Monday, March 27, 2006Last Friday night I was lucky enough to attend an intimate dinner for Charvet’s Jean-Claude Colban that was hosted by the super-fabulous Michael Bastian and the equal fab Margaret Spaniolo , Senior VP, GMM of Bergdorf Goodman. I had a chance to sit next to Jean-Claude and considering that his family has owned Charvet for years and he is full of great stories, we talked for hours and fashion never came up – that is really weird for me! We talked about the internet ( I’m humbled to say he is a big fan of The Sartorialist), food, travel, food, books, food, and kids, a lot about kids and food.
I always expect people from really old companies to be a little out of touch with modern culture but I think a reason Charvet stays relevant is because Jean-Claude is so interested in what is modern. He told me about using one of his kids amime sketches as an inspiration for a Charvet tie pattern -to me, that’s pretty cool.
Jean-Claude Colban giving a seminar on how to fold a seven-fold tie. 
Margaret Spaniolo of Bergdorf giving the seven-fold a try.
The art installation outside the Charvet shop at Bergdorf 
The adorable labels of the adorable children’s Charvet shirts.
Every department needs a character
Fes
March 27, 2006 at 9:40 am
I was lucky enough to attend an inmate dinner for Charvet’s Jean-Claude Colban
And he swore he was never going back to the joint again :) Beautiful, beautiful ties, though.
The Sartorialist
March 27, 2006 at 9:48 am
I need to drop spellcheck and get idiotcheck
Thanks
Anonymous
March 27, 2006 at 11:09 am
Who is the cute guy watching Margaret fold the silk?
Anonymous
March 27, 2006 at 2:09 pm
He’s the Buyer.
Anonymous
March 27, 2006 at 5:34 pm
What kind of food did you guys talk about? French or American? Haute or home cooking?
Your piece reminds me of a chapter I read in Peter Mayle’s “Acquired Tastes”, awhile ago, on the author’s experience getting a bespoke shirt made at the flagship on Place Vendôme. Sounds like the kind of fun I’d like to try sometime…
The Sartorialist
March 27, 2006 at 6:26 pm
One of the funniest things he said was that sometimes he checks to see what he has in the refrigerator and then enters the items in the internet (google I guess) for recipes with those items.
Mariana
March 27, 2006 at 9:04 pm
I love your photos, they really express your love for the clothes and the people.
The G Manifesto
March 28, 2006 at 2:31 pm
I love that stack of pocket squares.
Anonymous
March 30, 2006 at 8:58 pm
What kind of suit was Mr. Colban wearing? Was it an Oxxford?
The Blasphemous Fiendess
November 1, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I love the department character. Old man style is my favourite of your photo categories. I love faces, especially ones with character.