costume-like while still leaning into that maritime mood.
There's no better way to embrace nautical style than through accessories. Lobster bags, fish-shaped clutches and shell details - popularised by Portugal's fashion set - are possibly the most playful way to add ocean elements to your look. A beaded lobster bag thrown on with an oversized white shirt or simple linen dress is ideal for evenings on holiday. The same goes for raffia fish clutches, best styled with very pared-back outfits: black slip dresses, white co-ords or oversized tailoring.
That’s generally the trick with nautical motifs. Let the accessory be the statement and keep everything else relatively simple.
Neckerchiefs
If there is one accessory that fashion people have fully reclaimed this year, it is the neckerchief. Slightly vintage, slightly nautical and surprisingly practical on windy summer days, it instantly gives outfits a more polished feel.
The best neckerchief outfits are usually very simple elsewhere. A navy knit, black trousers and sunglasses already feel chic with a striped scarf added in. Likewise, plain white dresses or linen co-ords suddenly feel more interesting with a printed bandana tied at the neck.
Fisherman sandals
For Spring/Summer 2026, this vintage-inspired fisherman sandal is reclaiming its spot in the style glossary as one of the ‘it’ pieces of the season. In the right company, these can look just as appropriate for the office as they are on a tropical holiday. Read also, how to style fisherman sandals in a multitude of ways.
Bermuda shorts
Bermuda shorts make perfect sense within the sailor trend because they’re practical. Originally designed for warmer climates - hint, it’s in the name - the longer length offers a slightly more polished alternative to denim cut-offs while still feeling easy and wearable in hot weather.
They also pair naturally with the pieces already associated with nautical dressing: striped knitwear, oversized shirts, simple tank tops and boat shoes. The styling doesn’t need to be complicated either. Linen or cotton styles in navy, white or cream work with almost everything and instantly give outfits that relaxed, coastal feel fashion keeps returning to every summer.
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For more from Glamour's Freelance Fashion Writer, Georgia Brown, you can follow her on Instagram @geeleighbee.
