In the heart of Pairs, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Pierre Mahéo founded Officine Generale in 2012. He has a personal, almost autobiographical approach to fashion-making, trying most of his creations on himself, painstakingly perfecting every little detail in his Italian and Portuguese ateliers, testing Italian, Japanese and British fabrics. The complex process translates into a deceptively normal-looking wardrobe of timeless staples—from the tailored blazer to the impeccable field jacket, plus everything in between— full of attitude and personality, rather than something too specifically egotistical. Nothing screams “fashion,” but fit, proportion, and that intangible French allure make each piece something you actually want to wear. Just call it the reality factor. Since its inception, Officine Generale has taken a borrowed-from-the-boys approach to its womenswear. It is equality in the sense that what comes for men—the finest cashmeres, wools, blazers, shirting, and leg-lengthening trousers—comes too for women
