Fancy a little bit of Saint Tropez in your wardrobe? Don’t we all. Well now we’re the lucky stockists of the Vilebrequin, you can. For those who are unfamiliar with the name, Vilebrequin is one of the leading swimwear designers that has a rich history spanning 40 years. It’s carefree yet elegant designs has made it a popular choice for generations of men, from the beaches of it’s native Saint Tropez across international waters to the likes of Dubai, Miami and Rio.
It started with Brigitte Bardot, a Cafe and a table cloth. Fred Prysquel was relaxing in a cafe in the affluent coastal town of Saint Tropez, minding his own business and taking in the sites. Inspired by the quayside painters, holiday-makers and buzz surrounding Brigitte Bardot, he took pen to tablecloth and designed the first pair of swim shorts – we’re presuming this was a disposable tablecloth or an unhappy proprietor….
Saint Tropez has always been a hub for the fashion elite with the likes of Coco Chanel vacationing here way back in the 20s. In the 50s it was thrust into the limelight when it was used as the filming location for ‘And God created Woman’ starring French beauty Brigitte Bardot. Combining this legendary luxury lifestyle and his own creativity, Prysquel developed a whole new style of swim shorts.
It wasn’t just Brigitte Bardot and swimwear that tickled Fred Prysquel’s fancy, he was also an avid motorsport fan. In homage to his passion and inspired by the spiral staircase in his first shop, he named the brand Vilebrequin, the french word for crankshaft – sounds so much nicer in French… He made the shorts out of spinnaker’s sailcloth which has unique quick drying properties in the sun and wind. A truly beach inspired collection.
This season they’ve launched an exclusive new collection of footwear that compliments the already successful swimwear range. The collection offers the classic beach espadrille and a Fred favourite, the driving loafer. Elegant yet fun designs that are essential for any sunny getaway. These guys are going straight into our suitcase this summer, definitely a holiday must have that’ll pair nicely with swimshorts, chinos and rolled up jeans. Throw on an Orlebar Brown linen shirt and you’re laughing. That’s our wardrobe sorted. You can shop the footwear collection here
