BRIONI @ SS2013 Men's Collection

BRIONI SS2013 Men's Collection photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” That was the mantra of legendary American photographer Slim Aarons, a master in capturing the essence of the rich and famous in glamorous settings, and whose images set the tone for the collection. A lifestyle collection designed for chic men seeking to unwind on a balmy Sunday at their favorite club, in fancy jet set resorts with live jazz drifting in the air. A lieu where to mingle, enjoy a pic nic, a game of Badminton or croquet and sip an iced drink, clad in clothes permeated with Brioni’s unique tailoring expertise and modern aesthetic.

A mix of models and cross-generation real men, true movers and shakers in their respective fields, will wear the clothes at the presentation in the lush gardens of Milan’s La Triennale. In true Brioni tradition, the collection pulsates with color – blocks of fire engine red and sun-kissed yellows and ochre that evoke the scorching Tuscan countryside in summertime counterpointed by shades of water colors, from aqua to ocean blue. A vividness that runs through the collection transversally, from sunrise to sunset, typified on both ends of the spectrum by a fully-fashioned, body-skimming coral cardigan that sheds any air of nostalgia and iridescent silk dinner jackets in teal blue and raspberry red, worn over matching cotton pleated shirts with silk knit bow ties.

The season’s standout piece is the “Jardigan”, a modern rendition of a mid-Fifties archival piece that further displays Brioni’s tailoring skills. Fashioned from fine wool crepe, this special garment is stripped to the bare essential, skimming the body like a jacket with the ease of a cardigan. In a similar vein is the shirt-weight unlined blazer that weighs 110 grams, a further example of tailoring in paper thin fabric. On the accessories front, the spotlight shines on a hand-entwined weave that is carried out on looms with leather strips in two different colors that create a sumptuous chiaroscuro effect and are used for duffel and weekend bags, small leather goods and limited-edition lace up shoes.  The collection is complemented by a lively range of beach towels and matching swimming trunks – to take the plunge in high style.