Our good stylistic resolutions for 2024 - Benoît

1/ Work on the idea of ​​the personal uniform

After being passionate about clothes for over 15 years, I might have wanted to try even more different styles, well not at all!

I noticed that in 2023, I dressed the same almost all the time to go to the office:

• white jeans (I have 3-4 that allow me to rotate), sometimes very light chinos
• a denim or chambray shirt or in other words: a blue shirt with texture

And obviously, depending on the weather, I wore more or less thick outerwear, even if I gave pride of place to Ventile with our parka in collaboration with Kestin, or my parka from the Scottish micro brand Hilltrek, for its breathability unrivaled.

Besides, that's why we're going to release white jeans, textured blue shirts and Ventile outerwear this year (yes, I reward those who read my articles to the end with spoilers).

For 2024, I want to explore this idea even more (which is also very widespread among many designers). What's it like to want to come dressed almost the same every day? What pushes me to be a die-hard in this approach, even if it means missing out on variety?

Lots of questions that will be answered this year!

2/ Assume (even) more my outdoor/military influences

It's no secret that I like technical clothing found for outdoor or military use, and I like to twist its codes. For example :

• the Polartec Alpha that we used for some of our clothing was born out of a need for the American army,
• the interior mesh pockets on our coats this year are a feature found on some warm mountaineering jackets for storing gloves.

Until recently, I was somewhat shy about mixing styles, while outdoor influences have been invading urban clothing for several years, including among luxury brands.

But here I want to embrace them, and I find that this brings even more uniqueness to our clothes. The accessories released at Christmas are the first step: I am obviously thinking of our Cobra buckle belt which was a great success (the restocking arrives in February), but also of Ultra 200 X accessories ( case and sling bag ) or even Cordura and Dyneema slippers (only available in physical stores).

Thinking about integrating this type of piece into an urban, dressy environment is a lot of fun for me. In this respect, I really like the world of Robert Spangle, who does not hesitate to wear white jeans with his Gore-Tex clothes from Acronym, or an American army softshell:

Of course, I still love the fit of a beautiful blazer or a wool coat (and believe me, we have great things in store for you in this regard), but that shouldn't stop me from try other universes.

For me, the outfit worn for the Meanswhile jacket test reflects how I approach it:

Simple colors, accessories that clash slightly, but designs that borrow from several worlds. The white jeans and the blue shirt are the foundations of what I want to do, it's up to me to dress them with much more technical pieces.

3/ Repair, repair and repair again

There are pants that I have had to take 3 or 4 times to repair, because they are very old and tired: crotch that is wearing out, pocket bags at the end of their life, small holes here and there. It's normal for clothing to wear out.

And I admit: I find that it gives even more charm to these pieces. Seeing them patched, patched or reinforced is very pleasant, and it gives them a unique personality, specific to me and my use.

After a while you might wonder what's the point of paying a cumulative €50 - €60 for repairs on a pair of pants, but like I said, I find that it makes them look better every time!

So for 2024, I would like to continue exploring this path. That's good, I have three sweaters to take to the stitcher waiting for me.

Note: for those who are wondering, the wear and tear that I have repaired concerns all types of clothing in my wardrobe. There are obviously BonneGueule clothes, but also much more high-end clothes, like Loro Piana jeans that I bought in a factory store. Wear and tear, the passage of time, the test of the seasons, it concerns everyone!

4/ The subject of wide pants

As you have seen, we have diversified our pants cuts, with looser fits than usual.

Please note: I said “diversified” and not “replaced”. We still have slim fits, and they are complemented by pants with wider ankle openings.

And it’s clear that it’s still very comfortable, especially when the temperatures rise.

Édouard, at the product department, works hard so that I wear more and more wide-leg pants. After our collaboration with De Bonne Facture and its famous balloon pants, we have some great things coming in this direction, including beautiful ecru pants that I can't wait to present to you... and to wear! Indeed, we are working with new workshops, and the one that will manufacture it, in Portugal, is very very promising.

So as soon as we release the pants I have in mind, I commit to wearing them once a week.