Vuarnet may be best known in the States for its vibrant graphic tees that were all the rage in the 1980s and early 90s, but French brand is a serious eyewear manufacturer with an Olympic pedigree. Vuarnet recently collaborated with Saint James, another French brand steeped in history. A 127-year-old employee-owned company known for its nautical style, Saint James is to Breton shirts what Levi’s is to jeans.
Breton shirts – la marinière – started as standard issue French naval uniforms in 1858 (the 21 stripes supposedly represent each of Napoleon’s victories over the British). In 1913 Coco Chanel turned the humble sailor top into a fashion staple. Since then, Breton stripes have been donned by a list of male style icons: from Pablo Picasso and Paul Newman to James Dean and Jean Paul Gaultier.
For the Vuarnet x Saint James capsule each brand designed exclusive versions of their signature products based on the classic 21 stripe Breton. Vuarnet added nautical stripes to its most recognizable frame, the Legend 02 – the shades Jean Vuarnet wore when he won a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. While Saint James decorated a unisex marinière jersey with Vuarnet’s red V at the neck and both logos stitched on the sleeve at the wrist. The only thing missing from this collaboration is a couple of berets and a mime.
The Vuarnet x Saint James capsule is available now from vuarnet.com.
