Mr Cordeaux : A Word on Guernseys

Approx. read time: 5 minutes

“When it comes to building a wardrobe, I think one of the first pieces of knitwear to look at would be the Guernsey sweater.”

It’s such an evocative piece for me. My first Guernsey sweater I purchased, I want to say, about 42 years ago. I bought it while I was at art school. There was something about it that grabbed me. It was a very distinctive sweater. I think it’s very British in the fact that it’s instantly recognisable.

It actually wasn’t until a few years later that I realised with a Guernsey sweater you can put it on either way. There’s no right or wrong way to wear it. It has this lovely distinctive rib at the shoulder and also at the hem, and that lovely slip detail at the hem too, which I think works really well with denim. It’s a real comfort piece.

"The piece that we’ve added, and I’m actually really proud of this, is a roll neck to the classic Guernsey sweater."

Today is the 24th of October. I’ve just put my navy blue version on. I know it’s going to give good comfort and good protection for a dog walk. And being wool, it’s naturally breathable. You don’t actually get too warm, because when your body is warm, the natural fibres of wool allow your body heat to pass through the knit, but also retain your warmth as well. It’s almost like a natural temperature control. It’s also very sustainable, knitted in Guernsey.

It’s a real icon. I’d say it’s an iconic British piece. I remember, probably 20 years into the journey with my Guernsey sweater, I had a little invasion by moths near the hem and up near the neck. I sent my sweater back to Guernsey and they repaired it by knitting the repair at the hem and also making me a whole new neck rib. That made me fall in love with the brand even more.

"These pieces, particularly Guernsey, develop patina. They gather stories. They tell a story of how you’ve evolved as well.

For me, it’s an essential piece in your wardrobe.

As I said, we’ve added a roll neck to give it a slightly more contemporary look. We’ve got navy blue, submariner white, which looks absolutely fantastic under a peacoat or a reefer coat, or a big Ulster, and we’ve got red. The red sits beautifully with a barn jacket. I’ve got a barn jacket from Bryson’s, which I love wearing red with, because it’s unwashed denim and I think unwashed denim works really well with red as a colour.

What do I wear my Guernsey with? I wear it with heavy flannel trousers, which gives it quite a smart look, but I also wear it with beaten denim. I’ve got a pair of 45 RPM jeans that are probably nearly as old as my original Guernsey.

"When building a wardrobe, I would always add a Guernsey sweater."

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Available in:

Naval Blue

Submariner White

Portsmouth Red

 

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