In the shadow of the Paris Stock Exchange, right in the heart of the city, stands an unassuming building housing the offices of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. An official institution that has helped launch and sustain countless entrepreneurial ventures. The “CCI”, as business jargon dubbed it long ago, is today chaired by Dominique Restino. A man of lively gestures, with the pedigree of a sales engineer, a truly self-made man: “I did plenty of odd jobs, and then one day I became a temp consultant. I was selling other people's work. That's how it all began.” And so, that was how Dominique Restino started wearing suits.
You now hold official positions and have also been a business leader for many years—roles that call for wearing a suit. What is your relationship with this particular garment?
A suit is not just about keeping up appearances. It is more a matter of respect for others. Since the age of 20, I have worn suit jackets. When I was younger, it gave me a serious look, especially when it came to hiring people or dealing with a certain clientele. And then, over the course of my life, it became a foundation that I enhanced with various pieces. I have occasionally worn flannel trousers with a suit jacket. I have also worn three-piece suits; I found that smart. In another era, I had double-breasted suits. I was not yet 47, I had not yet given up smoking. That is no longer really the case today, so it is best to avoid that cut of suit, which is a little too unforgiving. In addition to suits, I now have a dinner suit in my wardrobe. I bought it for the time I went to the Cannes Film Festival!
Do you consider wearing a suit to be a norm?
I am well aware that times have changed. In certain professional environments, if you turn up in a suit, you quickly look foolish. It is better to wear jeans and trainers, as in start-ups, for example. As an entrepreneur, I have certainly noticed that, yes. On the other hand, among traditional business leaders, things do not change: the custom of wearing a suit is deeply rooted. For my part, I sometimes do without a tie. Ties are less required now; it is less conventional. That said, I am always in a suit. Because I feel comfortable that way, but also and above all because it is my work uniform.
A suit is not just about keeping up appearances. It is more a matter of respect for others.
Was clothing something that mattered in your family?
I come from an immigrant family, and I grew up in the Aisne, in a small town, though it does have a chateau. My father worked every job under the sun, from bricklayer to tailor. For a time, he ran a small textile business, a garment workshop where a dozen seamstresses worked. When I was a kid, I folded clothes there to earn a bit of pocket money. Dresses, roll necks, shirts… Let's just say that clothes have played a part in my life.
What do you look like when you are not in a suit?
I like wearing trainers and jeans. I have always been a fan of Kenzo; I like soft, lightweight fabrics. At 16, I saved up for seven months to buy my first pair of Teddy Smith trousers. It was in 1978 and they were red. In the 80s, I started wearing leather trousers. I know it is rather dated nowadays, and I sincerely hope it is a style that comes back. I still have a pair among my things, in brown leather, a kind of nubuck.