June 20, 2016

Fitting Summer to a Tee:
Introducing Tenfold Los Angeles

The Margaret Short Sleeve Tee White, Kassandra Mid Rise Skinny Jean Black Rinse

Written by Marc Palatucci
Photographed by Hanna Tveite
Archival Photographs by Elliott Erwitt, Martine Franck, and Peter Marlow

What does one wear in paradise? There are few locales better suited to the question than the Côte d’Azur, that impossibly serene stretch of France’s southeastern seaboard. Its white sands dissolve into the glittering waters of the Mediterranean, with luxury vessels lolling in the marinas and palms towering above, their shadows yawning as the sun eases earthward. This enchanting scene has captivated artists, actors, and aristocrats for centuries, and now inspires the arrival of Tenfold Los Angeles. Exclusive to The Line, the collection of tailored t-shirts evokes the languorous glamour of the Riviera during the height of its allure.

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place,” Elliott Erwitt once said. “I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” He captured this image of Cannes in 1975. (Photo © Elliott Erwitt/Magnum Photos)

*Click/tap image to shop the items pictured.* Tenfold Los Angeles Jacklyn Long-Sleeved Tee, Khaite Catherine Trouser Jean

By the turn of the twentieth century, members of European royalty including Queen Victoria had already begun frequenting the French Riviera, taken by its idyllic climate and picturesque coastline. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that a whole new crowd of famous faces arrived, this time from Hollywood, drawn in part by the growing popularity of the recently founded international film festival in Cannes, and joined by French style icons such as actress Jane Birkin and chanteuse Françoise Hardy.

When I think about some of the films I did, I was better in real life probably. Real life was what I was best at.Jane Birkin

In 1976, Belgian photographer Martine Franck, wife of Henri Cartier-Bresson, seized upon sunlit geometry in the village of Le Brusc, located on the small peninsula Presqu’île de Cap Sicié between Toulon and Marseille. Here a lone figure finds shade near a pool designed by Alain Capeilleres. (Photo © Martine Franck/Magnum Photos)

Stars of all sorts flocked to coastal towns and cities from Nice to St. Tropez, bringing with them an atmosphere of escapism and spectacularly fashionable fun. What’s more, glamorous diversions of the greatest magnitude could also be found on nearby Monaco, whether at the casino tables for a high-stakes game of chance or watching Formula One drivers race the circuit at the island’s illustrious Grand Prix.

*Click/tap image to shop the items pictured.* Tenfold Los Angeles Eloise Tank, Gabriela Hearst Cornelia Culottes

*Click/tap image to shop the items pictured.* Tenfold Los Angeles Isobel Tee, Lemaire Shorts

Inspired by the Côte d’Azur and made in Los Angeles, Tenfold tees bring an easy elegance to everyday dressing.

Franck’s most famous photograph, of five poolside bathers at Le Brusc, is a marvel of lines, curves, and light. “I remember running to get the image while changing the film, quickly closing down the lens as the sunlight was so intense,” she recalled of capturing the 1976 image. “That’s what makes photography so exciting.” (Photo © Martine Franck/Magnum Photos)

But for all the high-wattage fêtes and fireworks, there has never been a better way to spend a day in the Côte d’Azur than relaxing blissfully beachside, and it is in such a state of elevated leisure that the Tenfold Los Angeles collection is most at home. Luxuriously lightweight, yet satisfyingly soft to the touch, the debut range of four styles comes in a selection of monochromatics, alongside quintessential Breton-stripe pairings of white, navy, and red. Expertly knit from a breathable cotton blend for a vintage look and feel, each shirt is perfectly suited for the most carefree of pastimes.

The tank-cut Eloise is ideal for the height of summer, with its airy, sleeveless silhouette, sublimely comfortable whether you’re under the sun in the city or sprawled on the deck of a vessel at sea. The Margaret and the Isobel are versatile options, with their fitted mid-length sleeves and flattering fit, the latter slimmed by contrast paneling at the sides. Finally, the long-sleeved Jacklyn offers additional coverage for cooler days and balmy evenings spent outdoors. Influenced by the spirit and feel of the Riviera, these pieces bring refinement and elegance to daily dressing, proving that even in paradise, the dress code is casual.