Many would argue that the French are the world’s best connoisseurs and masters of detail. If you need evidence, look no further than the baguettes, butter, and jam, the café au lait, the vintage wines, and the luxury fashion brands.
But there are certain French peccadilloes that are bound to leave the unconvinced slightly dumbfounded and asking themselves, Really? For instance, one of the finest swimwear brands, Vilebrequin, is made in France (though it now happens to be owned by an American buyout firm). The bathing suits are well made, stylish, and can take a beating. They’re also not cheap—at the Manhattan store, on Madison Avenue, a men’s swimsuit costs around $325. No surprise, the brand’s trunks are a big hit on the beaches of St. Tropez, Cap d’Antibes, Palm Beach, and Sagaponack.
