Chat Noir: A Parisian Legend Returns
Some legends never disappear.
They simply wait - watching from the shadows, tail flicking, eyes half-lidded.
Long before he prowled across cotton jersey and into Kitten wardrobes, the black cat first appeared beneath flickering gaslight on a crooked hill in Paris.
In 1881, a small cabaret opened in Montmartre known as Le Chat Noir. By day, the neighbourhood hummed with printers, painters, and political thinkers. By night, it belonged to poets, musicians, and performers who understood the power of wit delivered after dark.
Le Chat Noir was intimate rather than grand. Guests sat close, glasses clinking softly, close enough to feel the vibration of piano keys and the sharp edge of satire. Songs told stories of love and rebellion in equal measure, while laughter, smoke, and ideas curled lazily toward the ceiling.
Presiding over it all was the Cat. Not sweet. Never ornamental. Arched back. Sharp eyes. Tail curled.
The Artist Who Gave Him His Stare
The image that would make Le Chat Noir immortal was created by Théophile Steinlen, a Swiss-born artist who made Montmartre his home. Steinlen was deeply embedded in Paris’s creative world - a regular in cafés and cabarets, an observer of nightlife and labour alike, and a man known for always sketching, always watching.
In 1896, as Le Chat Noir began touring beyond Montmartre, Steinlen was commissioned to create a poster announcing the performances. What he produced was far more than an advertisement.
His black cat stands crowned like a saint, haloed, unapologetic, gazing out with cool defiance. The pose was deliberate - Steinlen’s cat was not there to charm. He was there to judge. A reflection of the cabaret itself: clever, theatrical, and quietly rebellious.
To Steinlen, cats embodied independence and intelligence - creatures that belong to no one, observe everything, and refuse to perform unless it suits them. It is perhaps why his Chat Noir feels less like an illustration and more like a personality.
From Cabaret Wall to Kitten D’Amour
Some icons are not content to remain in history books. In August 2017, Kitten D’Amour released a collection titled Le Chat Noir. Guests recognised him instantly - that unmistakable silhouette, that knowing stare. He slipped effortlessly into wardrobes and hearts, becoming part of Kitten lore for those who adore Parisian drama with a little bite.
Later, he appeared again, quietly, within Read All About It - a subtle nod for those paying attention.
And now, the Cat returns once more.
The Chat Noir T-Shirt brings that Montmartre spirit into the present, available in classic black or bold red. One feels smoky and nocturnal, the other daring and theatrical. Together, they carry the same confidence that once ruled candlelit cabaret rooms.
This is not merely a nostalgic print. It is a continuation of a story.
How Do You Wear Your Chat Noir?
At Le Chat Noir, individuality was the rule. No two performers sang the same song in quite the same way, and no two nights were ever identical. That philosophy remains.
The 'Chat Noir' T-Shirt might be worn tied delicately at the shoulder and paired with a dramatic skirt - a modern echo of cabaret elegance. It may just as easily be styled with denim and boots, worn effortlessly through the day with a hint of rebellion. Or layered beneath tailoring, the Cat peeking out quietly, as if sharing a private joke.
Soon, you’ll see Kittens wearing their Chat Noir exactly as they choose - one image, one interpretation, each telling a slightly different story.
Because the spirit of Le Chat Noir was never about conformity. It was about presence. And the Cat, ever watchful, still seems to approve.
Adrienne Kitten
Adrienne’s style is chameleon to the core. By daylight she is our polished Head Office Kitten. By night she trades the desk for the microphone as singer in her country boho band, Vixens of Fall, and the Le Chat Noir Top comes right along for both adventures.
The Le Chat Noir Top is an absolute delight to style. Playful, dramatic, and wonderfully versatile, she slips effortlessly between moods. A change of skirt transforms her completely, and that is why Adrienne adores this piece.
Adrienne teams her with white Monterey Denim Shorts for an easy, carefree take, always finished with a heel. Even her relaxed moments feel a little dressy, and she would not have it any other way. Pair it with some Vegas Wide Leg Jeans, and she's stage-ready!
Paired with the Kitten Noir Tea Length Full Skirt, the top feels pure Paris pin-up with a hint of theatre. Adrienne loves the full tea-length silhouette and says it works beautifully for lunches with the girls and bright afternoons in the boutiques.
For candlelit evenings or before she heads to a gig, the D’Amour Mermaid Wiggle Skirt and sleek velvet gloves bring out sharp feminine drama. This outfit makes her feel confident, glamorous, and ready to take centre stage.
Adrienne tells it best. This top is true mood-shifter. From café at noon to chorus at night, she loves living two lives in the same beautiful piece.
Bust 108cm, Waist 88cm, HIP 118cm, Height 169cm
Chat Noir Tshirt - Large / 'Monterey' Denim Shorts (White) - Size 14 / Kitten Noir Tea Length Full Skirt - Size 12 / D'Amour Mermaid Wiggle Skirt - Size 14
Mandie Kitten
Mandie Kitten. Classic vintage with a quirky edge, and even her casual look feels delightfully dressy!
She opted for the Madison Denim Wiggle Skirt when she wanted a more relaxed take on Chat Noir, proving that denim can still have plenty of pin-up polish.
For a sharper vintage silhouette, Mandie loved pairing the top with the D'Amour Mermaid Wiggle Skirt, creating a look that was sleek, black, and wonderfully dramatic.
And she simply could not go past the 'Anarchy' Tulle Skirt for a little bit extra - especially for those evenings when a girl likes to allow for an additional cocktail or two. We understand completely, Mandie!
Bust: 101cm, Waist: 76cm, Hip:108cm, Height: 168Ccm
Chat Noir Tshirt - Medium / Madison Denim Wiggle Skirt - Size 12 / D'Amour Mermaid Wiggle Skirt - Size 10 / Anarchy Tulle Skirt - Size 10
Kerryn Kitten
Kerryn is a Kitten who loves a little drama - the sartorial kind, anyway! She finds it very hard to resist a T-shirt with true styling range - and Chat Noir delivers in spades.
First, the Cat goes sleek. Paired with the D’Amour Cigarette Pants, it’s all inky black lines and feline confidence - sharp, elegant, and impossible to ignore.
Then, a change of mood. With the Cosette Peplum Wiggle Skirt, the silhouette softens and curves take centre stage.
Finally, Kerryn takes things fully theatrical. Not one, but two Tulle Skirts, layered and pinned just so - the top skirt lifted to reveal the drama beneath., and finished with a Follies velvet hair bow, because if you’re going to make an entrance, you may as well make it memorable.
Bust 93cm, Waist 70cm, Hip 104cm, Height 169cm
Chat Noir Tshirt - Medium / Anarchy Tulle Skirts (Red and Black) - Size 10 / Cosette Peplum Wiggle Skirt - Size 10 / D’Amour Cigarette Pants - Size 10
Siana Kitten
The 'Chat Noir' T-Shirt felt destined for Siana from the moment it appeared. With her dark, gothic-esque sensibility, she leaned straight into the Cat’s mood.
By day, Siana pairs her 'Chat Noir' with the 'Monterey' Denim Shorts - effortless, a little rebellious, and perfectly balanced with the 'D’Amour' Sneakers in Blue for strolling, scheming, and making an impression before noon.
By night, the Cat demands drama. Enter the 'D’amour' Birdsnest Skirt - voluminous, theatrical, and unmistakably grand. Suddenly, this is no longer just a T-shirt. It’s an entrance.
This is the kind of piece that refuses to stay in one moment - day to night, street to soirée.
Bust 108cm, Waist 91cm, Hip 123cm Height 163cm
'Chat Noir' Tshirt - Extra Large / 'Monterey' Denim Shorts - Size 18 / 'D’Amour' Birdsnest Skirt - Size 16
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