A Sweater Is a Chair’s Best Friend

Interior stylist Colin King’s trick for showing off this fall’s best knits was inspired by what many of us do at the end of the day: throw our not-quite-dirty, not-quite-clean clothing onto the nearest chair. These particular chairs just happen to hail from the New York City–-based Demisch Danant gallery’s rather stylish collection of French modern furniture, which includes the iconic François Arnal Z Chair and René-Jean Caillette’s Folding Chair R.J.C. Under these circumstances, the task of choosing a perfect sweater-chair pairing becomes a delightful design exercise. What could be better than the ribbing on Wales Bonner’s Roots polo shirt to make the lines of the Z Chair pop? Or the sleeve of Emily Dawn Long’s take on a ’50s children’s jumper climbing the playfully corded back of Louis Sognot’s Low Chair? Don’t get us started on how the straps of Prada’s cherry-red knit tank mimic the legs of Jacques Charpentier’s stainless steel Chair just so. The first-best place for a really good sweater is on your body. But the second-best place is, without a doubt, on a really good chair. Jacques Dumond and& Philippe Leloup Pair of Bridge Chairs, 1961 Polished steel, painted aluminum, foam, suede This steel-framed chair was designed as part of the Salon Saint-Tropez,” the largest public lounge aboard the SS France cruise liner, an international symbol of French luxury. Sweater: Stone IslandAntoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq “Confort” Desk Chair, Model 3001 T8, 1964 Cast aluminum, molded plywood, veneer, foam, fabric Made from molded plywood and aluminum, this is what office chairs looked like in the days before ergonomics took over. Sweater: Margaret HowellFrancis Jourdain Armchair, c. 1920 Ash and cherry woods, foam, fabric This chair is an embodiment of Jourdain’s championing of humble, unornamented wooden furniture that working- class people could enjoy. Sweater: Loro PianaMaria Pergay Chaise X / X Chair with Arms, 1968/2017 Brushed stainless steel, foam, fabric Pergay, who self-identified less as a designer and more as a “captor of ideas,” was known for making steel look luxurious by combining it with soft leathers, as in the Chaise X. Sweater: 6397 Pierre Paulin Pair of Iena Armchairs, 1985/2023 Sycamore, wood, foam, fabric Paulin was so favored by the French elite that, at one point, he was invited to decorate the private apartments of President George Pompidou. This chair design was a commission from the French government in 1985 for a major office building in Paris. Sweater: Lauren ManoogianRené-Jean Caillette Pair of Chairs, c. 1987 Blue and white laminated wood, metal frame This chair shows off Caillette’s commitment to clean, sculptural lines and his use of wood — a material he had a particular affinity for as the son of a cabinetmaker. Sweater: Ralph LaurenRoger Tallon / Technès Orly Club Chair, 1966 Chromed steel, lacquered aluminum, rubber, foam, original vinyl Designed in 1965 by Tallon and his studio, this model was produced by the office furniture company Flambo, which was known for its use of aluminum and steel. The arms are made of solid rubber instead of being upholstered, which was unusual for the time. Sweater: LoeweFrançois Arnal / Atelier A Z Chair, 1970 Chromed metal Arnal was an artist and designer associated with the lyrical abstraction movement. The iconic Z Chair is an example of how he used industrial materials for avant-garde purposes. Sweater: Wales BonnerRené-Jean Caillette Chair Primevère, c. 1967 Tubular lacquered metal, foam, felt Many of Caillette’s furniture designs were mass-produced after World War II; the drawings of his designs, including this chair, are kept in the French government’s collection. Sweater: HermèsLouis Sognot Low Chair, 1955 Solid beech, jonc de Sadroplast This design by Sognot, who was known for his combinations of rattan and wood, received first prize in its category at the 1955 Salon des Arts Ménagers, a prestigious exhibition of domestic appliances, furniture, and home designs held in Paris each year. Sweater: Emily Dawn LongRichard Peduzzi Chair, c. 1992 Molded cherry laminate A set designer, author, architect, and painter, Peduzzi designed sets that have been the backdrop for numerous theater and opera productions. This chair was a commission from the French government and embodies the minimalist ideal of ’90s furniture. Sweater: DiorJacques Charpentier Chair, c. 1970s Steel Charpentier’s career in the ’60s and ’70s saw him design bold furniture and lighting pieces using materials like stainless steel and leather, often associated with the Space Age aesthetic. Sweater: PradaJoseph-André Motte Pair of Luge Chairs, 1966 Chromed steel, foam, fabric Originally designed for the Mairie de Grenoble, France Provenance: Public commission, Paris These chairs by Motte, an iconic mid-century French designer, were commissioned for the city hall in Grenoble, France. Sweater: Another AspectRené-Jean Caillette Folding Chair R.J.C., 1986 Metal wire, varnished medium This unique reversible folding chair design by Caillette represents the apex of French post-modern minimalism; the backrests and seats can be flipped so that the chair appears either all-black, all-tan, or mixed. Sweater: Celine