The best luxury clothing brands for 2021

For better or for worse, social media has changed the way we spend our vacations. We post photos of exciting and exclusive places in the hopes of making it clear to our followers that we have great taste in everything, including, of course, our attire.

We wouldn’t show up on the crystal-clear shores of Bora Bora or a leafy Costa Rican resort wearing the same warm weather clothes we go out for funday Sundays at home. We are turning more than ever to high-end resort wear, the history of which dates back to the interwar years, when socialites, royals and celebrities traveled to warm climates for their own sake. relax, but also to be photographed for newspapers and magazines as the media spread. With social media, everyone is kind of a celebrity.

And while there have been countless resort wear brands aimed at women for decades, there have been very few brands for men strictly devoted to the art of tropical lounging. There were cookie-cutter department store brands like Tommy Bahama, and there were the high-end fashion house loungewear lines, but it wasn’t until recently that someone managed to combine luxury and comfort in a way that suited the genre perfectly. of trips we are talking about here.

Now, with a plethora of new brands, you can branch out into ornate geometric designs, pieces adorned with creatures from far away lands, or weird inanimate objects – the list goes on and on. The founders of SMR Days, a UK brand making resort wear based on traditional Indian designs and techniques, told InsideHook via email: “Everything seemed too trendy or too conservative to us, nothing. [felt] effortless and easy but with a touch of style.

In 2021, resort wear has also found a home away from the beach. Stroll through any major city in the United States and you’re sure to see men slipping into fits that in the past would conjure up images of Lebowski-style burnout.

“People are more willing to experiment due to increasingly informal work attire and a degradation of traditional office space,” says Michael Sard, one of Tombolo’s co-founders. “Small brands like ours are empowered by services like Shopify to stand out by telling their story through the product itself, which leads to more extravagant and free-spirited concepts.”

Desmond & Dempsey, a luxury “pajama” company that recognizes very well the overlap between being comfortable in bed and walking around the world. “We know from our customers that one of the main reasons they buy [our products] is to take them on vacation with them. They’re lightweight and the styles are easy to slip on to go to the beach, for example, ”says co-founder Joel Jeffrey.

“Luxury is now a question of experience,” he continues, “and your room, campsite, chalet or suite becomes your sanctuary while you are away. “As Sard says” Holidays are in the eye of the wearer. You don’t need to get on a plane to plan your escape. Anything that helps you get in a better mood by air is a form of recreation and escape.

More than ever, vacations are as much a state of mind as they are a physical place. Finally, there are brands that make the kind of clothes that will help you get there. These are some of our favorites.

SMR days

Based on handcrafted Indian designs, SMR Days was launched in 2020 with the aim of creating worldly designs that can be worn comfortably anywhere in the world. Versatile and unique but not in your face, they nailed the concept of elegant nonchalance.

Tombolo

With their original artwork and distinct vintage-inspired silhouettes, Tombolo is anything but serious. The New York-based company makes pieces that will make people wonder where you’re shopping.

Desmond & Dempsey

A pajama company that also makes clothes that will work poolside or in a lodge. Great attention to detail, great designs, and really, really comfy – they’re made for sleeping, after all.

AEO

Swedish resort wear that fully embraces the beauty of terrycloth (but not exclusively). They do a one-off job providing simple options in great colors and interesting patterns and textures.

London beach

The company is based in London, but the clothes are made in Turkey. They make airy, loose-fitting overshirts with subtle patterns.