Brunello Cucinelli grew up in a farming family, and only a few photos of him in childhood survive. The clothes he wears in them are durable, unfussy, basic.
"We were not a wealthy family," he says. "My mom would buy those clothes, and they would have to last for the whole season."
He was Zooming in from the restored and repurposed 13th-century castle in Solomeo, Italy, that serves as both the base of operations of his global luxury empire and his spiritual raison d'être. The occasion was his selection to receive a lifetime achievement award this month from the Neiman Marcus Group. (Previous honorees have included such titans of the trade as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.) Neiman's, which is launching a limited edition collection in April, has been carrying the Brunello Cucinelli label since the mid-'90s and is his largest client partner worldwide. Behind him were immaculate white built-in shelves. On the top row, spread across 10 or so feet, sat spools of cashmere in a rainbow of pastel neutrals: cotton candy, cactus, caramel. A kaleidoscope of tones bright enough to attract the eye but not so pointed as to overwhelm. "We use neutral colors," he adds, "but we are never, never basic"
For more than four decades Cucinelli has been honing his extremely specific vision of luxury, rooted in but not limited to cashmere, by identifying the most provocative ways to be quiet. Even if his clothes are expensive to make and to purchase, utilitarianism is a core principle not only for the brand but for the clientele: Mediterranean dandies and thoughtful tech bros, uninterested in flashing their fortunes at a time of market anxiety. Custom black mock turtlenecks for Steve Jobs; more recently, gray T-shirts for Mark Zuckerberg.
A group of tech titans, including Jeff Bezos, once made a three-day pilgrimage to Solomeo.
Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Town & Country US.
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Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Town & Country US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Jersey, JE ΤΙΜΕ
Nearly 50 years ago a museum opened in Paris.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Two former bons amis grew up in the same expensive suburb and cut their teeth together in the Paris nightclub scene. Then they launched competing restaurant empires, and the gloves came off. Now one of them is facing a suspended prison sentence and a huge fine. Welcome to the city's most delicious grudge match.
HIDDEN in Plain Sight
T&C was invited into the private archives and secret workshops of Paris, to glimpse the treasures that have made this city famous for its style and craftsmanship. It's a reputation worth fighting for.
GUARDIAN of Objects
Laura Kugel is the go-to art dealer for the world's most discerning clients, but her family's Paris wonderland is open to all. Come inside, won't you?
Ecole! Elysée! SCANDALE!
The path to the French White House requires a political education at one of the country's elite universities. As controversy swirls around Sciences Po-class treason, #MeToo à la française, creeping le wokisme-will its grip on power finally slip?
Are There Still Mysteries in Paris?
Surely not, in the world's most visited city! And yet: Why is the Louvre called the Louvre? Why do the upper stories of its 17th-century buildings tilt in? Why do even familiar streets feel so enticing, unknown? One thing is clear: So many of us return because the City of Light is really one of mesmerizing shadows.
High SEAS
How seductive is a cruise on an ultraluxury ship (yes, that's a category) like the new Regent Seven Seas Grandeur? So much so that a 132-day sailing sold out in three hours. It was time to investigate.
The Cruise Cure
One definition of bliss at sea is padding down a ship's hallway from your suite to the spa in a robe and slippers. Here's what awaits.
Only a Day to Spare?
These hotel spas-mini-me's of destination, health retreats punch way above their weight. So, if you're in the neighborhood...
So, Where Do You Ride in Paris?
A fancy equestrian's guide to the best of Gallic galloping.
