Charvet didn't just make shirts, it invented the shirt shop: in 1838 it became the first place you could walk in, be measured, and choose your own cloth, back when shirtmakers came to your door. It held the Jockey Club appointment by 1839 and dressed everyone from Baudelaire to JFK, who quietly had the labels removed. It remains family-owned on Place Vendome.
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The post, as it ran
01CHARVET OPENED ON PARIS'S PLACE VENDOME IN 1838 AS THE
FIRST DEDICATED SHIRTMAKER'S SHOP, INVENTING SOMETHING
WE TAKE FOR GRANTED: WALKING IN TO BE MEASURED FOR A SHIRT.
02BEFORE IT, SHIRTMAKERS CAME TO YOUR HOME AND YOU
SUPPLIED THE CLOTH. CHARVET FLIPPED THAT, AND THE FRENCH
COINED A WORD, CHEMISIER, JUST TO DESCRIBE THE PLACE.
03IT HELD THE JOCKEY CLUB APPOINTMENT BY 1839 AND WENT
ON TO DRESS BAUDELAIRE, PROUST AND DE GAULLE.
04WHEN THE HEIRS NEARLY SOLD TO AN AMERICAN BUYER,
DE GAULLE STEPPED IN TO KEEP IT FRENCH. IT IS STILL
FAMILY-OWNED ON PLACE VENDOME.