What to Wear on a Boat
When you’re heading out to a party on a boat, you definitely want to dress the part. After all, what’s a classy party without a dash of style? Nautical fashion has a long history, and many elements of sailors’ and mariners’ clothing from antiquity have made their way into modern streetwear. Here’s a little more information about marine fashions and what you can wear on a yacht.
Boat Shoes
You’ve undoubtedly seen people on both land and sea wearing the classic boat shoe, a durable slip-on with attractive detailing. Boat shoes were developed in the 1930s by Paul Sperry, whose company still produces boat shoes to this day. Sperry was walking his cocker spaniel and noticed that the dog’s paws were able to grip ice as he walked, keeping him upright.
When Sperry looked at the paws more closely, he noticed little groves and cracks that helped to improve traction, which he then used in the design of his first boat shoe. The rubber sole is notched with a pattern that helps you remain upright when standing on a slippery deck. Treated leather tops are water-resistant and made to last for a long time.
Why Stripes?
Cartoons and movies and photographs of mariners often display them wearing striped shirts, and blue-and-white, black-and-white, or red-and-white stripes still remain popular seafaring motifs, but why?
The French Navy is behind the design of the first striped shirts in 1858. The reason behind the stripes is that they are highly visible against the water, so if a sailor fell overboard, his companions could quickly spot and rescue him from the choppy waves.
The Navy designed a three-quarter sleeved knitted cotton shirt that could fit under the sailors’ over-jackets. Wide boat necks were comfortable and easy to move in. This classic sailors’ shirt is called a marinière, which simply means “sailor” in French, or a Breton shirt, because most of these French sailors hailed from Brittany, a region of northwestern France. Today, many brands still manufacture striped “boat-neck” shirts with three-quarter sleeves in this fashion.
Party Attire Tips
When dressing for a yacht party, you’ll probably want to start with some boat shoes for stability. A striped shirt or a button-down shirt with short sleeves in a fun pattern can be topped with a blazer for a casual yet elegant look. You could wear chino shorts or high-waisted “sailor-style” pants with decorative buttons. A scarf tied around your neck and a pair of snazzy sunglasses for eye protection can complete your look. White, red, and blue are common colors in boating attire, but don’t be afraid to branch out.
If you’re interested in buying your own boat, check out the selection at Snug Harbor Marina, INC. We are located in Ticonderoga and Silver Bay, New York. We also proudly serve those in Albany and Amsterdam, New York.