RADICALLY CLASSIC
Salle Privée’s ‘permanent collection’ of timeless essentials could redefine the way men dress
By Josh Peskowitz
How can something built on the storied principles of Italian craftsmanship and longevity sound entirely fresh? Part of it is the modern styling of the garments, and part of it is the men who celebrate this way of dressing. Mathieu, photographed by Duy Vo in Mallorca exemplifies the considered elegance of Salle Privée: always subtle and never overdone. The brand name means Private Room in French, and that speaks volumes about the timeless air of exclusivity that arises when garments are so meticulously crafted. In essence, the genius of Munsters' radically simple business model boils down to an adage all his own: buy less, buy better.
Recognizing that men of style build their wardrobes over the course of years, if not decades, knowing that some items are so subtle and perfect that they can be literally worn to threads, Salle Privée works to build what Munsters calls a ‘permanent collection’. If you’ve ever worn the perfect pair of pants threadbare because they really were that perfect, only to go back to the designer and find them discontinued, Salle Privée is for you. The core items all stay in season after season, so that these investment pieces — a cashmere crewneck, a tapered chino, a camel-hair overcoat — are refined until they become more a part of man’s life than his wardrobe.
Fashions fade, but style is eternal. First declared by the master himself Mr. Yves Saint Laurent, this timeless adage is the concept behind Salle Privée, the two-year-old collection by Patrick Munsters. A journeyman of the menswear industry, Patrick came to realize that there was something missing from today’s trend-obsessed market, something that could – by doing things the old way – feel incredibly new. For Patrick, this “old way” means placing quality, longevity and attention to detail at the forefront of the design process.