Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVI

Itineraries for Style – The Santoni Autumn/Winter 2014/15 Collection T he style presented by Santoni for the Autumn/Winter 2014/15 collection represents a journey through time – a journey without a destination, one that explores how style has evolved to culminate in today’s man. It’s a collection made of history, tradition and savoir faire; of craftsmanship and technology; of past and future, looking into iconic men’s elegance, from the incomparable Robert Redford’s aristo-pop of the 70s, to the dissolute and exuberant Johnny Depp, to the contemporary and self-aware dandyism of Adrien Brody. The Santoni Autumn/Winter 2014/15 collection elaborates real characters and fictional projections that entail the style of today, strengthened by the power of our shared imagination. Aristo Seventies A new proportion and a technically refined design serve Santoni’s unique craftsmanship, creating the short and squared shape that starts from a thin and tapered hollow and results in an elegant and sinuous silhouette. This style is offered in three models: a classic lace-up, a fringed loafer with tassels, and laced boots. Hand-stitching and colours – black, brown, leather brown, green and burgundy – are rendered in their deepest shades to stunning effect. The result is the vision of a sophisticated and elegant man – think Robert Redford or Helmut Berger – who, given the aristocratic nonchalance that defined male style in that time, learned how to embrace the classics. Contemporary Dandy Inspired by the image of the dandy, reinterpreted in its variations, this style leaves every affectation aside while cherishing the details and accuracy of execution that elevate the shapes and materials. Classic models, such as lace-ups and slippers, are enriched with luxurious details: rose gold in the metal of the double-buckle classic Santoni slipper, the gaiters originating from the body of the shoe and reaching over the ankles, and Rubelli textiles giving a richness to the slippers, even in the metallic glazed aspects of bronze and blue. The leathers share the same metallic and glaze features as the models in ostrich and crocodile; all are equally precious. This is the characteristic that best expresses the refinement of an everlasting elegance that travels across fashions and styles, well adapted to images of modern men such as Adrien Brody, comfortably aware of his seductive power. French Rock A free and liberated man of unconventional charm is the inspiration behind the third variation in the 2014/15 Santoni men’s collection. He’s the rock star, wearing short toe-capped and thin-soled boots that reach over the ankle and are closed by two double-buckled straps or a double zip on each side, or the French film actor wearing round- toe, lace-up shoes. It’s the natural seduction of Serge Gainsbourg, transforming into alternative yet impeccable elegance. Black Urban Santoni Men’s Autumn/Winter 2014/15 collection is completed by two inside capsule collections. The first one presents a Black Urban style that borrows the technological evolutions of neoprene, combines it with calfskin, and creates sharp-cut military boots: the classic Everest with nickel hooks or the newHill with deep bottoms. As a natural consequence comes the Active Santoni that reinterprets the Cleanmodel in a gummedmaterial, with or without being paired with neoprene, and neater options in white, black and grey, embodying the true essence of a sneaker. All were inspired by an infinite number of Johnny Depp’s modern duplicates, all capable of developing their personal elegance. 2 0 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I