If you haven’t already taken a summer holiday this year, but plan to do so in August,
you may discover that all is not plain sailing. For a start, every single Italian has downed his tools and will not
venture anywhere near them until the first week of September. As for the French, well, national stereotypes would
lead me to question whether said tools were ever picked up in the first place, so of course they are on holiday too.
Thus any last-minute ideas you might have of decamping to the Cote D’Azure or the Amalfi Coast for a replenishing
week away might be wishful thinking. That said, “replenishing” can come in many guises: Mykonos, Formentera and
Ibiza can be enriching experiences, if not for your liver then certainly for parts of your frontal lobe. Wherever
you dare to venture in August, let us take the strain out of choosing your holiday wardrobe with this short curation
of outstanding products that will elegantly cover you from beach to bar to restaurant.
In Transit
To travel well is to travel comfortably, which in rakish terms means a few Aperol
spritzes at the airport and at least two half bottles of Taittinger at 35,000ft. Mild inebriation aside, it also
means partly dressing for transit and partly for your destination as there’s nothing worse than arriving in kit not
fit for purpose. Hence, this pink linen shirt by G. Inglese is just the shade to transition your
mind into holiday mode while being lightweight and summery enough to glide straight into resort mode. Navy is the
perfect complementary colour to pink, which is why these Manny shorts by Rubinacci are a
no-brainer. The denim gives them a more casual edge than a typical dyed cotton, not to mention a tactile finish.
Frank
Clegg’s navy signature travel leather duffle bag is the functional cherry on top and more than
capacious enough to fit a week’s worth of belongings in.
Beach Life
Given the fervour for which people attend gyms these days, beaches, pools and their
accompanying resorts and bar-restaurants have become theatre of toned physicality and certainly not places where you
can let it all hang out. Even if you don’t look like you’re been carved out of Tuscan marble, your swimwear will say
a great deal about you so it’s imperative that you strike the right note. Italian brand Coast
Society are masterful at creating swim shorts with a classic silhouette and retro style that
have the unique ability to both stand out and fit in wherever you are. Another eye-catching move is to protect your
peepers with Kirk Originals’ Harvey tortoiseshell
sunglasses which have a complementary 50s vibe. The tortoiseshell is a sophisticated touch and very versatile,
making them easy to accessorise any outfit. The question of shirting can be tricky to answer when one is very often
wet from swimming, which is why a terry cloth polo is the obvious solution. It retains all the structure of its
smarter cousin, the polo, but will be far more comfortable if you’re constantly in and out of the water (for an even
smarter option, we suggest you check out The Rake’s exclusive
collaboration with Armor Lux and WM Brown Project to produce a terry cloth blazer).
Casual Daywear
When you’re not sipping cocktails by the pool, you’ll most likely be exploring your
surroundings, enjoying long leisurely lunches and engaging in culturally stimulating activities (if you’re so
inclined). No matter how you intend to spend your precious days out of office, the last thing you'll want to worry
about is your wardrobe - which is why an effortless and versatile approach is key. Light and breathable linen should
be your go-to fabric for daytime dressing, particularly when the midday sun gets all too much. Throw on this russet
striped collarless offering from Salvatore Piccolo and team it with some
loosely tailored shorts: Anderson & Sheppard have you
covered with a piquant mustard hue. As far as footwear goes, Anderson & Sheppard's espadrilles are
non-negotiable and will serve you well for navigating cobbled streets and transitioning from beach to
bar.
Eveningwear
The evening - or ‘the evening, night, and early morning hours’, to give it it’s
proper title - is the time of day when strategic dressing is most crucial. If you’ve chosen your destination wisely,
you will have spent the day sunning it up in your daywear, meaning that dinnertime is the perfect opportunity to
freshen yourself up with a look that’s spicier than the somewhat suspect prawn paella you ordered from room service.
Of course, the nights (if you know where to go) can still be as hot as the days, so you’ll want to be sensible with
a pair of stylish cream trousers from Anderson & Sheppard rendered in breathable linen. An elegant light blue
polo shirt from Parisian master tailor Cifonelli will look ravishing with the light
trousers. Then you can let your wilder side out via your shoes, in this case the most comfortable loafers we've had
the pleasure of trying on in a long time: Baudoin and Lange’s alligator loafers to
keep your ensemble snappy.
