The eternal appeal of Brunello Cucinelli
With its unique brand of quiet luxury, the Italian heritage house is the epitome of style and substance. Here’s how Brunello Cucinelli’s SS21 collection further elevates the label’s timeless designs…
As the desire for casual elegance continues to permeate our style priorities in 2021, the ‘king of cashmere’, Brunello Cucinelli, has become an increasingly sought-after designer. Dealing exclusively in refined but uncomplicated fashion, the Italian heritage house has long served those in the know with closet staples that feel as incredible as they look. Whether you’re one of these devotees or you’re just discovering the label, the spring/summer 2021 collection will undoubtedly seduce with its sophisticated simplicity.
Entitled ‘Pure Spirit’, Cucinelli has conjured up a collection that is unfussy yet has a unique beauty, defined by its playful details. Essentially, these are well-curated, thoughtfully conceived clothes with enduring style mileage. Take the biscuit-colored suede tailored jacket – a piece that lends itself perfectly to more restrained dress codes but, courtesy of a detachable feather trim, can also be dressed up. Style it with faded jeans and retro sneakers, or lug-soled leather boots, for a look that exudes chic nonchalance.
If, however, you’re dressing for a video call that requires a bit of sartorial va-va-voom, consider the label’s black macramé fringed cardigan. A dusting of iridescent sequins gives it an after-dark appeal – and when paired with black tailored linen shorts and pointed flats, it nails that elusive dressy-but-casual look. What’s more, there is a bucolic beauty to its homespun texture, so it can be dressed down with earthy rope-braided sandals and a raffia belt, too.
As with all of Cucinelli’s collections, the tonal color palette creates a mix-and-match sensibility. A white diaphanous suit jacket with a utilitarian silhouette will look superb paired with matching tailored shorts. Equally, it will lend a polished finish to white cotton track pants – the perfect WFH mix of professional but practical. For a more graphic effect, layer it over the black linen shorts with a crisp white blouse. While monochrome is a simple pairing, the contrasting textures will elevate your look with a textural complexity.
The luxurious quality of each and every Brunello Cucinelli piece comes down to the exceptional level of craftmanship that is poured into each collection. Since designing his first ever sweaters (made up of three round-neck and three V-neck styles) in 1978, every stitch of clothing continues to be made in Italy – much of it in Cucinelli’s hometown of Solomeo, a 14th-century Umbrian village. This fusion of tradition and craftsmanship is interpreted through timeless silhouettes, which means these are clothes that transcend seasons – an important consideration for building a more sustainable closet. And all the more reason to join Cucinelli’s legion of stylish fans.