What do fashion’s brightest names wear in the summer?
These four designers pair comfort and formality with a keen eye for cool. Here, they share what they’re wearing and how they stay fresh when the temperature rises.
1.
Jayden Ali
Age: 37
Profession: Architect and artist
Location: New York
Location: I spend my time between New York and London. I’m in the former now because I have been teaching at Columbia University. We have also just opened a show at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, as well as a small office [an offshoot of the practice’s base in London].
Summer uniform: When I was much younger, I would spend March to November in shorts. Now that I’m getting older, I prioritise comfort. My look today works whether I’m in the house or at my desk. These woollen pinstripe shorts are from Assembly, a multibrand shop on Ludlow Street in New York, which is great for staples. I’m also wearing a white vest and a silky Acne Studios shirt on top because the heat in NYC can be intense. I have this shirt in multiple colours. Long sleeves mean that I can be inside or outside; I can be at dinner or in the park. I like flexibility – and neatness too, as I’m not a scruffy person. I also wear a gold chain from Hatton Garden in London and a wedding band as a pendant. I bought mine in Santa Fe en route to getting married last year in Las Vegas. I purchased it at the last minute and it doesn’t really fit me but I love it. I wore this outfit the other day with Valentino shoes but, for everyday use, trainers are the best.
Fabrics and brands of choice: I love Tumbao, a Latin American store in New York. I often go there and shop for myself and my wife. I also enjoy Ron David Studio for brighter colours – I bought an amazing green shirt there. I’m living out of a suitcase at the moment because I’m travelling for the summer, so I have packed three different Sunspel T-shirts that are made from really fine-grain cotton. I love a subtle pinstripe shirt too. I have a few of those in my suitcase. The one from UK label Martine Rose is blue with fine pinstripes; another is from Gucci. I always opt for subtle pinstripes. The look is a bit basic but it does the job.
Tips on staying cool: In New York, ensure that you get on the right subway carriage. If you feel that the air-con isn’t working, change carriages – that’s important. But I’m not trying to avoid the sun so much. I grew up in London and it wasn’t so warm. When I get the chance, I walk in the sun with my shades.
Travel plans: My wife [set decorator Lotty Sanna] is making a film in Berlin so I’m looking forward to spending some time there over the summer. I hear that they have a beautiful lake culture. I’m also going to a wedding near Beijing, so I’m going to spend a few days walking along the Great Wall of China.
ja-projects.com
2.
Stefani Stoyanof
Age: 41
Profession: Jewellery designer and founder of Swim to the Moon
Location: Athens
Summer uniform: My summer uniform usually consists of a one-piece bathing suit, such as a navy Lido one, and a pareo, which I try to collect from every island that I visit. I snagged my newest pareo from a shop on Hydra on a girls’ trip. Otherwise, I wear a comfortable pair of Bermuda shorts, with a button-down shirt layered on top of a cotton bralette, a great pair of sunnies from Thistles, jelly shoes from Maison Empereur in Marseille and a straw hat from a shop in Paros where an old man and his wife weave the simple designs. And, of course, jewellery to tie it all together. I’m wearing sterling silver jewellery from Swim to the Moon. My straw bag has survived for 11 years and is in perfect condition. I bought it at a market in Morocco when my husband [photographer Marco Argüello] and I were backpacking around the world.
Fabrics and brands of choice: My go-to fabrics would have to be linen and cotton in the summer, so you can survive the heat. My favourite brands include Lido for swimsuits; It’s a Shirt for buttondowns; By Malene Birger for shorts; Flore Flore for basics; and, of course, anything vintage.
Go-to drink for sunset hour: Campari spritz.
Summer travel plans: A girl’s trip to Hydra, a romantic getaway with my husband to Antiparos, a family trip with my son and grandparents to Camogli in Italy and a roadtrip to the Peloponnese.
swimtothemoonjewelry.com
3.
Patrick Johnson
Age: 45
Profession: Fashion designer and founder of P Johnson
Location: Sydney
Summer uniform: I wear P Johnson’s unstructured jackets and trousers in light linens and silk blends. They’re great for travelling and you can mix them as separates too. I combine these with a pair of loafers from New York-based Belgian Shoes, often with a white shirt in a lightweight poplin.
Fabrics and brands of choice: I love linen – it’s a really diverse fibre and we weave a beautiful one with Loro Piana that has an amazing drape and doesn’t crease too much. I also wear a lot of silk blends. The silk linens that I use are lightweight and the blend gives you great colour depth. We develop these pieces with specialist weavers on Lake Como. Apart from that, I like wearing jeans. We make ours in Italy. I love the ultra-light wash indigo; I cut off their bases so that they fray a bit and feel summery. For accessories I love belts. My go-to is the custom crocodile-skin belt that was made by an artisan in Melbourne. It’s beautiful and it just gets better with age.
Tips on staying cool: Wear lightweight garments and ensure that you stick to natural fibres.
Go-to drink for sunset hour: A vermouth and soda with a slice of lemon.
Summer travel plans: We’ll mostly be on the smaller islands in the Cyclades. We love the food in Sifnos, the water of Folegandros and Hydra’s convenience.
pjt.com
4.
Duda Lopes
Age: 30
Profession: Designer and founder of ready-to-wear label Sage
Location: Barcelona
Summer uniform: My Thomaz shirt, which was inspired by my dear grandfather, Odino Thomaz. It’s a white linen style and I pair it with matching linen trousers and a leather belt – everything is from my brand, Sage. I also pair linen trousers with my swimsuits and tend to stick to a sandy colour palette – it feels very Barcelona.
Fabrics and brands of choice: If I’m not wearing an all-linen look, I’m usually in swimwear. Growing up in Angra dos Reis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, I used to wear a bikini at least 300 days a year. I also love Tag Heuer watches. I have three from the brand but I usually opt for the Ayrton Senna model. I finish my look with a pair of Havaianas – an iconic Brazilian brand.
Tips on staying cool: Always wear a swimsuit with shorts, even if you’re not going to the beach.
Favourite holiday destinations: Menorca and Angra dos Reis – I know every beach there, even the secret ones.
Go-to drink for sunset hour: A negroni.
Summer plans: I’m very excited about presenting Sage’s new collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week for the first time this August. We will showcase 50 pieces and plan to take over a boat. There will be a bossa-nova vibe to it.
sagebrazil.com
