CERRUTI 1881 SPRING/SUMMER 2019

An evolution that never loses sight of the quintessential House DNA. This is the leitmotif for the latest collection, which channels the dress code imagined by Nino Cerruti, in its most pared-down expression. Crisp, fresh, flowing, and soft are the watchwords this season; silhouettes, shapes, volumes and fabrics lead the way.

The collection is inspired by the timeless elegance of traditional Japanese textile design in all its subtlety. Classic textures, cuts, patterns and pieces are meshed with elements from the Cerruti archives and the contemporary chic of deconstructed tailoring, creating an airy look and feel. The rich palette of olive, marine and brown shades is typically masculine, while the fabrics are natural. Linen crepe, silk, organic Pima cotton (worked  in some instances so as to produce a paper-like texture), and nubuck — with technical nylon as a counterpoint in places — create the season’s most remarkable pieces, which range from striped jacquard tank tops and washed-silk jogging bottoms worn with trench coats, to jackets and coats with Japanese-inspired collars and sleeves. Technical fabric shorts become key pieces, mixed with both tailored items and casual coats. Like the Cerruti trench, revisited here in paper-textured nylon or linen crepe, worn with Bermudas or satin jogging bottoms. This streamlined collection is studded with a number of exclusive motifs — handcrafted tie-and-dye patterns influenced by traditional Japanese indigo designs, and stripes redolent of the kimono.

Paired with light, functional accessories, the tailoring is transformed. Flip-flops, babouches, slippers, sneakers with rubber soles, and sleek leather and canvas bags give the silhouette a sense of laidback chic. This season collection also introduces a capsule of unisex pieces with a resolutely masculine vibe – loose fitting, generously proportioned silk shirts, kimono inspires coats, relaxed tailored suits, pleated trousers and sleeveless jackets but all flexibly styled to suit both a Cerruti man and woman.

CERRUTI SPRING/SUMMER 2018 COLLECTION

This season Jason Basmajian took inspiration from the tropical look designed by Nino Cerruti in 1984 for the TV series “Miami Vice”. The collection that exudes chic and lightness, softening the boundaries between sportswear and tailoring. A palette of refreshing, pop rock shades – sangria, cream, lime, electric blue and ocean– joins forces with refined, natural fabrics, including cool wool, cotton, silk, linen and ultralight nubuck, to create streamlined tailored pieces in a casual luxe and sporty mood.

Tailoring, which the Cerruti man chooses for pleasure rather than out of a sense of obligation, takes on a related flowing silhouette this season. The oversized unlined double-breasted jackets are worn over T-shirts or V-neck shirts, with bermudas, or are simply swapped for loose easy summer coats. There is a playful mix of stripes, and a palm leaf pattern is worked into the collection in a variety of ways – printed on shirts, woven into knitwear, and on jacquard pieces – injecting a burst of pop energy into oversized silhouettes inspired by the 80s. The Cerruti logo in ultra-graphic form, is reinvented on T-shirts and sweatshirts.

Denim comes into its own this season, too, in ultra-faded or striped versions, in the form of items given a new twist, like a jumpsuit or hooded poncho. As with the tailored wear, it is paired with colour-blocked sneakers, or suede lace up shoes or boots with natural rubber soles.

The accessories encompass an array of XXL or compact bags, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from a revisited beach tote bag in a mix of fabric and leather, to a canvas and calfskin army bag, to shoulder bags, and sunglasses with transparent, and coloured frames. Metal key chains with leather detailing add a final casual touch to jeans and tailored wear alike.

A feature which, like the collection, conjures up the famous words of Nino Cerruti: “I want men to enjoy a greater sense of freedom in being elegant”.