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The way the planners of the menswear show Pitti Uomo have things physically laid out there are many buildings to conqueror and a lot of ground to cover in the three days of the Firenze fair. This coupled with the fact that the GQ diary had most of my attention, meant that these updates had to wait a bit. The good news is, this week is going to be a good one for those of you that prefer to read about clothing than see old photos I dug out of some historical society.
The Italians are coming, the Italians are coming. One unstructured sportcoat by land, two if by sea! I’ve brought my Americano ways to Firenze for the much ballyhooed menswear tradeshow to see the forthcoming Italian invasion in their homeland. While in Tuscany, I’ll be checking out the new SS12 clothes from probably the best concentration of brands anywhere in the world. My photos, thoughts, and espresso powered experience is being beamed straight to GQ, you can see the first installment here.
I’ll also be sharing my Giro d’Pitti via Twitter and Instagram (@acontinuouslean).
Work had me in Europe for meetings and I tacked on a few days of R&R in the South of France, one of my favorite places in the world. All photos with the Fujifilm X100 + some post production.
During my most recent jaunt out to Los Angeles my work schedule only permitted time for one or two ACL oriented diversions. Since I have been concentrating on getting the hang of my newish Fujifilm X100 Camera, I figured the IWC boutique in Beverly Hills would be as good as place as any to explore during my free time and take some photographs. While I’m still getting the hang of the camera, the sharpness of the X100 is really something to marvel at — especially when capturing the precise and good looking IWC watches.
The IWC shop space is small and bright with specific displays for each of the different watch families. The main wall in the back center of the shop featured the new Portofino collection, which I like more and more and more each time I see them. To me the Portofino pieces are a more refined answer to the Portuguese group. Not sure I can pull off the Milanese bracelet, but I’m sure that there are many guys (especially in Beverly Hills) who can. Of course, if I was on the Italian Rivera maybe I would reconsider my position on the metal bracelet. All that said, I think I have my eye on a Big Pilot more than anything else.
On June 23rd RM Auctions is staging a staggering sale of classic British motorcars during the Salon Privé, an English garden party-style car show and luxury goods fair at Syon Park, the sprawling London estate of the Duke of Northumberland. There will also be a Concours d’Elegance highlighting categories including the Ferrari 250 Competizione and motorcycles from the Steve McQueen era. Dubbed the “Quintessentially English” sale, the auction features a range of desirable examples from famed UK marques made during the last century, with estimates ranging from about £50,000 – £500,000. We were especially taken with some of the hand-finished details on the cars, pictured here.
Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise. -Marcus Aurelius
Ask Brunello Cucinelli about the company he has painstakingly built over the past 30 years and he will likely explain that he is simply the caretaker not the owner and certainly not the CEO. The man is humble and spiritual in a way that rubs off easily. He openly states he would rather be reading (and re-reading) the texts of Marcus Aurelius than doing almost anything else. Me being someone who doesn’t spend much, if any, time in a church, visiting the world of Cucinelli in the small village of Solomeo is probably as close as I can get to having a religious experience.
The Cucinelli company headquarters occupies a 14th century castle on the top of a hill in the middle of the landlocked Umbria region, an area referred to as the “green heart” of Italy. Cucinelli moved to the castle (which was in need of some repair) in 1987 and has since transformed the place into what could be the most idyllic company head office in all the world.
