How Alexandre Mattiussi Is Shaping Modern French Menswear

There’s no denying that the French are amongst the most – if not the most – stylish in the world. Effortlessly pulling off jeans and a navy knit, the French can make the most classic of pieces fresh and the epitome of chic. It’s not about seasonal, flash-in-the-pan trends or trying to reinvent the wheel, rather it’s about perfecting those pieces that become wardrobe staples, focusing on quality, fit, shape and cut.

Alexandre Mattiussi, the founder and designer behind Parisian label AMI is a case in point. His black wool suit jacket, camel V-neck jumper and striped T-shirtsmay not seem like ground-breaking stuff and yet…and yet Mattiussi somehow makes these ubiquitous pieces exciting and more than worthy of the accolade they’ve been receiving of late (the designer was recently listed in Business of Fashion’s BoF 500 for his ‘winning formula of quality menswear’ and GQ has just named him ‘One of the Coolest Designers on the Planet’).

And it’s because he’s become a master of these pieces that’s made them so meaningful. Take AMI trousersfor example, masterfully tailored yet slightly loose, relaxed and gathering just so at the ankle - or the tailored tweed coat from the AW17 collection, cut to perfection and designed so skilfully that it can be worn in a way that’s both smart and casual (the sign of any good long-lasting outerwear).

It’s French style but for the 21^st century. Relaxed, loosened up and worn in a more casual and fashion-forward way that was arguably absent from French fashion before AMI started filling our wardrobes in 2011. You’ll never tire of it.

Watch the video below to see just what happened when GQ met Alexandre Mattiussi, and shop the latest collection on Coggles here.