A major credit card company ran an advertising campaign with the tagline, ?what?s in your wallet??, with the implication that if you carried their card you were making a smart choice. For those of us constantly on the road, we might ask ourselves ?what?s in your suitcase?? In fact, fashion is a key element of travel and there are even some sartorial destinations, such as Marianella?s Naples shop, worthy of a side excursion during a business or leisure trip. Here?s what you?ll find in my suitcase:
Suits: Suits are the most important part of any wardrobe, especially during a business trip packed with meetings. I choose a Louis Vuitton or ErmenegildoZegna suit because I can be assured of its quality and I know their passion for the business. I wear my suits over and over during trips and still they last me for many years. It is worth it to invest in quality. For a suit to wear on life?s most important occasions, no man has ever gone wrong with Kiton.
Shirts: While designers sometimes oddly choose to have runway models show off their suits sans a shirt, you really should bring a few on your next trip. My favourite shirt maker is Steffano Ricci, not only for his bold and artistic patterns, but its reliable luxury of the cotton and mother-of-pearl buttons as well. A Steffano Ricci is relentlessly Italian and entirely handmade. Also, it feels great wearing a shirt woven on a loom from the 10th century. I also wear Kiton and Louis Vuitton for their style and luxurious feel. On a typical three-day trip, I?ll usually take one of each brand in my carry-on.
Shoes: I?ve had suits last almost ten years of fairly regular wear and if you invest in a pair of shoes you love, they can last even longer with proper care and an occasional visit back to the craftsman or a high-end cobbler. I, therefore, find it shortsighted to hold back on investing in at least one pair of great shoes. Because of their quality, bold style, fit and comfort, I like Moreschi. Another guardian of Italian luxury and attention to detail, Moreschi does everything in-house, from design to hand cutting and sewing. Fratelli Rossetti also creates great Italian dress shoes. On a leisure trip or for a more casual business meeting, I?ll bring a pair of (admittedly mainstream) Tod?s.
Ties: I try to get away with packing just a couple of ties, even for a long trip. To me, there is one tie that stands out from all the rest. Marinella, famously run out of a small shop by the Naples waterfront, makes perfect ties. Brioni also makes great neckwear, but if you?re looking for a singular ?power tie?, one of the classics from Hermes makes sense.
Deepak Ohri is CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts. He can be reached at deepak@lebua.com