If “start as you mean to go on” is anything to go by, then now’s the perfect time to invest in Dries Van Noten’s printed shirt to prep your wardrobe ahead of summer. It’s light, breathable and laid-back. You can easily dress it up with tailored trousers and a pair of loafers.

We love Kartik Research’s gilet for a few reason. For one, it’s beautifully made and versatile. For another, it’s part of our Consciously Crafted edit – a selection of pieces that celebrate the best of old and new artisanal skills. Spotlighting local Indian industry, it’s made from handloomed cotton and hand-embellished with florals of sequins, beads and faux pearls.

Big, statement sunglasses have been all the rage recently. However, if you’re after something that you can turn to year after year, look no further than Jacques Marie Mage’s Molino style. It’s inspired by 1960s silhouettes and handmade to the brand’s exacting standards in its Japanese workshop.

TOM FORD’s jeans are designed in a slim profile, which will slot seamlessly in your existing wardrobe – and work double time far beyond the summer season. They’re cut from sturdy selvedge denim and treated to a heavy wash that gives them a cool, broken-in look and feel.

Ready to break out of your style comfort zone? Balenciaga’s sneakers with, ahem, laces wrapped around the toes are certainly a good place to start. They’re made from a combination of rubber and mesh, and set on exaggerated soles that’ll work well with wide-leg jeans and shorts alike.

Colours and patterns are an integral part of Marni’s design process – and this Ivy League-inspired cardigan is a great example. It’s knitted from tactile, breathable cotton in a slightly looser stitch that’s ideal for al fresco lunches and breezy summer evenings.

Summer’s the perfect time to have a bit of fun with your style, but that experimentation needn’t be limited to your casual wardrobe. Play with proportions with SAINT LAURENT’s tuxedo jacket – it’s cut for a boxy and enhanced by strong, padded shoulders. And, naturally, designed to be worn with a pair of the house’s slim tailored trousers.

Part of the brand’s collaboration with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, Moncler Genius’ trousers make a welcome, summer-ready alternative to classic chinos. They’re inspired by utility pairs – note the knees panels and tool loop – and cut in a relaxed, straight-leg profile.

LOEWE’s Puzzle Fold bag is part of the brand’s Paula’s Ibiza collection, inspired by the iconic Balearic boutique. It’s made from raffia, so it’s light and sturdy. And it’s designed to be folded for easy portability – pack it away for your next vacation.

Cashmere and tie-dye are two of the things that The Elder Statesman does best, and this sweater is a perfect example of both. Again, part of our Consciously Crafted edit, it’s spun from Italian cashmere on hand-powered looms in the label’s Los Angeles studio and dyed a Spiral City Tranquility palette that evokes bright, blue summer skies.

Never one to shy away from incorporating a spiritual talisman into its wares, this handmade beaded bracelet by Luis Morais features a suitably eye-catching Eye of the Idol charm. It’s set with marquise-cut amethyst stone, which symbolises balance and peace. To which we say: we’d like a piece of that.

It typically takes a lot of effort to look effortless. That guy who seems to have stumbled out of bed, only on the right side of the bed, actually got up at some ungodly hour and then put in the hours. Or, a cheat code for insouciant style: these breezy shorts by Fear of God. Cut from a wool-blend with relaxed legs, so yours can look likewise.

Legend has it that Mr Manolo Blahnik rests with a Faber-Castell 3B poised by his bedside, should inspiration strike in the wee hours. Whether his mattress is as supple as the leather footbeds on these Otawi sandals is best left to speculation. We certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it.

We wouldn’t suggest using this jumper for a goalpost. Not at this price point. But also, in this verdant shade, it would be hard to spot against the grass. When it comes to moving goalposts, however – like what we’ve done there? – ZEGNA is the master. This plush, organic cotton and silk blend sweater sets the tone for what summer knitwear could be.

Fancy saving a prime spot by the pool? We’d worry less about someone stealing your lounger and more about them making off with this towel. Part of Gucci’s Lido collection, this signature piece riffs on the beach clubs of the Italian Riviera. Dive right in, we say.

OK, so these tasselled suede loafers by Mr P. won’t offset the greenhouse gasses produced by your flight to Santorini this summer. They will, however, help you tread more lightly when you’re there, given that they’re fabricated from at least 50 per cent lower-impact materials, in this case Italian suede – see our Consciously Crafted criteria for more details. And, well, they come in a handsome green, which is also a point of difference from your standard footwear.

If you do like to be beside the seaside, we suggest you invest in a pair of swim shorts that look the part. But while there’s a nod and a wink of deckchair about this piece by Loro Piana, the style is certainly elevated above the saucy postcards of yore. More quick-drying shell than kiss me quick.

We like The Row’s system of nomenclature, where it feels like you’re on first-name terms with its clothing. And Joyce, as this polo shirt is called, is well worth getting to know. Stoic, yet supple – fashioned from a cotton-cashmere blend that offers warmth and breathability. Refined, but the sort of piece you could take anywhere.

For those still giving wide-legged jeans a wide berth, Cherry Los Angeles is here to show you what you’re missing. The cut is of a style those of a certain vintage will look on perhaps with misty eyes, with a sly riff on 1990s skate culture. And sure, they already feel worn in, like an old firm favourite you can always turn to.