10 Summer Style Pieces We Enthusiastically Endorse
The weather’s nice. So is a cold cocktail at the end of a long, sunny day. But summer’s greatest luxury is the chance to escape—to throw everything into a bag and get the hell out of town. That’s why summer’s most luxurious stuff tends to be a bit simpler. Clothes that function in the heat, accessories that won’t weigh you down, and, of course, a bag to stuff them all in. But to qualify for the Hook—the Big Black Book’s ongoing rundown of the season’s most covetable pieces—they need to offer a little something else, too. That might be a shot of color, a cleverly functional detail, or some really nice leather. But whatever it is, you’ll find that all ten pieces on this list offer more than they need to. Because that little something else is, after all, what defines luxury.
Moncler Grenoble
Backpack
It’s natural enough to think of snow and ice when the brand Moncler is mentioned. The company, founded in 1952, made its name in serious mountain gear for serious mountaineers, including Italians Achille Compagnoniand Lino Lacedelli, who made the first ascent of K2 in 1954. But the same technology that puts Moncler at the top of the intersection of luxury and performance for the winter months applies long after the snow has melted. Its lightweight backpacks for the summer offer much of the same performance as its clothing. The colorblocked one you see here is made in water-repellent nylon toile and features a mesh back for comfort in the heat, but it also has a touch of luxury in the calf-leather trim and handles.
Santoni
Sneak-Air Sneaker
Santoni is known for handmade and hand-finished footwear steeped in the traditions of the Marche region, where the best Italian shoes are made. But the label is also at pains to put those traditions to work in shoes with a much more modern vibe, like this leather sneaker, which features open-weave cotton in a style that originates in Mogliano—a town known for its woven baskets, bags, and furniture. It’s an unexpected hybrid of performance and craftsmanship, one that’s sure to make the sneaker as breathable as it is luxurious.
Berluti Toujours
Soft Travel Bag
Toujours Soft is a new line of unstructured bags from Paris-based leather brand Berluti. Its zippered Hobo bag is a luxurious, roomy take on the crossbody, designed to be slung over one shoulder, leaving hands free for everything else. Like the bespoke shoes that made Berluti’s name, the premium calfskin is hand-colored in a smoky patinated brown after it’s put together, giving it a delicately aged look that belies its supple feel.
Stone Island
41123 Membrana 3L TC Hooded Jacket
Founded in 1982, Stone Island is the forerunner of several generations of performance-inspired, tech-savvy clothing brands to emerge from the design studios of Italy. Heavy on research and experimentation, it provides an antidote to mainstream fashion with a die-hard cult following that now includes teens and grandfathers. This lightweight hooded jacket is made in a three-ply shell called Membrana 3L TC, which is basically a bonded sandwich of nylon, a water-resistant membrane, and a superlight polyester lining. The jacket—like many historical pieces in Stone Island’s back catalog—is garment dyed, meaning it gets its color only after the jacket is complete, creating interesting but subtle variations in tone.
Loro Piana
Swim Trunks
When you think about Loro Piana, cashmere comes to mind—and Succession. But the storied luxury brand is rapidly expanding its range of products to encompass all aspects of style. In the summer, that means mid-thigh-length swim shorts in functional, quick-drying nylon, as seen here in a red and white “Plumerias” print. The plumeria, or frangipani, is the quintessential tropical flower, used in Hawaiian leis and therefore evoking vintage surf shorts that offer as much dash on the sand as they do in the water.
The Row
Shearling Shoes
The Row is known for its low-key style, reducing everything to its simplest form but using the most unbelievably luxurious materials on the market. And these supple, almost-not-there shoes in buttery suede and short-cropped shearling are about as close to being barefoot while still being shod as you can get. Constructed in two pieces with an espadrille sole, they’re the ultimate travel shoes, lending a bit of opulence and a lot of comfort while taking up very little room in your carry-on.
Hermès
Tropiquet Beach Towel
A statement towel is not usually high on one’s list of priorities for beach vacations, but this retro poster-inspired piece in plush cotton from Hermès may be hard to resist stuffing into your suitcase. In a bold palette of tropical colors, featuring palm trees and waves breaking on coral reefs, it’s an artistic way to stake your morning claim on the sunbeds, and so much better than plain old white. And in a Where’s Waldo? moment, the print’s designer, Matthieu Cossé, hid a parrot among the palm fronds. Something to look for between your piña coladas.
Celine
Trucker Cap
Celine’s mesh snapback trucker does not reinvent the wheel, even with its slightly skimpy peak. But it is the fashionable apotheosis of high-meets-low, and it’s all because of that big, collegiate-style lettering on the front. You could, of course, wear your favorite beer brand, engine oil maker, or baseball team on your forehead. And sure, you’d blend in. In this case, though, it’s far preferable to stand out.
Etro
Canvas Vela Bag
The first thing that strikes you about Etro’s canvas Vela bag—apart from the bright, bold, striped canvas from which it’s made—is the unusual, hinged closure at the mouth. Plated in palladium, it allows for easy access and security at the same time. It also gives structure to the typically slouchy shape of a tote, turning expectations on their head and transforming a classic “everyday” bag into something more.
Brunello Cucinelli
Sunglasses
The luxury-fashion world has seen blue-chip brands recently reach into every product category, from skiwear in the winter to tennis and swimwear in the summer. In the past, Brunello Cucinelli didn’t rush into these new territories with the same urgency, preferring to wait until the time and the conditions were right. This year, the time is right and the brand has delved into the eyewear market with a robust lineup of sunglasses and optical lenses in suitably Brunello-esque shades of caffè latte, vintage cognac, and midnight gray.
Photographs: Chelsie Craig
Prop styling: Heather Greene
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