The whole effect rests on precision: an even knit, a clean stripe, and a solid frame to hold them.

• Cotton knit. The cardigan is knitted in cotton, in a fine, smooth gauge with a dry, cool hand. It is the fibre of the original sailor's jersey, refined until it drapes like silk jersey.
• Black stripes. The stripes are black, where a classic marinière would be navy. Black makes the pattern sharper and more graphic, and takes it from the harbour to the city.
• Ecru ground. Between them the ground is ecru, a soft ivory in place of optical white. It warms the contrast and gives the knit the tone of sailcloth in the sun.
• Solid black bands. The neckline, the button band and the cuffs are knitted in plain black rib. They frame the stripes like the dark gunwale of a boat and keep the edges firm.
• Knitted in Italy. The cardigan was made in Italy, as its label states. For a piece dedicated to Venice, the detail could hardly be more fitting.

The shape is deliberately simple. It lets the stripes and the buttons do the work.

• A deep V neckline. The neck opens in a long V, outlined by the black band. It lengthens the throat and leaves room for pearls, a chain or a silk scarf.
• A close fit. The fine knit sits near the body without clinging. It keeps the stripes straight and the line tidy, buttoned or open.
• Hip length. The hem ends at the top of the hip, finished with a striped rib. The proportion works with high-waisted trousers, white jeans or a slim skirt.
• Long sleeves. The sleeves are long and slim, and can be pushed up to the elbow in the sailor's manner. Either way the stripes run unbroken from shoulder to wrist.
• Three ways to wear it. Buttoned on bare skin it is a top; open over a white shirt it is a light jacket. Thrown over the shoulders, it is the most elegant thing on a boat.