For The Men | Gwynn's of Mount Pleasant

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March 16, 2012

Gwynn’s Fashion Feature: Brunello Cucinelli – Where Luxury Meets Comfort

Brunello Cucinelli, a name synonymous with luxury and style, is, in our opinion, a label that is made for the stylish Charleston man. The clothing combines comfort with elegance, creating a look that says indulgence without trying too hard.

The fashion brand is named for the man behind the designs – Mr. Cucinelli’s first foray into fashion was in 1978, when he commissioned textile workers from his native region of Umbria, Italy, to knit him a small batch of neon cashmere sweaters.

He has since muted his designs to a more neutral palette, and has built a small empire headquartered in Solomeo, an ancient Umbrian town of only 500 people. Appreciating the simple pleasures in life, Mr. Cucinelli, 58, keeps his distance from the hustle and bustle of the major fashion hubs and prefers to join local soccer matches several days a week.

Last year, Mr. Cucinelli was interviewed by a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing his viewpoints on his personal style and today’s fashion trends. Here are a few of our favorite excerpts:

“I wear corduroy pants all the time, about seven months out of the year—a heavier cashmere-cotton corduroy in the winter, a lighter one in spring, always in off-white. I’ve been wearing these pants for about 25 years; it’s a matter of look and comfort and it’s become part of my uniform. I wear them with cargo pockets during the day and without for evening. Pair them with a very tailored blazer and you’re well-dressed enough for anything.

I have two big style icons: Gianni Agnelli [the late chairman of Fiat] and John F. Kennedy Jr. It’s not just about how they wore their clothes, but how they carried themselves—the way they spoke, smiled and presented themselves to the public.

Black is overrated. You’ll never find it in my stores. Of course it’s slimming, but it’s just used too much, especially for men. One black suit by one designer, another one by another—they all look the same in the end. If I walk into a crowded hotel lobby and I’m wearing a black suit, I just look like everyone else. Luckily, we Italians like to wear color more. That’s part of who we are.

I’ve been coming to the United States for 25 years. When my team and I do research trips, we always like to see what the young people in the U.S. are wearing. From a design perspective, the U.S. has always been a great source of inspiration for me.”

We received the Brunello Cucinelli spring/summer look book and had to share some of the exquisite fashions coming from the designer this year. You can also find some of these items at Gwynn’s – but we must warn you, the Brunello Cucinelli items never stay in store for long. They are very popular with the fashionable men of Charleston and for good reason – they create that quintessential polished, cool-casual look that is synonymous with the Lowcountry.