Few people understand devising the right atmosphere in retail better than Massimo Alba. The Italian fashion designer has a knack for creating inviting shop spaces that are also very much in sync with the styles found in his collections of casual clothing. For his latest boutique in the Tuscan seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi, patrons are greeted by teak flooring and rugs in deep-blue hues. These are dyed with natural pigments in the same watercolour style used in a number of the brand’s clothes, giving every piece a unique hue.

Personal touches include a sprawling cloth embroidered with the words of a poem by Gabriele D’Annunzio that the designer created for the shop’s changing-room curtain. Behind the wooden sales counter, Alba has placed a pair of Franco Albini lamps. Maritime elements include a large wooden model of a 19th-century French sailboat and wallpaper made from pages taken from early 20th-century editions of The Rudder, a one-time yachting periodical from the US. “I want everything inside to be authentic and never feel forced,” says Alba. “The space needs to be welcoming. The customer should feel at ease as they browse.” 
massimoalba.com

Keeping your cool as the northern hemisphere moves into autumn is easy this year thanks to a renewed focus on smart suede pieces that feel lightweight and are easy to wear, yet provide plenty of weather resistance. Our picks include casual shoes to slip on and an Italian-made jacket that is as practical as it is suave.

(Anti-clockwise from left)

Lawry boots in dark brown suede
by John Lobb

Desert Coal maple suede boots
by Clarks Originals

Padror VL Lion shoes
by Kleman

Alexis Brown suede calf shoes
by Jacques Solovière

(From left)

Ron bomber jacket in French suede
by Officine Générale

Valstarino goose-down padded suede jacket
by Valstar

N° 385 Ultra Soft sport bag 
by Isaac Reina

Luxury labels have to pull out all the stops to make a mark on Japan’s smartest shopping streets these days. For the façade of its shop in Shinsaibashi in Osaka, Cartier called on Japan veterans Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein, whose multilingual studio, Klein Dytham Architecture, was founded in Tokyo 30 years ago. While metal and glass are the standard materials for most big brands, Klein Dytham went for the opposite approach, using homegrown hinoki cypress to create something altogether warmer and more inviting.

Taking inspiration from classic Cartier jewellery and traditional Japanese saké boxes (hinoki masu), Klein Dytham has created a striking timber exterior. Japanese carpenters from Kyoto crafted by hand 2,500 individual units that combine to give the façade its intriguing texture. Hinoki is a tried and trusted material in traditional Japanese architecture, used for temples,shrines and castles, as well as baths and tableware, and it scores high for longevity. “It’s naturally stable and water repellent,” says Dytham. “And the seasoned hinoki itself hails from 60 to 70 year-old trees, all domestically sourced.”

The natural grain and tone are protected by a clear lacquer and the building’s appearance changes depending on the time of day and direction of the sunlight. “It was a challenge getting the building to this level of detail,” says Dytham. “But as always in Japan, it is a delight to work with craftsmen, contractors, project managers and the client – all wanting to produce something extraordinary.” 
cartier.com