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By the lake

We take in some sunshine, swimming and laid-back living in the picture-perfect Swiss city of Lugano. We also keep our eyes out for a handsome villa in the hills.

Photographer

Lugano

Switzerland has no shortage of perfectly formed cities with train-set looks and Märklin-scale proportions but few come complete with chic lidos, plentiful palm-trees and a 45-minute commute to Milan. Nestled just north of the frontier with Italy, Lugano boasts a tidy “croisette” along a lake that’s perfect for early morning runners or an evening stroll to a well-managed bar. With strong modernist roots, the city has plenty of 1960s and 70s office and apartment blocks with exquisite typography, rigid architecture and stripy awnings in oranges, hot yellows and warm mochas. Well connected to Zürich and Milan by rail and to the rest of the world via the tiny airport at Agno, Lugano offers an Italian lifestyle with Swiss rule of law. It lacks a bit of edge and young entrepreneurial spirit, but that should come as the city attracts more people in search of Swiss efficiency tempered by Italian quality of life.

Man in beige Brioni jacket and light blue Glanshirt wearing Claire Goldsmith glasses, holding Johanna Gullichsen bag over shoulder.
Glasses by Claire Goldsmith, jacket by Brioni, shirt by Glanshirt, pochette by Massimo Alba from Trunk, bag by Johanna Gullichsen from Trunk
Man in sunglasses and swim trunks climbing a metal ladder against a concrete wall at a lido.
Sunglasses by Oliver Peoples, swim trunks by Polo Ralph Lauren
Woman wearing Prada glasses and Ralph Lauren dress overlooking Lugano lakeside buildings.
Glasses by Prada, dress by Ralph Lauren, watch by Gucci, bracelet by Hermès
Woman in white Ralph Lauren dress and Prada glasses on a balcony overlooking Lugano buildings.
Glasses by Prada, dress by Ralph Lauren, watch by Gucci, bracelet by Hermès
Man in white polo shirt and red patterned swim trunks standing by a swimming pool with lanes
Polo shirt by Zegna Sport, swim trunks by Canali, watch by Audemars Piguet
Man in gray t-shirt and turquoise swim trunks standing on a sandy beach by the water.
T-shirt by Sunspel, swim trunks by Incotex Mare, watch by Bell & Ross
Person wearing a Louis Vuitton bikini with heart pattern, Gucci watch, and Hermès bangle at a lido.
Bikini by Louis Vuitton, shirt by Closed, watch by Gucci, bangle by Hermès
Woman in red t-shirt and sunglasses standing on a sunny lido deck with loungers and lake view.
Sunglasses by Lindberg, t-shirt by Macphee, bikini by Oye, watch by Gucci, hat by Bates
Man in blue polo shirt, patterned swim trunks and straw hat holding green shoes on modern waterfront deck
Hat by Bates, polo shirt by Zegna Sport, swim trunks by Canali, shoes by Rivieras, watch by Bell & Ross
Man in white polo shirt and coral swim trunks walks along a lakeside promenade with Swiss flag and mountains in background.
Polo shirt by Zegna Sport, swim trunks by Canali, flip flops by Havaianas, watch by Audemars Piguet
Person in red bikini by Oye relaxing on a sun lounger with a magazine and beverage by the lake.
Bikini by Oye
Man in red gingham swim trunks standing at swimming pool edge with lane dividers.
Swim trunks by Canali, watch by Audemars Piguet, polo shirt by Zegna Sport
Woman in red Gucci bikini rinsing off under an outdoor shower with a lake in the background.
Bikini by Gucci
Woman wearing turquoise Polo Ralph Lauren swimwear standing by a lake with mountains in the background.
Swimwear by Polo Ralph Lauren
Person in turquoise Polo Ralph Lauren swimwear standing on a wooden dock by a lake.
Swimwear by Polo Ralph Lauren
Man in striped polo shirt and blue swim trunks standing by red lakeside cabin in Lugano.
Polo shirt by Hermès, swim trunks by Orlebar Brown, watch by Bell & Ross
Woman in black YSL swimwear and Bottega Veneta jewelry holding a white cup against striped background.
Swimwear by Yves Saint Laurent, earrings and bracelet by Bottega Veneta
Woman in striped swimwear standing on a wooden dock beside Lake Lugano with forested mountains in the background.
Swimwear by Oye, shorts by Maison Kitsuné, bracelet by Bottega Veneta, bag by Johanna Gullichsen from Trunk
Man in cream shirt and tan trousers with bicycle outside modernist building with brick facade.
Shirt by Caruso, trousers by Ts(s), shoes by Rivieras, watch by Audemars Piguet
Woman wearing Prada glasses, Ralph Lauren shirt, Incotex shorts and Fendi bag walking past pink flowers and stone columns.
Glasses by Prada, shirt by Ralph Lauren, shorts by Incotex, bag by Fendi
Woman in striped Oscar de la Renta dress with Lindberg glasses outside luxury storefront.
Glasses by Lindberg, dress by Oscar de la Renta, watch by Gucci, bag by Delvaux
Man in pink jacket and beige trousers looking at hat display in shop window in Lugano.
Jacket by Studio Ypsilon from Tomorrowland, shirt by Franco Minucci per Tomorrowland, trousers by Caruso, pochette by Drakes from Trunk
Man in light pink jacket and striped shirt standing on an Italian street outside a pharmacy.
Jacket by Studio Ypsilon from Tomorrowland, shirt by Franco Minucci per Tomorrowland, pochette by Drakes from Trunk
Man in white shirt and beige shorts walking on sunny steps in urban setting with yellow buildings.
Polo shirt by Brioni, sunglasses by Lindberg, shorts by Blue Work from Tomorrowland, sandals by Canali, hat by Mühlebauer, watch by Bell & Ross
Woman in white button-up shirt and tan shoulder bag standing by lakeside window display with hats.
Shirt by Closed, jeans by Barena, bag by Bag n’ Noun from Trunk
Man in green shirt and cream shorts walking through sunlit Lugano street with stone architecture.
Glasses by Oliver Peoples, shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren, shorts and shoes by Louis Vuitton, bag by Barena
Man in red cardigan and Gucci shorts leaning against tennis net at clay court in Lugano.
Glasses by Polo Ralph Lauren, cardigan by Tomorrowland, shorts by Gucci, watch by Bell & Ross
Woman wearing a coral striped dress by Iliann Loeb and Havaianas flip flops standing in front of a modernist brick building.
Dress by Iliann Loeb, flip flops by Havaianas
Woman holding a patterned Roger Vivier bag next to a Lancia car in Lugano.
Dress by 1205, bracelet and bag by Roger Vivier, shoes by Closed
Woman wearing Chanel glasses and 1205 dress sitting in a car.
Glasses by Chanel, dress by 1205
Man in profile wearing Lindberg sunglasses and Sunspel polo shirt against colorful building backdrop.
Sunglasses by Lindberg, polo shirt by Sunspel
Man in sunglasses, black polo shirt and red trousers standing beside a vintage convertible car.
Sunglasses by Lindberg, polo shirt by Sunspel, trousers by Caruso, watch by Bell & Ross, bag by Hackett

Fashion director: Takeharu Sato
Producer: Massimo Auteri
Hair/Make up: Micole Salvioni
Models: Alessandro Mele & Flavia Eberhard
Photographer assistant: Adam Lang
Fashion assistant: Vanessa Rezzonico
Local producer: Marco Gill
Locations: Hotel Bellevue Lugano; Lido de Lugano; Lido Riva Caccia
Special thanks: Garage Bernasconi

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