The beauty of the nautical trend lies in its simplicity. Maritime style is timeless and emulates the elegance of European vacation spots on the Mediterranean. Think clean lines, crisp whites, stripes, and navy hues.
While the maritime look is a classic, it is also very on trend at the moment—many designers chose different interpretations of the trend for their summer collections. Let’s take a look at how to get a modern maritime style—with or without a boat!
How to get a maritime look
Achieving a stylish maritime look is very much about the colors you wear. Look for white and navy, and you can always add in a little red. Your pattern of choice should be stripes, and you’re looking for little details like sailor-style buttons on the side of your jeans and pants or the lacing that runs around your boat shoes. It’s about how you wear your clothes too, not just which ones to choose – for instance, throwing a cable knit sweater over your shoulders.
Creating flattering looks
The beautiful thing about the stripes that feature in maritime style is that you can use them to cleverly flatter your figure. For example, choose vertical stripes for an elongating look that can make you look taller and slimmer. Use horizontal stripes on your top half to balance out your figure if you are pear shaped. Or, do the opposite if you have an inverted triangle shape and use horizontal stripes on your bottom half. Looking for stripes that run diagonally is a good choice for most figures.
Brands to get the nautical look
If you do love this maritime style trend, then some good brands to look at are:
When to wear the maritime style trend
The maritime trend is incredibly versatile, making it suitable for various occasions — from casual days to more refined outings. It’s perfect for seaside getaways, summer lunches, yacht club events, or even relaxed city weekends to channel a breezy, polished vibe. Pair striped tops and crisp whites for daytime errands or brunch, and elevate the look with a navy blazer and gold accessories for alfresco dinners or smart-casual gatherings. The key is the styling: keep it relaxed and refined for daytime, and sharpen it with tailored pieces and bold accents when the occasion calls for a more elevated ensemble.
tops
Okay, so let’s get started on a maritime capsule wardrobe and the elements you should choose to create stylish, nautical looks. A Breton or striped top is the classic start to a maritime outfit. Choose a classic striped t-shirt or polo style. A shirt with a horizontal stripe is figure-flattering. Plus, add plain colors in navy or white to mix and match with the rest of your outfits.
J.Crew Ribbed Featherweight Cashmere T-shirt – J.Crew Premium Ribbed Polo Shirt – J.Crew Premium Ribbed Side-button Top – Lands’ End No Iron Supima Cotton Long Sleeve Shirt
Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above shows off an easy, stylish nautical look with a striped shirt and sweater thrown over her shoulders.
Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt, jeans, cardigan, sneakers and backpack.
Jackets and coats
A blazer or waistcoat is the perfect way to elevate your maritime look, whether you opt for stripes or plain colors. Wear a shorter cardigan with wide-legged jeans or pants, or opt for a long cardigan to wear with more casual looks.
Nordstrom Pinstripe Boyfriend Blazer – J.Crew Collared Short-sleeve Cardigan – J.Crew Cutaway Linen Vest Top– J.Crew Juliette Collarless Sweater-blazer
J.Crew Juliette Collarless Sweater-blazer – J.Crew Cutaway Linen Vest Top – J.Crew Slim-wide Jeans – MIAMLE Isandra Sandals – Donna Karan New York Baldwin Shoulder – Monica Vinader Tapered Huggie Hoop Earrings – Jane Basch Designs North Star Medallion Necklace
Jeans and pants
Maritime looks generally feature wider jeans and pants. Choose high waists and use darker denim, white, stripes, and navy.
J.Crew Slim-wide Jeans – Tahari ASL Wide Leg Pants – Nordstrom Luxe Pinstripe Wide Leg Pants – J.Crew Stratus Side-stripe Pants
Cathy @themiddlepageblog above opts for a coordinated look, which could also be worn as separates to create different outfits.
Check out this similar tank top, vest, pants, sandals, bag, sunglasses, and necklace.
Dresses and skirts
Dresses and skirts are an elegant way to embrace the maritime trend while keeping your look feminine and refined. A classic navy-and-white striped dress offers an instant nautical feel, especially when paired with espadrilles or a rope belt. A crisp white shirt dress or a flowy midi in coastal hues like sand, sky blue, or navy adds breezy sophistication. For skirts, opt for A-line, asymmetric, or pleated styles in structured fabrics—think cotton or linen — and pair with a white T-shirt or a lightweight knit.
J.Crew Knit Boatneck Midi Dress – Barbour Abby Stripe Belted Cotton & Linen Shirtdress – MANGO Print Front Slit Skirt – MANGO Asymmetric Stripe Knit Skirt
Nordstrom Nordstrom Crop One-Button Linen Blend Blazer – J.Crew Knit Boatneck Midi Dress – Sperry Crest Vibe Washed Linen Sneakers – HALSTON Tasha Tote Bag – Monica Vinader Tapered Huggie Hoop Earrings
swimwear
And let’s not forget your swimwear. Since a maritime look is most at home at the seaside, it’s perfect for vacation and beachwear. Look for swimsuits in classic navy, white, or red — especially with stripes, gold accents, or rope-inspired details. A one-piece with a belted waist or sailor-style buttons adds elegant structure, while high-waisted bikini bottoms evoke vintage nautical charm. Cover-ups like striped kaftans, linen shirt dresses, or sarongs in crisp white or soft blues carry the look from beach to boardwalk with ease. Finish with oversized sunglasses, espadrilles, and a straw tote.
Lands’ End D-Cup Slender Suit Pleated Low Leg One Piece Swimsuit (plus)- Boden Kasos String V Neck Swimsuit – Lands’ End Cotton Jersey Long Sleeve Hooded Swim Cover-up Dress – Cala de la Cruz Luana Abstract Sarong
Lands’ End Cotton Jersey Long Sleeve Hooded Swim Cover-up Dress – Lands’ End D-Cup Slender Suit Pleated Low Leg One Piece Swimsuit (plus)- Sam Edelman Bay Flat Sandals – Lands’ End Canvas Multiway Pocket Tote
shoes
Even if you stick to an outfit of jeans and a T-shirt, you can add a nautical nod by choosing the right shoes. Opt for boat shoes, sliders, espadrilles, and sneakers. Stripes will go wonderfully with plain outfits, or look for a pair of white or cream canvas boat shoes.
Sam Edelman Bay Flat Sandals – MIAMLE Isandra Sandals – Lauren Ralph Lauren Robby Striped Canvas & Jute Espadrilles – Sperry Crest Vibe Washed Linen Sneakers
Suzie @suzie.richetti above opts for a classic look with white jeans, loafers and a striped blazer.
Steal her look with this similar tank top, blazer, pants, loafers, necklace and earrings.
accessories
Choose white, red, blue, and striped handbags to keep your accessories in keeping with your maritime look. On chilly days, add a striped scarf to wrap around your neck or shoulders. A compass-themed necklace is the perfect way to give any outfit a subtle maritime feel.
Donna Karan New York Baldwin Shoulder – HALSTON Tasha Tote Bag – Lands’ End Canvas Multiway Pocket Tote – Jelavu Brooke Clutch Bag – Monica Vinader Tapered Huggie Hoop Earrings – Jane Basch Designs North Star Medallion Necklace – Nordstrom Printed Wool & Cashmere Tissue Wrap
J.Crew Premium Ribbed Polo Shirt – Tahari ASL Wide Leg Pants – Sperry Crest Vibe Washed Linen Sneakers – HALSTON Tasha Tote Bag – Monica Vinader Tapered Huggie Hoop Earrings
Your maritime style outfits together in one capsule
Below, you can see the maritime outfits we’ve featured together in one capsule, showing how you could mix and match everything to create many different nautical looks.
Continue reading:
- 2025 spring capsule wardrobe with everything you need to create countless outfits
- Mastering the art of spring layering
- The best bathing suits for women over 40 – swim suits that make you feel fabulous!
Do you incorporate any of these elements of maritime style into your spring and summer outfits? Let us know in the comments below.
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Feature image by Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk
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Even though we are going into winter season here in Australia, the nautical looks are able to be worn here all year round.Love the blue, more gentle to my skin colour at 64, even though I like black.
I generally prefer navy blue to black as a core color in my wardrobe as it suits my skin tone better. I scroll right by the black and beige capsules because I don’t think the colors would suit me. This is a beautiful capsule! Thank you.