Armor Lux (CLOSED)

In keeping with the ongoing trend for timeless utilitarian style, the iconic Breton stripes of French heritage brand Armor Lux are available at its first U.S. shop. The streamlined modern interior is reminiscent of a pared-down ship’s hull and serves as the ideal backdrop for the brand’s classic marine look. The long-sleeved Mariner tee ($125) was designed in 1938 by a French fisherman from Brittany, so that his fellow seamen could more easily locate a man overboard, and it has remained the official uniform of the French Navy ever since. Its 21 stripes represent Napoleon’s military victories, and today, the French postal service sports the look made famous by 20th-century luminaries Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso and Brigitte Bardot. The well-made staples have been manufactured on the original knitting machines in the same factories for the past 73 years, and in 2005, Armor Lux introduced a fair-trade cotton line produced in Africa. Must-have items include women’s long-sleeved striped tees ($125), striped wool slippers ($85), striped wool sweaters ($230) and solid wool watch caps ($40). In addition to these stalwarts, you’ll find a well-edited selection of vintage Swedish military goods, including long johns ($35), Lilla Norrland handmade woven leather bracelets ($85–$145) and Apolis Transit Issue luggage tags ($22).