The house was created in 1838 in Paris by Joseph-Christophe Charvet, almost fifty years before the “attack” of the English, in their attempt to dominate this sector of men’s clothing. Initially, on rue de Richelieu and after about four decades on Place Vendôme. First at No. 25 and from 1982 at No. 28, where the luxurious and oldest store of the Parisian house still operates to this day.
The reputation of Charvet shirts was strengthened in the early years by the members of the Jockey Club. A group of wealthy Parisians with a particular style in appearance, which today we would characterize as a Dandy look. They became the first and main supporters of Joseph and with them “stuck” several of their friends – with perhaps less wealth – but also lords, writers and prominent aristocrats of the time.
Authentic Parisian aesthetics
The expert editors of fashion magazines often mention that the house’s prices are extremely high, always adding that it is impossible to question their unique quality and durability. In fact, a shirt from the luxury brand, if cared for with the attention it deserves, has a lifespan of decades and is passed down like a precious inheritance, from one generation to the next – shirts start at 450 euros and exceed 1,000 euros for custom-made creations.
Charvet also has a very serious after-sales service. This means that collars, cuffs and buttons, if they have been damaged by constant use, can be replaced through the brand itself and not by a tailor we may know. This is because while in the first case, the same quality fabrics, materials and seams as the original construction will be used, while in the second, in all probability, they will simply come close – maybe not – to the original. In all branches around the world, we can now buy a shirt from the Ready to wear collection or order one tailored to our measurements. Also, a silk tie, a pair of excellent pajamas, a cashmere sweater or even a bespoke suit.
However, the Charvet house, while boasting excellent quality in all its collections, is famous for its shirts. Kings, princes, heads of state, and among them, Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, John Kennedy, Ernest Hemingway, Emile Zola and Marcel Proust have personally passed through the store’s doors to order theirs. Yves Saint Laurent loved Charvet so much that he would not wear a shirt from another company, Coco Chanel as well, even Henri Matisse and Claude Monet. Everyone appreciated their unique quality. The fabrics to this day are countless, with color suggestions that are said to exceed 6,000 suggestions. Especially in white shades, the choices are numbered at 104, something that is impossible to find in other houses.
Even when in London, which is considered in some way the capital of classic men’s clothing, the first shirts with excellent quality of tailoring and fabrics, made their appearance around 1885, they had difficulty coping with the reputation and uniqueness of the French house. In fact, for some years, Charvet was appointed the official shirt manufacturer of the British Royal Family. This assignment was considered a scandal by English society, as for the first time in history, one of the palace’s suppliers was not English.
The famous American writer Thomas Woolf, also known for his love of fashion, in his short story A Man in Full, describes the protagonist’s attire in the following way: “The most opulent ensemble, a navy-style mid-length suit with a hard finish and pinstripes. A shirt with a white collar and light blue pinstripes and a tie, all from the Charvet store in Paris.”
The current owners of Charvet are the brothers, Jean-Claude Colban and Anne-Marie Colban. Dennis Colban, father of the current owners, was initially one of the main suppliers of fabrics to the house and, as he stated in an interview, fearing that due to the financial difficulties he saw the store struggling, he feared that it would fall into the hands of an American investor. This was the main reason that he proposed the acquisition, with the help of the French government, so that the iconic house would remain in its French headquarters.
