The Sea Shanty Is Ascendant. Here's How to Dress Like the Flyest Sailor on the Ship.

It's official, folks: The world has flipped for the sea shanty. Bolstered by a wellspring of surprisingly delightful renditions first circulated on TikTok, the sea shanty—a style of folk song attributed to sailors working on board large merchant vessels during the mid-1800s—has fully taken over, dominating timelines from port to starboard.

But this week, a similarly nautical revolution was going down on this very site, where in the past few days alone we touched on the transformative power of the cable-knit sweater, a longtime staple for veteran sailors the world over, and the enduring appeal of the peacoat, a bona fide icon of seafaring style if there ever was one. So much so, in fact, that a whole bunch of people are now saying we're singlehandedly responsible for kicking off The Great Sea Shanty Revival of early 2021. (Okay, so no one's saying that. Sue me. It's called creative license.)

Intrigued by the stylistic merits of the genre? You're in luck! So are we. Because, as it turns out, there's never been a better time to dress like a rugged old sea dog. Which means it's time to hop on the bandwagon, baby. No shame in it. And if you've already mastered the best of what #shantytok has to offer, we put together a list chock full of thick, gale-ready knitwear (and a few well-chosen accessories) sure to see you through any storm—on the high seas or the high street—in style.

Hey, if it was good enough for 19th century whalers willing to lose a leg to score their payday, it's sure as hell good enough for you.