Equip Yourself!

Equipment

Time was, back in the 80s and 90s, when no self-respecting power-dressed woman would be seen dead without Equipment silk shirts in her wardrobe. Offering a fluid, feminine and more unstructured version of the classic man’s shirt, designer Christian Restoin’s genius at spotting the crossover appeal made the brand a household name amongst the fashionistas of the day, attracting movie stars, businesswoman and style mavens alike. Sadly, after his partner Carine Roitfeld accepted the role of editor at French Vogue in 2001, Restoin called it a day and Equipment became a much mourned loss on the fashion landscape.

But then came Serge Azria. Spring 2010 saw the complete re-launch of the luxury shirt brand, with its fashion DNA and quality still intact, but now with a wider product range and even a new Homme line for men. This year sees silk tees and pajamas, shirt dresses and the launch of a cashmere line returning the Equipment brand to its rightful place as a fashion cornerstone and wardrobe staple. Men can currently choose from a range of V-neck, crew neck and cardigan cashmere with a promise of a silk shirt range to come later in the year, and while December 2012 saw the official launch of the flagship store in SoHo’s Wooster Street, if you can’t get to there, don’t worry – you can now shop online too. Equip yourself!