Last-Minute (But Luxury) Poolside Pick-Me-Ups For A Late Summer Vacation

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Last-Minute (But Luxury) Poolside Pick-Me-Ups For A Late Summer Vacation

Words by The MR PORTER Team

20 August 2022

If you’re braving (or perhaps avoiding) the #travelchaos that has embroiled many of our airports recently by booking a last-minute, late-summer holiday, you may well be throwing some things into a suitcase rather hurriedly (and optimistically) in a few days’ time. We also predict that simplicity will be on the agenda in terms of planning. More: one week vacation spent lying by a swimming pool somewhere in Europe; less: a three-month, six-flight odyssey covering two continents and nine countries.

If it is the former, you might be pleased to learn that our fashion editors have curated a list of our finest holiday extras so you can pick up the things you need now and truly relax (if such a thing is possible in 2022) in style when (if) your plane lands at your destination.

01.

The SMR Days shirt

We could get side-lined discussing the knotty ethics of Europeans gallivanting around the world naming things that in all probability already had a name. But the fact is that the glorious beachfront Cape Town suburb of Bakoven earned this moniker from a rocky outcrop that resembled a Dutch stove. This embroidered camp-collar shirt, also called Bakoven, by resort outfitters SMR Days does not resemble an oven, nor a rock, nor a South African settlement. It might, however, allow your mind to wistfully drift to the latter – metaphorically at least.

02.

The Loro Piana bat and ball set

For the man who likes the finer things and wants to bring luxury to the beach, this bat and ball set from Italian house Loro Piana will be the perfect companion for your summer vacation. Compact and easy to travel with, this set is crafted from a lightweight wood and a fine leather on the handles for a good grip finished off with stripes inspired by traditional suitcases. You’ll be the beach racket champion in skill and style.

03.

The Frescobol Carioca hat

You may not know the difference between a fedora, a trilby or a Panama hat, but you should know that brimmed headgear is great for both protecting you from the sun and not-so-good hair days on vacation. This Frescobol Carioca Rafael hat is woven from lightweight straw (like most Panama hats; a fedora is usually made from felt) and is a versatile piece that will pair well with anything in your holiday wardrobe, from swim shorts to linen separates.

04.

The Orlebar Brown shorts

Perfect for those who pack light when they travel, Orlebar Brown’s tailored shorts are designed with versatility in mind, and so will see you through a summer holiday whether you’re taking a swim or propping up the poolside bar. If the locale you’re visiting is warm enough, you might even wear them out to dinner – try them with a camp-collar shirt and a pair of minimal sneakers.

05.

The TOM FORD suede slides

Dress for the holiday you want, not the holiday you have. These TOM FORD slides don’t really say “pool slip-ons you’ll wear a couple of times before losing on the beach”. They suggest “man who is in absolutely no rush to leave this luxury hotel, or this sun lunger, despite staying here for an actual month”. And we fully support it.

06.

The Jacques Marie Mage glasses

When you think of summer holidays by the pool, it’s fair to say that the 81-year-old Nobel Prize-winning, voice-of-the-1960s, living legend that is Mr Bob Dylan might not come immediately to mind. Especially as his signature look includes a buttoned-up shirt and jacket. He is known for his fondness for wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, however, so maybe here is a man who takes SPF seriously. LA-based sunglasses brand Jacques Marie Mage is hoping you’ll agree. Its Dealan shades apparently “evoke the musician’s devil-may-care charisma”.

07.

The Panerai stainless-steel diving watch

Submersible by name, submersible by nature. The flagship model in Panerai’s diving watch lineup is rated water-resistant at depths of up to 300 metres, which means it’s more than capable of dealing with splashing around at the shallow end, and it looks the part, too. With an attractive night-blue dial, hence the “Blu Notte” title, and a really rather spectacular steel bracelet – a first for the Submersible at 42mm – this is exactly the watch you should be wearing while lazing around the pool and forgetting what time it is.

08.

The LOEWE logo canvas tote bag

Those cotton tote bags you get given at the end of things – marathons, exhibitions, courses – might seem nifty and good for the environment, but we bet you have at least six of them, housed in another, slightly larger one. So why not invest in a tote that has a little more permanence, not to mention style? Jacquard-woven in Spain with leather handles, you’re unlikely to leave this one by LOEWE lying around at the end of a talk. You may do so near the pool – that’s not necessarily discouraged.