Ode on a Summer Shirt

A basic that is anything but

What in the name of Lauren Hutton is sexier than a summer shirt?

Three takes on the Matteau Classic Stripe Shirt at the brand’s ten year anniversary in the South of France last week.

You’re like um, a string bikini, Monica? Or… nothing?

I disagree. A shirt over said bikini (or nothing at all) is, I believe, far more alluring.

Half done up over your bather. Tied over a dress. Monday-on-Tuesday. Open. Tied around the waist. There is, by the way, an entire brand called With Nothing Underneath devoted to this concept— good on them.

Shirts worn every which way have pretty much been my whole summer uniform for at least a decade, and I’m not bored yet. My friend Marie Marot reaffirmed this obsession in herFashion Proust Questionnaire if you need more convincing.

Although, my grandmother was probably the first person to anchor this look in my psyche. A cool Gran she was. A model/granny (legit modelled into her seventies, complete with a stern old-school British accent and a penchant for very rude jokes.) She rarely wore anything other than a relaxed shirt tucked into trousers. Her uniform was essentially this Matteau look below, every single day (though in her case, usually Ralph Lauren/ vintage/ both, and with a few more buttons done up, I assure you!) Or at least all summer at her lake house. Come to think of it, she even had this haircut.

Matteau SS25

The FT recently shared a photo of Kristen Scott Thomas in The English Patient which also reaffirmed my passion. KST’s role as Katharine Clifton is hard to forget, as are her love scenes with a young Ralph Fiennes. Her wardrobe in the film, is, in my opinion and apparently the FT’s, equally memorable.

Just after reading the article, I walked out my front door just as Kristen Scott Thomas scuttled by me—we swerved to avoid one other! Definitely a sign. Of what, I have no idea, but here’s a photo of KST/ Katharine Clifton, shirt-wearer extraordinaire.

Kristin Scott Thomas as Katharine Clifton in ‘The English Patient’ © Alamy

Ralph Fiennes and Kristen Scott Thomas on the set of Anthony Minghella’s ‘The English Patient’, 1996. (The Script was based on an equally brilliant Michael Ondaatje novel by the same name.)

Not quite Count Almasy’s adventures but I am fresh from an enlightening trip to the South of France, for Matteau’s 10 year anniversary trip to my all-time fave, Les Roches Rouges (also, incidentally, celebrating its 10th birthday— could have happily stayed ten years) and now find myself bursting with fresh air, sea salt and styling tips.

Behold! The best summer shirt I’ve tried in a longtime in various interpretations:

Here I am with Matteau co-founder Peta Heinsen and Lolita Jacobs . We are all wearing this shirt as you can see.

A close-up of Lolita’s signature scarf-belt action here. Her necklace is Charlotte Chesnais btw. Similar silk bandanas here.

Everyone had boarded their flights when I nearly charged into KST and this post occurred to me, so forgive the occasional screen grab. This one’s too good not to add:

Obsessed the waiter trying to keep a straight face, and love how Diana styled our fave shirt tucked into these black trousers -would work great as a city look too. Yan Yan’s exact dress appears to be sold out but similar here.

And some other Matteau shirts not to be overlooked…

The Matteau team holding it down; Izzy (left) has many talents, from shirt-tieing to pilates instruction (she gave us a great class the other morning).

Madelnyn in Matteau’s Classic Pocket shirt and vintage jewellery

Not Matteau but similarly great:

Here’s my friend the photographer Adeline Mai for the double win. Her shirt here, and shorts here.

Weekly Recs:

(Other than shirts, I think you got that.)

LISTEN

Keith McNally’s new memoir I Regret Almost Everything is an entertaining and surprisingly emotional zigzag through the controversial restaurateur’s past. I definitely enjoyed it, particularly the audiobook version narrated by the eternally glorious Richard E. Grant. If you’ve never heard of McNally, neither had I until, aged 25, I began dating a restaurateur myself (McNally hates this word but is hard pressed to find a synonym, as am I). Anyway, my ex worshipped McNally, who was apparently a towering figure in the food world at the time. Now, McNally’s as known for his NY restaurants (Balthazar, Minetta Tavern…) as his hilariously acerbic Instagram account, which has allowed him to express himself after suffering a stroke and losing a large part of his speech. It makes for a refreshing (if occasionally bizarre) scroll in these politically correct times. Enjoy! (Or don’t.)

READ

If you read in French (or want to try) I am also thoroughly enjoying Camille Perrier’s new take on Caroline Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr’s relationship in L’autre Madame Kennedy. I know —not another CBK book— except this one makes her come alive on a way less artificial level than usual; an impressive feat given the amount of post mortem re-examination Bessette Kennedy has already encountered.

Next up: I’m about to start Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s Original Sin on the apparently highly-coordinated cover up of President Biden’s decline. The two journalists have done a tonne of reporting (/productive gossiping?) and it seems this book serves as a necessary reckoning with the brutal truth and what it provoked politically. Stay tuned.

NEED

The Aligheri x JCrew collaboration. A must. Before it sells out.

Happy almost-summer Monicuddlers!

Lauren Hutton photographed by Fred Seidman, mid-1970s.