Brunello Cucinelli

Best For: Indulgent Investment Pieces

It’s little wonder the Italian press dubs Mr Brunello Cucinelli ‘The King of Cashmere’. Aged 25, having recently dropped out of university, he took the bold step of being the first to dye the ultra soft textile to create his designs. Today, Cucinelli’s clothes sit at the higher-end of the men’s market, worn by everyone from the Hollywood elite to royalty, but they’re characterised by such next-level craftsmanship that they’re well worth saving up for.

Rubinacci

Best For: Neapolitan Flair

Triple-pleated trousers! Voluptuous silk pocket squares! Butter-soft ‘Belgian’ loafers! Rubinacci is Neopolitan flair incarnate. But this dandified label isn’t just the fare of Pitti Peacocks and their overly choreographed carelessness, this is the real deal. Founded under the watch of Gennaro Rubinacci in 1932, the brand continues to be run three generations later by the same family. The Napoli-based house’s construction is near masterful, with an emphasis on super light tailoring and exquisite detailing: most Rubinacci blazers, for example, are silk-lined and printed with extravagant baroque scenes.

Gucci

Best For: High-Fashion Fun

Under the visionary gaze of Alessandro Michele, one of Italy’s most established fashion houses has finally got its groove back. Though timeless staples like the horsebit loafer add a pinch of classic Ivy League style to any outfit, it’s in the newer, more outlandish designs and collaborations that Gucci has come to life (and been restored to the top of luxury fashion’s best-seller list). Don the label’s statement outerwear or ornately embroidered knitwear for a dose of go-to-hell Italian expressionism.

Loro Piana

Best For: Cashmere

For Loro Piana, it’s all about the fabric. Since its conception in 1924, this family business has weaved some of the finest cashmere known to man and is still the world’s largest producer of the soft stuff today. That’s not to say the design and finishing aren’t pretty special too — expect versatile wardrobe staples like chambray shirts and suede trucker jackets in a range of high-tech finishes. The wind and water-resistant Storm System coating, for example, protects its baby cashmere without ever diminishing its handfeel.