Gauthier Borsarello is probably best known as the creative director of Parisian fashion label Fursac, and as the co-founder and creative director of l’Etiquette magazine, but he’s also a vintage clothing enthusiast of the highest order. A thrift store devotee since his early teens, Borsarello’s knack for finding beautiful and rare pre-loved clothing has earned him a reputation as the go-to guy for fashion insiders—including big-name designers from the likes of Hermès and Bode—in search of unusual vintage inspo. It has also helped him amass an incredible collection of clothing.
Borsarello’s tastes are diverse, from World War I military gear to hand-embroidered hippy denim to ’90s Nirvana merch, but the pieces he loves most (which he occasionally offers for sale on his Instagram store) are all connected by a common thread. Whether it’s a paint-spattered hoodie or a lovingly safety-pinned punk tee, Borsarello’s grails all tell a story of the person who owned them, lived in them, and imbued them with the patina of years of wear.
Borsarello is a guy with a lot going on (we won’t get into his line of handmade audio equipment here), but most recently, he’s the co-author (alongside journalist Marc Beaugé) of Good As Old. The book is a compendium of vintage pieces that, as its subtitle says, “Embellis par les temps” (translation: have grown more beautiful with time). We asked him to share a few of his favorite finds with us—and tell us a bit about what makes them so special.
Ford Donkey Jacket
“I found this Ford donkey jacket on eBay. It comes from a British Ford factory, and I love the patina and the sun fade on the plastic orange part, and on the wool. The fabulous thing about this piece is the letter I found in the pocket. The owner started a strike in the factory in 1980, and the factory lost 100 vehicles. This letter is the proof of the conditions the worker was living in, and a true piece of history.”
Black Moleskin Jacket
“I found this 1930s jacket in les Puces de Saint Ouen [the world’s biggest vintage market on the outskirts of Paris], and I think more than half of the jacket is not from the original fabric. It has been patched and repaired so much it looks like a piece of art—it’s truly an amazing [remnant] of French worker life before World War II.”
Senior Cord Pants
“These pants were hand painted with all the [college symbols and signifiers] of an American student in the 1950s or 1960s. Bode does beautiful ones custom made for their customers and revived this tradition, it was fabulous to see. These were a gift from one of my best friends, so I will never ever part with them.”
Embroidered Levi’s
“These ’60s denim pants are proof that people from different cultures or subcultures would take so much time to customize their clothes to express themselves. It’s all made by hand and so precise—it’s insane.”
Acid Wash Levi’s
“These acid wash Levi’s 1960s 501 Big E jeans were found in the USA by my friend and supplier Philippe Christol, while he was talking to me on the phone at a garage sale. He was so happy on the phone but couldn’t express his joy in front of the seller. But I could hear everything [in his voice]. Really cool story for a very cool piece.”
Union Jack T-Shirt
“This ’80s Union Jack flag t-shirt, found in les Puces de Saint Ouen, is a great example of what punks were wearing in Paris. It’s poorly hand-customized with a pencil, rubber bands, and steel paper clips. It feels extremely real in person; you can feel that it’s OG.”
Camouflage Jacket
“I found this by luck on eBay. It’s the classic French work jacket, but handmade with single-needle machines after World War II in American USMC HBT camouflage fabric. At that time, the dyeing and printing process was not very stable, so you sometimes had different colors from one fabric roll to another. That happened here—the guy used different rolls of the same fabric to create that jacket. With time, washes, and patina, the differences become more and more visible. I have the same thing with a World War I US Army denim smock: the pockets and arms are from different batches, and the more I wash it, the more insane it looks!”
Breton Officer Sweater
“I was coming home after grocery shopping, and saw a sculptor in my street outside his atelier in this sweater. I recognized immediately that it was made by Le Minor, as I had been consulting for them years ago, and I asked him if I could buy it off his back. He said, ‘Well I wear it everyday to work, so I would need another one.’ And I answered, ‘Well, you’re lucky they still produce them in Brittany with the same quality today!’ I offered him the price of a new one to get this one. Then I stitched it back a little bit so it would keep its character, but would still be wearable. After posting it on IG, I sold it to Francesco Risso at Marni. I don't regret it as it’s in good hands with this genius.”
