A Fashionable Life: Brunello Cucinelli

Damn, Brunello has been getting some really great press lately.  I'm really into features that give you a little insight into the actual people behind the clothes, not just the clothes themselves.  Harper's Bazaar recently hooked up The Cucinelli family with one of their "A Fashionable Life" features and it's pretty solid.  My takeaway, his daughters, Carolina and Camilla, are straight babes.  Well done.

-L.A.S

"Three Days In Solomeo"

Island life is overrated (just kidding) so it's back to the blogosphere (not kidding).  Did you grab Esquire's The Big Black Book for S/S 2011?  They absolutely killed it with one of their best editions yet.  In fact, a lot of the stuff and ideas featured this season are similar to what I've been pushing/preaching on Sart Inc.  It's for sure worth 1,000 of your finest pennies.  Anyhow, I am going to be featuring some of the best stories and spreads in case beer monies are tight around your parts.  Up first is 2011's front runner for outstanding menswear photojournalism.  "Three Days in Solomeo" follows the adventures of one Brunello Cucinelli, but is really more about the spirit of Solomeo, Italy.  For those unaware, Solomeo is Cucinelli HQ and his business is pretty much the town's entire economy.  Check out the scans below and take in all the beauty, both sartorial and otherwise.

-L.A.S

Brunello Cucinelli At Pitti Uomo 2011

Who has got two thumbs and a quilted double breasted jacket? This guy.



-L.A.S

The King Of Cashmere

Check out this awesomely cliche promo video, shown recently at a presentation in Berlin, from the Cucinelli camp to get a closer look at the inner workings of The King of Cashmere's operation.  Brunello can be seen donning a look I've recently adopted as my own - cutaway collar shirt sans tie.  Who knew cashmere could be so damn epic?


BRUNELLO CUCINELLI - Video Istituzionale from promovideo on Vimeo.

-L.A.S

Brunello Cucinelli F/W 2010

Who in their right mind would deem a 190 page lookbook/catalog appropriate?  Why, the self proclaimed "Italian Ralph Lauren" of course.  AKA the "King of Cashmere".  Brunello Cucinelli's F/W 2010 collection is most definitely what we've come to expect from him at this point - "so much dough I can swear I won't change" comes to mind.  But I can't blame the guy.  He knows exactly what his sweet spot is and he always hits it out of the park.  It's quintessential Brunello from head to toe - perfection in the form of fabric, texture and cut with tailored goods that would make 99% of the designers in this industry jealous.  BC's catalog mannequin shots always crack me the hell up for some reason, but, at the end of the day, are a masters class in layering - you gotta always credit where credit is due.  After enjoying clothes I cannot even remotely afford this much I think I'm gonna call it a day.

-L.A.S

Debate: Wings + Horns Wears It On Their Sleeve

Wings + Horns has always been one of my favorite brands out of Canada thanks to their clean, wearable and minimalist take on menswear.  After checking out a preview of their F/W 2010 collection, which can be seen over at The Bengal Stripe, I was impressed as per usual.  Looking at the collection a little more today it became very clear that this season W+H was wearing their influences on their sleeve, especially when it came to the outerwear.  I'm not sure about you, but I see a good amount of Brunello Cucinelli, Junya Watanabe and even Daiki Suzuki (Woolrich Woolen Mills specifically) in some of these pieces.  That's not necessarily a bad thing considering Wings + Horns is going to make a lot of this stuff a lot more "affordable" than the stuff apparently being used as inspiration.  I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on this.  A big win for Wings + Horns? Who did it best? Couldn't care less? Also, if discourse is your thing be sure to click the debate tag at the bottom of the post for similar discussions from the archives.

[Pictures courtesy of Roden Gray.]

-L.A.S

First Look: Brunello Cucinelli S/S 2011

Both GQ and Esquire have recently given their readers a teaser at what Brunello Cucinelli has up his sleeve for S/S 2011.  It's nothing substantial, but good enough to hold me over at least until the full collection makes it's way from the booth at Pitti Uomo to this world wide information superhighway thing everyone keeps raving about.  Brunello's trademark's are well represented as always with trim cargos and suede shoes making a cameo in the leaked images.  After seeing this stuff, and knowing BC's track record, a few things are certain: this gear is going to be dope and I needed to win the lottery, like, yesterday.  Check out two model pics, an expertly tailored water resistant blazer and the man himself below.

-L.A.S

Brunello Cucinelli F/W 2010 Preview

Courtesy of Frans Boone and his shop we have some preview pics of Cucinelli's upcoming F/W 2010 collection.  It's nothing new, but that's all good considering Brunello's masterful grasp on Italian sportswear.  His signature slimmed up cargo pants are obviously present as well as some beautiful looking outerwear ranging from superbly tailored sportcoats to rugged, yet luxurious jackets.  How crazy is that double breasted quilted joint? Goddamn!  I like seeing non-lookbook fit pics so you can get a better idea of how stuff fits off the rack and as expected Cucinelli's is virtually perfect.  Recently I was able to finally drop by a BC shop and after getting hands on with his gear my mind was pretty much blown.  If you have the kind of money required to buy this stuff you should probably go ahead and do just that so people like myself can live vicariously through you, while thoroughly hating you with every ounce of our being.

-L.A.S