Lardini: An enrichment of travel

Despite Lardini being celebrated for its traditional Italian values, the company are not afraid to transport us to far away geographies. Last summer they celebrated the eternal charm of Havana with apparel that reflects the city’s retro shades in fabrics such as bamboo. More recently there was the exclusive collaboration with White Mountaineering’s Yosuke Aizawa that delivered a sharp, fresh take on outerwear. Their autumn/winter 20 campaign brilliantly educated us on the glamour and cinematic history of locomotive travel. The Trans-Siberian Express was the focus, where the assortment marvellously encapsulated the frozen landscape that you see from the train.

In their latest collection they have turned their attention to Japan. Luigi Lardini says: “There’s always been a mutual appreciation of Japanese and Italian craft, and this has long inspired me”. Both Luigi and Alessio have travelled extensively in Japan – and after being in awe of the country’s charming, colourful gardens and landscapes, they have reflected this beauty in their collection. None more so than their green and beige check silk, linen and wool blend single-breasted jacket. Made with the soft shoulder that is typically favoured by Italians and the Japanese, it comes in the most striking yet beautiful mélange of colours – that you only imagine blossom in parts of Japan. It features a 3-roll-2 fastening, classic notch lapels and is unlined, which is perfect for the steamy summer months. Despite is being such a unique check, you can wear this jacket with either the brand’s chinos or classic-cut trousers, and if a more casual occasion occurs, it looks effortlessly cool with jeans and a T-shirt.

After a year of slippers, hoodies and sweatpants, people are craving an opportunity to wear a tailored jacket again. The double-breasted jacket and tie is still some way off its previous popularity, but what we can tell you is the return to form of the double-breasted jacket worn in a more casual manner. Now, some on the market are restrictive and don’t give you much scope to wear with freedom, but in Lardini’s 6x2 double-breasted houndstooth jacket, it really does have all of the credentials to be your go-to jacket for pretty much any setting you find yourself in this summer.

One of the great attributes of a knitted T-shirt as opposed to a plain T-shirt is that it adds a subtle touch of sophistication. Many of the acclaimed actors from Hollywood’s Golden Age, such as Tyrone Power regularly donned a knitted T-shirt with high-waisted classic-cut trousers. It’s a look that is smart and cool in equal measure, and by electing Lardini’s knitted T-shirts in white or light blue you can certainly go some way to looking like the greats of the silver screen. If you prefer a collar, then the polo shirts in the same hues will do a similar job. Elsewhere, their pleated shorts in a lightweight cotton would be a stylish option to navigate the heat in the day on the Riviera - and if you’ve got a smart supper to attend with friends, then you could really make an impression by wearing their cream flax linen double-breasted suit.