Is it the prestige of uniformity? The ambiguity of androgyny? The memory of Coco Chanel or Brigitte Bardot? Whether made in Brittany or Normandy, the striped jersey epitomises the paradoxes of French elegance: chic yet casual, fashionable yet timeless, classic yet constantly updated.
Name: striped jersey Origins: Brittany or Normandy Close relatives: fisherman’s jumpers, pea jackets and wax jackets Ancestors: the striped vest worn by sailors in the French Navy Stripes: traditionally, 20 ten-millimetre indigo stripes, 20 mm apart Fans: Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Gauthier and many others
Signs of excellence: - double stitching - a Made in France label; even better if made in Brittany or Normandy - excellent-quality cotton, thicker than in a normal t-shirt, for jerseys that keep their shape
By Émilie Guilhen
Copywriter and copy editor in Paris.
