Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Mathias Déon, I live and work in Paris. I have been directing the brand Margaret Howell in France for five years.

Could you introduce us to this piece? Where does it come from? How old is it?

This is a classic Margaret Howell shirt with very thin blue stripes. It’s one of the first pieces of the line that I owned. When Margaret Howell opened her shop at Place de la Madeleine, 10 years ago, they were looking for support in communication. At that time, I was working in an agency and we worked with them. This shirt was given to me as a gift at that moment. It’s one of the main pieces of my wardrobe. It looks so simple but it isn’t. It is very light, quite short. The collar is thin. I think it’s elegant without being classic.

Did it belong to someone else before you? Did you buy it for yourself? Why did you buy it? How did you find it?

No, I got it brand new. In the beginning, I chose it because it’s a good essential that you can both wear with a jacket or with a pair of jeans, in a more casual way.

Do you remember the first time you wore it?

No… but I know that I wore it a lot. I remember that it was one of the first pieces I owned of that level of quality and that I was super proud to wear it.

Are there any signs of wear and tear?

Oh yes. From wearing it all the time (and also maybe because I started practicing sports in a much more intensive way !) it has come apart at several places. On the elbows, on the wrists, at one of the buttonholes… but my mother-in-law is a sewing magician and she repaired it several times !

Have you already repaired this piece?

Yes, but it is so well done that you really can’t tell.

When do you usually wear this shirt? Do you remember when you last wore it?

I really really really wore it a lot. The last time I wore it was last week, under a jumper.