10 minute read
SIREN CALL
EDITED BY: SHANE C. KURUP Siren call
We can all relate to the allure of the Seven Seas, whether it’s the evocative scent of an ocean breeze, a decadent seafood feast, or taking a plunge with a satisfyingly hefty tool watch. And with oceans covering 70% of the planet, it’s little wonder that our lives – and our sense of style – have long been influenced by the deep blue. For Oracle Time’s nautical issue, we’ve curated everything you need to get your wardrobe and grooming cabinet shipshape.
LIKE CALIFORNI-A.
> We’re pretty sure the Beach Boys would approve of this knitted number from Casablanca. The Parisian brand, which uses only the finest materials, draws inspiration from some favourite sporting pastimes – in this case, hanging five. Crafted from a finely knitted cotton, this cheeky surfer tee has style and comfort in spades. So, even if you’re not much of a dab hand with a surfboard, you can at least look the part while sipping an Aperol spritz on shore.
€410 (approx. £352), CASABLANCAPARIS.COM HER NAME IS RIO
> Choosing the right swim shorts can be a bit of a minefield. Too voluminous and you run the risk of being dragged down doing laps, too close-fitting and you can reveal, well, too much. Luckily, Frescobol Carioca – a brand that typifies the outdoorsy beach lifestyle that Brazilians are envied for the world over – knows exactly how to cut its cloth, as these natty jacquard shorts attest. Pull on a pair and start making waves. £195, FRESCOBOLCARIOCA.CO.UK
GONE FISHIN’
> Stateside brand Tombolo has an unashamed tongue-incheek approach to the often-serious subject of fashion. Its Angler Cabana shirt is a fine case in point – because if you can’t get jazzy with your holiday wardrobe, when can you? Wear it on your next mackerel-fishing exploit (or more realistically, a staycation at Camber Sands) and you’ll turn heads for all the right reasons. We can’t guarantee it will improve your casting technique, though.
$128 (approx. £92 ), TOMBOLOCOMPANY.COM
SUMMER SLACKS
> Spanish label Mango is one of the few high street names that manages to skilfully blend considered design and quality at a price that won’t leave your wallet looking famished. These linen trousers are an airier upgrade on wool iterations on balmy evenings and the drawstring waist delivers on comfort (and will undoubtedly be a blessing when you’ve been overindulging at the hotel buffet). Wear them with a printed shirt, deconstructed blazer and suede loafers and you’ll be all set to paint the (fishing) town red.
£49.99, SHOP.MANGO.COM
BRISTOL FASHION
> Few labels understand the concept of luxury better than Connolly. The brand prides itself in making garments and accessories that not only subvert classic designs in elegant fashion, but crucially, are built to endure. This Caban jacket is made from a lightweight denim with a breezy, unlined construction for added comfort. Its slightly slouchy cut gives it an eclectic cool that puts it a peg above your usual brass-button blazer.
£800, CONNOLLYENGLAND.COM HAWAII 5-O
> Once the garb of sartorially challenged tourists and of course, Tom Selleck’s Magnum P.I., the aloha shirt has recently returned to the full glare of the style limelight. This tasteful number from London-based Percival is bold enough to wear with shorts during the day, but still sedate enough to work beneath a louche blazer after sundown. A worthy suitcase essential that packs in twice the style potential. £99, PERCIVALCLO.COM
FEET FIRST
> Boat shoes are a summer staple, whether you actually own a two-mast schooner or not. But beyond the ubiquitous blue and tan options, it can be hard to find a pair that don’t look like everyone else’s down at the dock. Goral, a Sheffield-based cordwainer that has been making footwear in time-honoured fashion since 1936, has reimagined the classic design with its thoroughly modern Hewitt shoes – ideal for the man looking to add a bit of colour to his stride. The best news? The handstitched Blake construction means they can be re-soled, so they’ll still be going the distance long after your other pairs have met Davy Jones. £340, GORAL-SHOES.CO.UK
Sea change
We’re often told that a diet based on seafood does wonders, so why not extend Poseidon’s goodness to your grooming regime, too? Here are the products that harness the power of the ocean to keep you looking and feeling as fresh as clear blue water.
OCEAN BOUNTY
> British grooming brand Haeckels is headquartered in the seaside town of Margate, Kent, so naturally, its ethos is informed by the salty swells. The label’s unguents and exfoliants employ novel ingredients, including dulse extract from seaweed harvested along the Kentish coast to protect your DNA against UV damage, and sea buckthorn to patch-up weathered skin and restore your mug to its former glory. There’s even a seaweed bath treatment to recreate a wholesome dip in the ocean in your tub (although you’ll find it hard to get any laps in, of course).
Seaweed and Salicylic Powder Exfoliant, £27 • Marine Facial Cleanser, £25 • Seaweed and Salicylic Powder Exfoliant, £27 • Exfoliating Seaweed Block, £18 • Seaweed Bath, £18 ALL AT MRPORTER.COM
GREEN EYES
> Algae might not be the sexiest thing to suggest slapping on your face, but science-driven brand Biossance has harnessed the benefits of the green stuff to pep up your peepers. This game-changing eye cream is made from sustainable botanical ingredients, including vitamin-rich marine algae and paracress – a flowering plant from South America – alongside hydrating squalene, which triple team to nourish undereye skin and smooth out fine lines. A must for the gracefully maturing night owl.
£46, CULTBEAUTY.CO.UK MARINE SPLASH
> Orto Parisi is something of a fabled name in world of scent. Megamare, as the name implies, is formulated with aromatics from the deep, including seaweed, sea cucumber and ambergris. Unorthodox, yes, but trust us, you won’t end up smelling like an old fishing net. In fact, it’s a heady, balanced blend of salty rocks, peppery sea botanicals and warm driftwood, which recalls a walk along coastal sand dunes in summer. The cap of the bottle is even weathered by seawater and inlaid with genuine shell. This is olfactory alchemy at its most potent. £138, E-SCENTS.CO.UK
This is olfactory alchemy at its most potent
HIRSUTE WAVES
> Most surfers have an inherently cool nonchalance, and their tousled, just-out-of-the-water hair is a look that many have tried to imitate. If you can’t hang five on a daily basis for the sake of your barnet, then Sachajuan has the answer bottled up with its Ocean Mist. This spritz and go spray adds undone beachy volume and texture and features Ocean Silk Technology, which utilises marine algae to strengthen and protect your mane. So, it’s good beneath surface level, too.
MRPORTER.COM, £18 DAB HAND
Ashley Clarke, MR PORTER’s Grooming Expert, shares his pro application tips
1. Putting on the Spritz » Apply fragrance to your pulse points – this is where your skin is warmest and helps the scent circulate 2.Perky Peepers » Use your pinky finger to delicately dab eye cream on your brow bone and under the eye until absorbed 3.Salty Dog » Sea salt sprays work best on damp hair. Shake well and spritz onto your roots, scrunching with your hands
CLEAR PROSPECTS
> Given that you’ve only got one set of eyes, it pays to invest in a pair of shades that not only look the part but will defend your precious peepers from those nasty UV rays. These Oatman sunglasses from Serengeti nail that brief on both counts. The polarised lenses incorporate photochromatic and Spectral Control technology to respond swiftly to changing light conditions, guarding against macular degeneration and eliminating reflected glare to ensure your vision is as crystal clear as the waters you’re sailing (or in fact, if you’re just on a drive to the garden centre). As an added bonus, the frames are made from eco-nylon, which is derived from castor bean oil. That means no drilling for crude oil, which also means a happier blue planet. £165, SERENGETI-EYEWEAR.COM
Ahoy, sailor
Take a peek into any man’s closest, and chances are you’ll find a Breton t-shirt in some form or another. This perpetual favourite, once the uniform of Brittany fisherman and the French Navy, has made its way from the coast of France onto the backs of everyone from Venetian gondoliers to James Dean, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Here are three of the finest around.
YURI & YURI NAUTICAL SERIE SHIRT
> Savile Row might have a reputation for being rather stiff and starchy, but times are a changing. Yuri & Yuri, who moved into the fabled thoroughfare in 2018, take a rather different approach to design than their neighbours. One of the brand’s signature fabrics is Serie – a patented fabric developed in Japan – which has a cloud-soft handle and a ‘salt water-like glow’, in the brand’s words. This handmade serie nautical tee is probably the most indulgent Breton you’ll ever own. £460, YURIYURI.CO.UK
ORLEBAR BROWN HOGARTH STRIPED T-SHIRT
> Orlebar Brown was founded by Adam Brown in 2007 after being dismayed on a trip to India at the state of men’s swimwear. Although known for its premium swim shorts which are cut using Savile Row techniques, the brand also makes a mean Breton tee, too. And as with everything the brand does, it’s brought a subtle twist to a staple – in this case, swapping the usual colour combination for a rose and almond stripe, so you’ll standout handsomely in a sea of blue and white. £145, MRPORTER.COM
ARMOR-LUX ‘MARINIERE’ HERITAGE BRETON T-SHIRT
> Since 1938, Armor Luxe has been the undisputed champion of the Breton. Hailing from Quimper, Britanny, the brand has Gallic authenticity on its side, so it’s little wonder that its nautical tees have garnered cult status. The familiar navy and white stripe pattern was devised to make it easier to spot sailors who had fallen overboard, but today, it’s a design classic as iconic as a Submariner. £55, ENDCLOTHING.COM
1/ Guanabana Maximus fish tote bag £345, MATCHESFASHION.COM
4/ Hamilton Khaki Scuba Automatic £645, HAMILTON.COM 2/ Miansai Sterling Silver Anchor Bracelet $120, MIANSAI.COM
3/ Loewe Easter Island Fisherman Hat £325, LOEWE.COM
5/ Marni Fisherman sandals £540, MATCHESFASHION.COM
6/ Victorinox Angler Swiss Army knife £45, VICTORINOX.COM
Holiday tackle
Whether you’ve managed to make a break for distant shores or are sojourning closer to home, ensure you’re well equipped with kit that deftly fuses style and substance.
