Superga 2750 Cotu

Saint James: An Introduction

Saint James: an historic purveyor of iconic Breton shirts and sweaters (marinières). Located in Normandy in the commune of Saint-James, the brand is superior for its expertly-crafted products.

I acquired my first Saint James marinières in Paris during the 2013-2014 holiday season. Back then, I wasn’t attuned to French cultural codes and entered the store without a proper “bonjour.” The saleswoman wasn’t rude, but she wasn’t exactly welcoming either. There wasn’t anyone else in the small shop at 44 Rue Cler, and the experience was highly transactional. (This location has since been permanently closed.) The result of the trade: two Galathee marinières—one white with navy stripes and the other white with royal blue stripes. My original shirts are long gone (donated to a thrift shop in West Philadelphia), but only because I now prefer a different size.

This past holiday season, I acquired four new Saint James marinières, and I’ve been wearing them constantly with my collections of navy and blue J.Crew Martie pants. Instant winter uniform! (The Martie has been discontinued, and I’m now in the market for a new style of slim black pants, preferably with a hint of stretch.) The Galathee II (in white/navy stripes and ecru/navy stripes) and the Meridame II (in navy/ecru stripes and ecru/navy stripes) turn heads every time I wear them, which has been at least four days out of every week since they were added to my closet.

Saint James originally produced wool sweaters for fishermen and sailors in the French Navy, and, to this day, the functionality of the clothing has been maintained. The fabric (wool for sweaters and cotton for shirts) and stitching are superb. A few months ago, I purchased a striped tee shirt from a startup that will remain nameless (at least for now); I have to put it on gently or else the seams will rip audibly. A Saint James knit (shirt or sweater) will last for years to come if cared for properly. Drying machines are off-limits.

Works Sighted

Meridame II (ecru/navy stripes) // J.Crew Martie pant (black) // Superga 2750 Cotu Classic (navy)

At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance (1890) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Further Reading

I Visited the Saint James Factory in France, and It Gave Me Hope for Ethical Fashion” (EcoCult)

The Breton Shirt” (T.C.E.)

Superga Edit

Superga sneakers

You may have noticed that Superga sneakers are featured quite prominently on this site. I wrote about the 2750 Cotu Classic and 2790 Acotw extensively during my first month as the editrix. See the following posts:

Everything You Need to Know About the Superga 2750 Cotu Classic
Everything You Need to Know About the Superga 2790 Acotw

Both styles are indispensable in navy, but I’m considering other colors too. We’re well into the season of the sundress, a time when Supergas really shine. Suitable for wear on New York concrete and beyond, they’ll also take you into autumn. So versatile and deserving of an edit.

Works Sighted

2750 synthetic crocodile (taupe)

2750 black // 2750 white

2790 ash grey // 2750 leather (black)

2790 black // 2750 white and gold

The Nautica Polo Dress

Navy polo dress with navy Superga sneakers.

You’ll recall that I started searching for casual warm-weather dresses in February. For me, the ideal dress was comfortable enough for lounging but also polished enough for the brunch table. The athletic/athleisure dress offered the best of both worlds. I considered a wide range of options and eventually settled on a polo shirt dress by Nautica. It first appeared on the blog last month when I paired it with a skirt. Having purchased five of these dresses (3 navy, 1 black, and 1 white), I can confirm its 4.6/5 stars on Amazon were rightfully earned. My only qualm: The white dress is a little see-through and should be paired with the appropriate underthings. Overall, this dress is very versatile, comfortable, and the fabric is forgiving and breathable. Add a pair of Supergas or espadrilles, and my summer uniform is set.

Works Sighted

Nautica polo dress // Superga 2750 Cotu Classic

Casual Dresses for Warm Weather

4 dresses: polo dress, shirtdress, tank dress, tee shirt dress.

Yesterday my travels took me to the center of PHL, also known as Spandexville. Many of the ladies who were out and about had used the warm weather as an excuse to show off their tight crop top and shorts sets. The college students were in their denim shorts and spaghetti strap tank tops. If I didn’t know the geography of Philadelphia, I would have thought there was a beach nearby. I took my habitual lap around J.Crew Liberty Place and spotted the new linen shirtdress I’d seen online. I thought to myself, There’s some people I’ve seen on the street who need this. This particular selection of dresses is intended to save you from pulling something unbecoming from your closet. (Although, I really hope that you don’t own a spandex shorts and crop top set.) Consider the polo dress, shirtdress, tank dress, and tee shirt dress for casual wear. Save the spandex for the gym. If your gym isn’t located inside of your house, remember that it’s not the beach.

Works Sighted

Lacoste polo dress // Superga 2750 Cotu classic (white/gold) // Kayu mini straw tote

J.Crew linen shirtdress // Sebago docksiders // Kayu sur straw tote // Made Solid belt

Amazon tank dress // Superga 2790 Acotw (navy) // St Tropez pom pom straw tote

J.Crew midi tee shirt dress // Superga 2750 (off-white) // Kayu mini St. Tropez pom pom tote

The Tank Dress

Tank dress and Superga 2750 Cotu classic white.

I occasionally wake up and decide that I’m not getting dressed. This presents a predicament because I believe that part of getting ready for the day is dressing for it. I don’t want to eat breakfast in my pajamas. Let’s say that I wake up late and lunchtime is just around the corner. That’s when I reach for my tank dress. The easiest piece of summer clothing in my arsenal, it’s made of cotton and feels just like a tank top in dress form. I own three of them, all identical, and all in navy. Sometimes I throw on a linen button-up shirt over it. Lately, I’ve been leaving the shirt unbuttoned, but sometimes I feel like tying the two front, bottom ends together in a knot at the navel. A pair of Superga sneakers completes this look every time.

Works Sighted

Gap Factory dress (old); Kate Spade sunglasses (old); Superga 2750 Cotu Classic (white)

Further Reading

Everlane’s Party of One tank dress; Everlane’s long weekend tank dress; Everlane’s luxe cotton seamed tank dress; Everlane’s luxe cotton A-line tank dress; Madewell linen-blend v-neck tank dress; Vince tiered tank dress

Everything You Need to Know About the Superga 2750 Cotu Classic

Superga 2750 Cotu classic white.

I bought my first pair of Superga sneakers six years ago in Firenze. We were walking by the Palazzo Pitti when I noticed a Superga sale sign in front of a shop by the name of Sportando. I’d tried on a pair in the past but had decided then that I was in between a size 39 and a size 40. Since the canvas sneaker didn’t come in a 39.5, I’d resolved that it wasn’t meant for me. Superga was born in Italy, and the opportunity to acquire a pair whilst in Firenze was too appealing to pass up. I left Sportando with a pair of the 2750 Cotu Classics in navy, and I’ve been wearing that style constantly for the last six years. Although I’ve owned them in black and white, I always have a navy (or blue graphite) pair on hand.

I’m not sure what happened the first time I tried them on, but I discovered that a size 39 fit me perfectly at my second fitting. According to the size chart, a 39 in European sizes is equivalent to a U.S. women’s size 8. I wear a U.S. 8.5 or 9 in shoes depending on the brand/type. To ensure the best fit, I highly recommend trying on two sizes. This may sound like a hassle if you are ordering online rather than trying on in store, but these shoes are worth the effort. I order most of my shoes from Zappos because shipping and returns are fast and free. When you are trying on your Supergas, you’ll want to lace them up properly and tie them too. The vulcanized rubber sole is heavy, and the shoes will not stay on your feet if you skip this step.

If you have any doubts as to whether this sneaker is for you after trying them on, I’d like to encourage you to sleep on it. Try them on again the next day. Walk around in your house a bit. The thick, vulcanized sole is the best part of the shoe. Vulcanization is the process by which the rubber is hardened. Thanks to this process, the 1-inch sole acts as a cushion and absorbs the impact from the pavement. I don’t think this information appears in any official writing; I know from experience. The 2750 Cotu Classic withstands a beating on old Italian streets like no other sneaker. I never leave the country without a pair. In fact, the one time I swapped this style for the 2790 Acotw, I regretted my decision not to bring both styles. The 2750 Cotu Classic is essential.

If I buy a pair right before a trip, I spend about a week breaking them in prior to taking off. You will need to break them in, but the process isn’t terrible. However, I don’t recommend trying to meet your 15,000-step Fitbit goal in these shoes during the break-in period. I know it is time to replace my sneakers when the heel has been run over with wear. I replace my navy pair approximately every 2-3 months. After they’ve expired, they become very uncomfortable to wear.

If you are wondering if these sneakers provide arch support, they don’t, but I find that the shock-absorbing sole is fair compensation. I don’t require a high level of arch support in general, so I wouldn’t be able to predict how comfortable these would be for someone who does. Also, I suspect that there wouldn’t be enough room to place an insole inside. They are cut a bit low on the ankle, and I couldn’t imagine wearing an insole on top of the already-cushioned sole anyway.

Now to cover the topic of cleaning. I don’t usually clean my Supergas. I might rub the sides of the cream-colored sole with a disinfecting wipe if I’ve worn them in the rain. However, the white pair is a different story. I don’t recommend submerging your sneakers in water and neither does Superga. The following are the official cleaning instructions to follow if you choose to use a washing machine: While we do not recommend washing your Superga shoes, you may be able to wash our Cotu styles. The best way to wash our Cotu shoes is in a pillow case, cool wash and powder detergent (not liquid), leave laces on so you don’t lose the shape of the shoe and hang to dry naturally, not on a radiator.

You won’t find me putting my sneakers in the washer; I clean mine with a firm toothbrush and a small cup of Tide (in liquid form) over the bathroom sink. I wet the toothbrush, dip it in Tide, and scrub the outer surface of the shoe. I rinse the brush clean and swipe it in a downward motion on the canvas to remove the detergent. Being careful not to get the inside of the sneaker soaking wet, I also hold the shoe upside down under the faucet to aid in the rinsing process. Placing washcloths inside the sneaker may be helpful, as is holding it with your hand inside for stabilization purposes. If you choose to wash your sneakers in my preferred manner, remove the laces before you begin. Wash them by hand in the bathroom sink and hang to dry.

It goes without saying that Superga sneakers are extremely versatile if you purchase a versatile color. I’ve even worn the navy pair with dresses to holiday parties. More often than not, I wear them with Bombas no-show socks (no other socks will do). Sometimes I wear them without socks, but I try not to make it a habit. I often wear them with tights in cooler weather. Supergas are truly a year-round staple.

Works Sighted

Superga 2750 Cotu Classic White; Boden skirt (old)

Update (25 March 2023): I no longer recommend Bombas no-show socks due to a change that was made in the composition of the fabric towards a higher percentage of polyester/spandex/nylon. When I started buying these socks in 2018, all colors except for white were made mainly (if not 100%) of cotton and lasted for years. With the current style, a hole appears after the first wear.