Parisian wardrobe basics: the buyer's guide
The Parisian wardrobe is built on a few pieces that have been made the same way for decades and are cheaper bought online than in a Paris boutique. These are the brands, what they are known for, and the sizing traps.
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Saint James and the Breton stripe
The marinière, the striped sailor's shirt, is made in Saint-James in Normandy by the company of the same name since 1889; its heavyweight cotton 'Meridien' is the authentic one and the lighter 'Minquiers' is the everyday version. Armor Lux (Quimper) makes a comparable one at a lower price. Both are cut close and run small; order a size up from your usual.
Petit Bateau
Founded in Troyes in 1893 as a children's underwear maker, Petit Bateau's plain cotton tees, in its signature soft, tightly knitted jersey, are the ones Parisian women wear under everything. The adult sizes are numbered in French years (16 ans, 18 ans) as a joke that stuck; 16 ans is roughly a US small. The striped tees and the iconic 'culotte' underwear are the classics.
Repetto ballet flats
Rose Repetto made shoes for her son Roland Petit's dancers in 1947 and the Cendrillon ballet flat, made for Brigitte Bardot in 1956, is still the one. They are soft, thin-soled and unforgiving on rough pavement, and they run narrow; many people size up a half. The Zizi oxford is the other classic.
Lacoste, agnès b. and Aigle
Lacoste's L.12.12 polo, in piqué cotton with the crocodile, has been made since 1933; buy the classic fit, not the slim, and expect it to shrink slightly. agnès b.'s snap cardigan (the cardigan pression) is the Paris uniform in every colour. Aigle's rubber boots, made in Ingrandes since 1853, are the ones French families wear in the country; the Chantebelle is the women's classic and the Parcours the men's.
Sizing
French sizes run small and narrow, and brands use their own charts. Check the brand's size guide, not a generic FR-to-US conversion, and read the Amazon reviews for 'runs small' before ordering. Returns from third-party sellers shipping from Europe are slow, so buy from Amazon-fulfilled listings where possible.
What to buy
| Product | Why |
|---|---|
| Saint James Meridien Breton Shirt | The authentic heavyweight marinière. |
| Armor Lux Breton Shirt | The value alternative, also made in Brittany. |
| Petit Bateau Iconic Cotton T-shirt | The Paris tee. |
| Repetto Cendrillon Ballet Flat | The original ballet flat. |
| Lacoste L.12.12 Classic Fit Polo | The crocodile polo, classic fit. |
| Aigle Chantebelle Rubber Boots | Made in France rubber boots. |
Questions people ask
Where are these actually made?
Saint James, Armor Lux, Aigle (boots) and Repetto still manufacture in France. Petit Bateau and Lacoste make some lines in France and most abroad; the label states the country.
Is it cheaper to buy in Paris?
Rarely, once you add VAT; US Amazon prices on Lacoste and Petit Bateau are usually lower. Repetto and Saint James are the exceptions, where the Paris price with a tax refund can beat the US price.
What size Saint James should I order?
One size up from your usual US size; two if you want the loose fisherman fit the shirt was designed for.
More paris guides: Accessories · Perfume · all brands