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French brand Petit Bateau is said to inspire the kind of nutso loyalty that drives otherwise sane people to plan entire vacations in France -- just so they can stock up on the brand's cotton undies and other staples. They opened their first west coast outpost last week, just a block north of Wilshire in Beverly Hills.
It's a sunny, airy store that stocks an assortment of cotton staples for women, boys, girls, and babies. While the "tees and cotton goods as fashion" seems like such an American aesthetic, the quality is definitely Parisian: the cotton is sturdier, the stitching is nice, and the cuts are all simple.
The prices are in line with other premium tees purveyors: basic tanks start around $30, and most of the tees range from $40 - $80, with a few specialty items selling for more. Our favorite piece in the store was a slubby-burnout effect double-faced tunic/dress for $211. The kids' items are definitely more expensive than Target or Babies R Us, but they're still reasonable for higher end kid clothing. And hey, think of all the money you'll save by not having to go to France.
· Petit Bateau [Official Site]