(Un)dressed to work. Countries more conscious than USA and Europe about environment and energy saving, Japan on top, impose that even in the middle of summer the temperature in offices mustn’t be lower than 26°C. What does it mean in terms of clothing? Considering the amount of men that use to wear suit and tie in offices, I’ll suggest an equally decent dress code without jacket, that allows gentlemen not to suffer for heat during working time. Let’s start from the top: no jacket, so no tie; opt for a shirt, made of popeline (better than linen), or for a (beautiful) polo shirt – please don’t lift the collar – blue, white or green. Elegant loafers with matching socks and light wool trousers. The belt is important to complete the look: avoid black leather (same thing for shoes) and prefer natural crocodile or brown napa leather. The buckle has to be discreet, otherwise without jacket it’ll be noticed for sure.

A classic is forever. When a garment or an accessory is called with the name of a brand instead of its own, is a sign that that brand has become a part of the history of fashion. The first cases are from the 70s, when even a fabric replaced the word “coat”: the “loden”. And Ray-Ban, that replaced the word sunglasses: “I’ve bought a pair of Ray-Ban”. From then on it has been a sequence of icon-brands like K-Way, Levi’s. It was “I’d like to buy a Lacoste” instead of “I’d like to buy a polo shirt”. Later, the same fate for the trench/Burberry and, in the 80s, “I’ve choosen an Armani”. These and many others, are griffes that, if not in the classic dictionary, could surely be included in a thesaurus.

Yacht club. That kind of menswear inspired by the sea can be easily defined as timeless. Yes to jackets (for the yacht), windbreakers (for the sailing boat), pullover made of cotton (for both), accessories for watersports. And, for the most elegant, yes to the classic double-breasted blue navy blazer with contrasting buttons for the happy hour. Why are they timeless pieces? The striped sweater reminds us of the pictures of Dalì with Garcia Lorca in the 20s. The windbreaker reminds us of the legendary Jacques Cousteau in the documentaries of the 60s/70s. Actually, the steel cronograph can be also worn in the city, as the white trousers, that perfectly match red and blue (but never wear them all together, they immediately make think about the french flag). In terms of shoes, espadrilles are allowed only at the seaside. Jacques Cousteau on the Calypso, ex minesweeper of the Royal Navy, after a diving exploration.

Touches of colour to change personality. The subject of colour in menswear has been took on, exploited and enhanced by every fashion journalist, depicted in every way by fashion editors: we keep on doing it because red, yellow, turquoise, orange, blue, mustard and saffron yellow carry on dictating the pop trend for men. Designers offer several ideas that light up fantasy: we really want to break up grey or blue with a coloured pull, maybe matched with the briefcase. While colours of suits and coats – in the majority- stay on traditional, knitwear, shirts, ties and a lot of leather accessories brighten up the outfit and suggest new ideas. In this multicoloured scenario, the sportswear plays at home; and, infact, the outdoor wear does its best in the surprising fusion between colour – usually associated to technical fabrics like nylon and lycra – and fine fabrics, generally used in casual-chic wear. An example? The beautiful sweatshirt made of cotton piquè (the fabric of polo shirts) by Lacoste and protagonist of the published picture. The shot effect, intentionally overexposed, enhance the garment’s fashion content but tricks us about the quality of fabric that is, indeed, really elegant. In this picture by Francesco Bertola for max.gazzetta.it, the songwriter Giovanni Caccamo wears a total look by Lacoste.

Choosing what to wear on a mountain summer holiday can be more complex than you think. The habitués know what to do, but random tourists never know how to pack.”Is it going to be cold in the evening? And what if it’s not going to be sunny during the day? What shall I wear?”. A simple advice for those less accustomed: when in doubt bring more options, expecting to layer your clothing.
This year two historical brands, Lacoste and Colmar are 80 and 90 years old, respectively, so why not to celebrate the anniversaries by opting for a remarkable wardrobe? Traditional formal, practical elegance: you can’t go wrong. If I may, I’d like to suggest a destination: Ortisei in the Dolomites. At the Adler Balance Hotel especially, connected with the “historical” but more recent Adler which has been decorated in modern contemporary designs, you will get to enjoy an amazing outdoor swimming pool and fantastic relaxing Spa treatments. In the picture the Adler Balance Hotel in Ortisei.