Davide Baroncini of Ghiaia is one of the most stylish men I know, but we hadn’t met in person until this summer in Paris, where Davide was showing out of a top-floor appartment in the city.
Meeting hadn’t necessarily been required because Davide’s easygoing style comes across so well in his imagery, particularly his mannequin looks. Those were the focus of a PS article a couple of years ago, where Davide and I talked through a handful of them: what lay behind that down-to-earth style, and what they were based on from his own life. We also connected as fathers and it was in general a lovely conversation.
In person, Davide doesn’t disappoint. Dressed in a simple long-sleeved polo and battered Ghiaia chinos, he looked great, effortless, despite the ravages of the heat. Davide is not the face of the brand in quite the same way as his previous employer – Brunello Cucinelli – but you can see how he could be. And frankly his style is a lot more natural.
Style is the main reason we cover Ghiaia, but some of the products are also lovely. They’re a little expensive, as it’s more of a luxury brand running a wholesale model, but there are some real gems in there. One of the main reasons to meet was so we could run through everything and try it.
Below are our favourite pieces we saw. Some, such as the sandals, have been available for a while, but most of the others will be coming out on the Ghiaia site or in their stockists (Mr Porter, FWRD, Shinsagae and Liberty) this winter.
Waxed cotton-canvas trench coat
The yellow raincoat is a classic, but it’s often made in rubberised cottons or more function-driven styles. This waxed cotton is better – the coat immediately feels worn-in, like it’s been hanging on a peg by the front door for years.
The style is simple and more classic raincoat than a sou’wester: good horn buttons, a belt and epaulettes, but no other details. It’s a big cut, designed to go over everything and cinch in. There’s also a hip-length version which is easier to wear style-wise.
Jeans Shirt
The Ghiaia shirts generally are more interesting than the knitwear, at least for me. Decent cotton knits are fairly easy to find but well styled casual shirts can be harder.
The one above is the Jeans Shirt, which apparently is a new Ghiaia piece for this autumn. In a weighty cotton, it has a collar that’s longer than the mainstream but not too much, nice pockets, and a comfortable fit. Reminiscent of the Rubato ‘R’ shirts, it’s also less of an overshirt than Ghiaia’s other style the Working Shirt.
Barracuda cashmere sweater
Having said that in regards to knitwear, the Ghiaia full-zip ribbed knit above was really nice. I generally don’t like full zips as they tend to bulk out around the waist and be surprisingly tight in the neck. But the fit on this one was perfect.
It’s also a new release for autumn, although just a variation on the existing quarter-zip Davide already does.
Pescatore leather sandal
I’ve become a bit of a convert to leather fisherman’s sandals since I got a pair from Ralph Lauren Purple Label last year. They’re very cool in hot weather compared to any loafer, but still cover your toes. The key is wearing them with a fairly relaxed outfit elsewhere (at least for me) so they don’t feel too unusual.
Davide’s version is a nicer last shape than my Ralph ones, which are a little pointy. They’re more comfortable than Grenson, nicer than Church’s, and smarter than Paraboot. I wish the buckle were a little less shiny and branded, but that’s a personal style thing – I dislike brands on the outside of anything.
Among the rest of the Ghiaia range, I wouldn’t personally go for the straightforward cotton or cashmere knits, and the cashmere jogging tops/bottoms are lovely but too luxe for me personally.
The chinos are good, and the ones Davide was wearing were strong evidence of how well they age. They’re a little high and wide, but that’s definitely a category some readers will differ to me on, and the colours are perfect.
In fact that’s one of the main advantages of a brand where you like their taste: you trust the choices on things like colour, even if you can’t see them in person. The yellow cotton Ghiaia knits are the perfect shade for example, and the way they’re combined with denim shirts shows the aesthetic beautifully (below).
If anyone else has questions about the products, let us know. They’re not easy to see in the UK but Lucas and I have both tried a few, plus Lucas has visited the store in LA.
