THE JOURNAL
Brunello Cucinelli’s “Echoes Of Silence” Collection, Exclusively Available At MR PORTER
Who exactly is the Brunello Cucinelli man? International financier? Intrepid adventurer? Man of leisure? It’s a question we’ve wrangled with many times over the years – and to tell you the truth we’re still no closer to a definite answer. While the supreme craftsmanship of its clothes and the attendant prices they command places it firmly in luxury territory, to think of it simply as a luxury brand is to do it something of a disservice. There is another side to Brunello Cucinelli – a lightness of touch, a rakish elegance, a sense of adventure – that sets it apart from its peers.
All of these qualities are on display in abundance in the brand’s latest capsule, the evocatively titled “Echoes Of Silence”, which is exclusively available at MR PORTER now. Representing some of the earliest arrivals of the upcoming FW22 season, the collection is designed with summer getaways in mind and structured around four distinct “moments”: travelling, desert hike, beach and sailing. Uniting these four moments are themes of lightness and comfort – neither of which will be unfamiliar to existing Brunello Cucinelli customers – but also colour, which is represented in vibrant flashes of yellow and blue that echo the sand and sea.
Granted, these shades are a way off from the Astroturf green or acid-yellow colours favoured by high-fashion labels in 2022, but in the context of Brunello Cucinelli, which is known for its steadfast reliance on neutral shades, it feels like a bold statement; a little off-piste for the brand, perhaps, but entirely in keeping with the adventurous themes of the collection.
So far, so conceptual – Brunello Cucinelli certainly has a way of conjuring a mood – but let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What are the clothes actually like? Fans of the brand will immediately recognise the signature craftsmanship, which is as top-notch as ever and reflects the fact that all clothes are lovingly made in the workshops of the picturesque Italian hamlet of Solomeo in Umbria. Big-ticket items such as the suede field jacket, the silk and linen-blend unstructured suit and the slim-fit linen bomber jacket are the epitome of refined Italian tailoring, peerless in their construction and uncompromising in their material choice. (This is the brand, let’s not forget, that introduced us to sneakers with cashmere laces.)
There’s a variety of breezy, summer-appropriate options below the waist, from cargo shorts and drawstring trousers in white cotton-gabardine to smartly tapered jersey sweatpants, plus a wide selection of the kind of sophisticated wardrobe staples we’ve come to expect from Brunello Cucinelli, such as polo shirts, sweaters and cotton-chambray shirts. Rounding out the collection are a few lightweight footwear options including two-strap sandals, full-grain leather sneakers, and our personal favourite, the suede boat shoe, worn here with an unstructured suit and yellow polo shirt.
This is a collection that truly has you covered, whether you’re spending your summer sailing across oceans and hiking through deserts or doing something slightly less adventurous, such as attending the dozen or so weddings that have been delayed over the last couple of years. As ever, Brunello Cucinelli is here to help you do it in the utmost style.