What To Buy This Week: Something for the Weekend

For slouching around the city, drifting aimlessly from coffee shop to lunch spot and then on to an art gallery, there is simply nothing more comfortable than a chic Belgian loafer – especially when it takes the form of a Sagan – the new, uncompromising lambskin loafers from Baudoin & Lange. Essentially formal slipper to be worn outdoors, these new loafers are the brainchild of French computer scientist turned shoemaker Alain Baudoin and Bo van Langeveld, a financeer and retired racing driver who grew sick of wearing stiff welted shoes to the office every day. Arguably the world’s first true luxury Belgian slipper, they’re entirely unstructured, cut from the finest un-split lambskins that adapt to the contours of your feet over time. Moreover, the Sagan features a specially developed handcrafted insole, designed to absorb all the shocks that hard pavements can throw at it. Entirely made in the company’s London atelier, this sophisticated blue-grey pair is perfect for the autumn, and sits harmoniously beneath either denim or flannels. £265.00, www.baudoinandlange.com.

A contemporary take on the traditional double-breasted blazer, navy it seems is out and this subtle shade of burgundy is in, care of dunhill’s latest design for autumn/winter ’16. Cut on a rather clever model with chic four-button closure, trim peaked lapels and dunhill’s signature long, flared skirt, the house has removed the structure from its pattern to create a drapey jacket which feels elegant and yet attractively louche. The choice of cloth helps too; a weighty wool and cotton hopsack, which is soft in colour, richly textured and which brings with it just enough structure to help the coat sit and drape effortlessly as it’s worn. Cut and finished to the highest standard, as one expects of dunhill, it makes for a sure-fire tailored autumnal staple. £1150.00, www.dunhill.com.

Cardigan, jacket, sweater or whatever you care to call it; there’s no denying that this thoroughly luxurious creation from Brunello Cucinelli is an uncompromising piece of autumnal design. In a cool shade of charcoal, the jacket’s superior marled virgin wool and cashmere yarn (which was developed especially by Cucinelli) creates a dense and warming garment with a softness that is quite frankly unparalleled, complete with a richly flecked appearance for a natural look. In signature Cucinelli fashion, it’s easily dressed up or down, treated as a layering piece or else as the focal point for an elegant casual look. The garment’s three-button front, lapels and patch pockets retain a dressy edge and the top breast pocket simply cries out to be dressed with a silk hanky. It is, quite simply, the ultimate in subversive seasonal knitwear. £1130.00, www.boutique.brunellocucinelli.com.

There are jeans, and then there are jeans. Predictably, these mean-looking Levi’s 501s conform to the latter variety. A precise reproduction of a design that dates to 1944, held in Levi’s extensive archives, they form a part of the super-exclusive ‘Levi’s Vintage Clothing’ collection – which exists to reintroduce iconic designs from the company’s phenomenal history back into the sartorial mainstream. Intriguingly, every reproduction tells the story of its archival sibling and this pair reflects restrictions in the supply of both metal for jean-rivets and in the availability of denim during WWII. Fewer belt loops than normal are affixed to the waistband for example, and the watch-pocket rivets, crotch rivets and the rear seat cinch were all removed for the first time to save on materials. Cut in the finest 12oz selvedge denim from Cone Mills, the rise of these jeans is particularly impressive, which lends them both an appealing sense of poise and an added touch of formality – suited to pairing with sports coats and tailoring. The legs gently taper and are best worn with chunky rolled-up hems. Most importantly, they feel authentic, solid and yet luxurious, just what one wants from a pair of serious investment jeans. £225.00, www.levi.com.

There’s a fine art to finding a watch for the weekends. The requisite timepiece must be versatile, adaptable and equally comfortable when worn in a formal or casual context – no mean feat for a manufacture to master. Fortunately, Richard Mille has done just that. Sporty yet chic, the new RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat is a particularly beguiling watch, an evolution on the iconic RM 010 Automatic characterised by smooth, clean lines that exude subtle touches of formality, which of course frame Richard Mille’s signature graphic skeletonised watch face, all in a remarkable extra-flat construction. The case alone in its new form is a work of art, and represents the first time that Richard Mille has created a Tonneau shape case in extra-flat form. It’s a technically demanding design and adds 6 hours of machining time to the manufacturing process. It also requires 68 different stamping operations for the bezel, caseband and back bezel and in total, each case requires more than 215 different machining operations. And that’s even before one considers the extraordinary degree of work that goes into the watch’s face, automatic movement and finishing. Not a timepiece for the feint hearted, it represents everything that’s extraordinary about Richard Mille, and is perfectly suited to dressing your wrist the next time you decide that some stylish relaxing around town is required. www.richardmille.com.