Comparing how three people wear it: CHANTECLAIR's "Reversible Short Sleeve" edition

This is our "Comparing the Wearing Experience" series, where we introduce how different people feel about wearing the same item. This time, we're looking at CHANTECLAIR's reversible short sleeve top, made from a crisp, cool-feeling fabric.

In an age overflowing with things, what you wear or own is entirely up to you—but there's always a reason behind choosing the same item as someone else. The Reversible Short Sleeve featured this time comes from CHANTECLAIR, a brand founded in 1973 in Saint-Pouange, a small village near the Champagne region of France. This particular piece was designed exclusively for Japan, tailored to suit the Japanese figure. It can be worn two ways—crew neck or V-neck. At ZUTTO, we have three staff members who love this piece, each with their own distinct sense of style, which really comes through in how they wear it.

Why three different people chose the same top

This time, we spoke with three staff members.

M, in charge of planning:

Chose the color BLANC (white); has owned it for 4 months. Handles planning and overall management of exclusive items. Wears skirts and pants about equally. Loves clothes that feel comfortable to wear.

S, in charge of order events and social media:

Chose the color GRIS CHINE (gray); has owned it for 5 months. Handles overall customer service, as well as order events and social media updates. Doesn't stick to one shop when shopping—enjoys trying out all kinds of clothes.

T, in charge of the newsletter and app:

Chose the color NOIR (black); has owned it for 3 months. Handles the email newsletter and app updates. Rarely wears skirts—prefers pants. Loves simple outfits.

M: Actually, this shape has continued since last season. Last year's version was crew neck only, not reversible. When we started carrying it last year, I happened to wear it during a photo shoot, and I remember being drawn to how elegant it felt compared to a regular T-shirt. I didn't end up buying it last year, but when the new reversible version came in this year, I bought it right away.

Top: crew neck, Bottom: V-neck

S: I was curious about it since last year too! But it sold out fairly quickly, so I couldn't get one. So when it came in this year, I bought it right away.

I used to feel a bit hesitant about wearing sleeveless tops that show my arms, but honestly, there's no escaping the heat (laughs). Also, just not having sleeves makes it feel so much cooler. Last year's brutal summer really got to me… I wanted something that looked cool just by appearance.

T: I know exactly what you mean. This year, I kept thinking the rainy season was dragging on, and then suddenly full-blown summer heat hit—my body could barely keep up… For me, it was almost love at first sight because of the perfectly balanced silhouette. It's elegant, yet has a casual feel too. I'm also happy that it covers just the right amount of my upper arms, which I'm a bit self-conscious about. And I love the crisp texture of this fabric—it's unlike anything else.

S: I really love the texture too! I bet all three of us feel the same way about that.

M: Right, it really is nice. Also, you don't often find this shape in a thicker fabric. In my case, the reason I chose BLANC (white) was because of this fabric.

White is tricky to choose because it tends to show your underlayers through the fabric. But this reversible short sleeve is thick enough that it doesn't show through easily. Of course, it's not completely opaque, but not having to worry so much about what's underneath is a real relief.

T: I also felt that NOIR (black) suited this particular fabric.

I do own thin cotton T-shirts, but with black as the base color, if the surface is too smooth, white fibers and such tend to stick to it and stand out. I do love thinner fabrics too, of course, but this reversible short sleeve has a nice bit of texture to it in a good way, so I figured any fibers would brush off easily—and honestly, it probably wouldn't bother me that much in the first place. That's why I bought it.

M: It's interesting how everyone has a different reason. I also chose GRIS CHINE (gray) because of this fabric. I already had white and black T-shirts, but not gray. I'd been a bit hesitant about gray because it tends to show sweat easily. But this one is thick, and the shape doesn't cling to the underarms, so it seemed easy to wear. Also, for some reason, it feels like it dries quickly after sweating too.

Three different styles: seeing the differences through their outfits

M: I often pair mine with a high-waisted skirt.

Height: 158cm / Wearing: BLANC

Skirt: Long Swing Skirt (CLAY RED), Sandals: Beaded Thong Sandals 0950 OLMO, Bag: ショルダーバッグ LOTO（Natural）

Skirt: hatsutoki×ZUTTO Ame no Dobby Skirt (Khaki), Sandals: Leather Sandals Choco, Bag: [Special Order] 3WAY WALLET BAG (BLACK), Bangle: LADIES Bangle STUDEBAKER BROAD CUFF 1INCH POLISHED (SILVER-S), Necklace: Necklace 1704

I sometimes pair it with voluminous pants, but mostly I go with soft, flowy skirts. I often tuck it into the bottoms, and I find it easy to tuck in whether I wear the waist high or at hip level. I think it's because the fabric has just the right amount of body. Also, depending on what I'm pairing it with, I might change how I tuck it in—sometimes just the front, sometimes all the way around. It looks natural no matter how you wear it.

S: I often pair mine with wider pants, like denim. The fabric has just the right amount of body for tucking in.

Height: 165cm / Wearing: GRIS CHINE

Pants: CTX-010L 12oz Selvedge Straight Jeans (ID L), Sneakers: Deck Shoes L011/M014 WHITE, Bag: PLENTY TOTE/S (RED)

What surprised me too is that it's surprisingly easy to wear even with a V-neck, and I end up wearing it often. I originally wasn't confident about V-necks, but I discovered through wearing this that I often reach for the V-neck version without even thinking about it.

Pants: Light Linen Twill Penguin Pants (VINTAGE WHITE), Sandals: Leather Sandals Choco, Necklace: [Special Order] Mother-of-Pearl Pendant (Orange)

T: The V-neck and crew-neck really do give a different impression. I'm on the pants side like S, and since I like simple outfits, I enjoy pairing it with slim denim and having fun choosing various accessories. Because the top itself is so simple, accessories really stand out against it. Even a somewhat distinctive necklace blends in naturally.

Height: 157cm / Wearing: NOIR

Pants: Women's ST.SLIM 5P 28color Pants (5), Sandals: Leather Sandals Choco, Bag: PETIT PANIER XS (GALET *discontinued color), Necklace: Dragée Combination Necklace (Soda Beige)

I also find it works well with slightly dressier styles. It has an elegant quality, and in NOIR it takes on a more chic feel, making it easy to pair with almost anything—I rely on it a lot.

Pants: Tapered Fatigue Pants (KHAKI), Bag: [Special Order] Akebi Basket, Small Weave, with Leather Shoulder Strap, Pumps: Staff's own item (gaimo), Bangle: Snake Design Bangle/196 (IVORY)

Questions we secretly want to ask fellow fans: "How do you handle this?"

① How do you decide between crew-neck and V-neck?

S: As I mentioned briefly earlier, I might decide based on the hairstyle I want that day. Personally, when I wear my hair down, I go with the V-neck, and when I want to put it up, I wear the crew-neck, which covers the neck more. I originally liked clothes that cover the neck, but since this V-neck has a gentle, gradual cut, it's easy to wear.

T: Deciding based on hairstyle is great—it changes the whole impression even more! For me, the V-neck gives an elegant, refined impression, so I choose it on days when I want to dress a bit more properly. It also pairs well with pretty much any bottoms, so I wear the V-neck for things like a slightly upscale restaurant or a somewhat formal outing like a museum visit, and the crew-neck for everyday wear—that's roughly how I divide them up.

M: I see. I think I switch depending on the length of the necklace I want to wear that day.

S: In terms of the impression around the neck, that might be similar to changing your hairstyle.

M: That's true. I don't usually wear necklaces that much to begin with, but since this V-neck isn't too deep, it actually pairs well with longer necklaces too. I feel like a more compact necklace personally suits the crew-neck better.

② Do you tuck it into your bottoms or wear it out?

M: I tuck it in most of the time. I don't really wear tops fully untucked to begin with.

S: I'm also in the tucked-in camp.

T: Same here. But when I pair it with simple skinny denim, I like to wear it untucked and add definition with a necklace or bangle. Since the fabric has some body, I can scrunch it up a bit at the waist, so it doesn't fall too flat. It does slip down when I move around, though, so I quietly fix it whenever I notice (laughs).

S: The length of the top really is just right, isn't it. You can tuck it in, but it also looks natural left untucked.

③ Is there anything you pay attention to when washing it?

T: I usually put delicate clothes in a laundry net to wash them, but this one I can wash without worrying at all. I'm not really one for hand-washing, so it's a relief.

S: Personally I actually like hand-washing, but for this one I just leave it to the washing machine.

M: I've washed mine many times in the washing machine too, and I'm happy that it keeps its crispness. Of course it gets softer than when it's brand new, but it doesn't lose its shape, if that makes sense. Since T-shirts are the kind of item you want to wash right away, that's a relief. I'm sure I'll be wearing this one again next summer too.

◆Mini Column: Also Great for Travel, Thanks to Its Compact Size

One of the staff's quiet favorite points is that it resists wrinkling and folds down compactly. Let's actually fold it up and check the size.

First, fold the sleeves in toward the center (②) → fold it down to about a third of its full length (③) → fold it once more to finish (④).

Comparing it to a notebook that's roughly B6 size, you can really see just how compact it is.

Because the fabric is thick and has crispness, it resists wrinkling, and since it's square-shaped when spread out, it's easy to fold. It also pairs easily with other clothes, so you can pack it into your travel bag without a second thought. In fact, staff members say they often bring it along on trips. The reassurance that it won't lose its shape even then is another welcome point.

All three staff members had their own tastes and ways of styling it, but they all seemed to appreciate the distinctively smooth fabric and the reversible design with a crew neck on one side and a V-neck on the other. Even with the same design, the color chosen made quite a difference in impression. This is a top worth choosing especially for summer—one that might just have staff members reaching for another color before they know it.

▶ Item Featured This Time: Reversible Short Sleeve

Quality Casual Wear, Delivered from France

CHANTECLAIR was founded in 1973 in Saint-Pouange, a small village near the Champagne region of France. Ever since its founding, this maker has continued to provide high-quality French-made products, specializing in the production of knitwear for men, women and children, and offering high-quality items with a firm commitment to being made in France. The Champagne region is also known as a place where fine-quality cotton is grown. Beyond the reversible short sleeve top featured here, the brand's lineup consists entirely of items that are highly durable while also offering excellent comfort against the skin and breathability—garments you'll want to keep wearing for years to come.

>> Click here for the brand page

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